Page 109 of A Silence So Divine

Creed’s eyes narrow around his ire and his jaw sets firmly. Christ, he’s really angry with me.

“Do you love her?”

Something exceptionally unpleasant rushes into my chest. It’s hot, and angry, and it freaks me the fuck out. So, I throw my head back in a guffaw. It’s a show, and it’s fortunate that Creed is unable to hear the breathlessness that threads into my faux laughter.

“Of course not!”

My brother regards me like I’m a piece of gum he’s found on the sole of his shoe. There’s a very minute part of me—one single atom—that wants to drop the asshole facade for my brother’s sake. The trip to the beach did wonders for our relationship, but I might as well have thrown the memory out to sea. All over a fucking kiss. Well, a series of kisses.Whatever.

Sweat prickles my brow, and it has nothing to do with the heat.

Creed inhales deeply, and then he’s the one exhaling a rough laugh, though it’s void of any humor.“Leave her alone. You’re going to confuse her.”

“I’m confusing her? You’re the one who told her that she’s in love with me!”

“BECAUSE SHE IS!”He says it like it’s the most obvious, and alarming, truth he’s ever known. Pupils blown and handsshaking, it’s possibly the most stressed out I’ve ever seen my brother.

Even with the lack of voices, both of us have begun to huff and puff while our hands fly through the air. If we’re not careful, Eden’s going to realize something’s wrong. And wouldn’t that just be the cherry on top?

Eyes darting nervously to the side, I put my hands up placatingly.

“If you have feelings for her—”I don’t get to finish my thought before he’s shaking his head in disbelief and pacing around me.

“Right.”He shoots me a disgusted glare.“Of course that’s what you think.”

I’ve been stabbed, shot at, and had my face bashed in, but somehow his snarky comment is the thing that stings.

My brother approaches me once more. On instinct, I stiffen my spine and square my shoulders. Despite the inches I have over him, in this moment, we’re eye to eye. Equals.

“She’s important to me. If you don’t love her, leave her alone. I’m begging you.”The fire in his eyes has dulled down to a desperate ember, but he doesn’t lose any of his intensity. I can’t help the pride that tightens its fist around my heart.

How far he’s come. All because of Eden.

The corner of my lip quirks, and I make the terrible decision to attempt to lighten the mood.“Begging?”

The force knocks me back before I even register Creed has moved. My back is against the wall, the sharp edge of a picture frame biting into my spine. I’m so stunned, my arms hang uselessly at my sides. Even when my wits recalibrate, I don’t attempt to fight back. I never would.

“If you do not love her, you will leave her alone.”

“Fine,”I relent, grimacing as I peel myself from the plaster.

Speculation evident, he adds,“Promise me.”

Footsteps patter down the hall. Eden nears.

Our time is up.

“I promise.”

Satisfied for the time being, Creed relaxes his posture just as her lithe figure floats into the room. Her brows are notched together in confusion, and she looks behind me to where the frame is crooked. She wants to ask, I can tell, but a subtle shake of my head has her averting her gaze back to my brother.

Wordlessly, I make my way to the shower.

With the water as cold as this old house can manage in the Louisiana summer, I struggle to freeze out the conclusion of my conversation with my brother.

If you do not love her, you’ll leave her alone.

The issue isn’t that I think I’ll break the promise. No, that would be much too simple.