AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Gabriel swore under his breath. He’d killed time at Hunter’s house, splattering zombies on Xbox again after grabbing a shower. It was after eleven now, and he’d hoped his older brother would be in bed.
“Problem?” said Hunter.
“Stick around. I might need a getaway car.”
“Want backup instead?”
Tempting. Gabriel hesitated.
Michael stood up from the porch chair and came to the top step. The light by the door had been replaced, making his hair shine and keeping his face in darkness. “Get out of the car, Gabriel.”
Hunter hadn’t even put the Jeep in park. “Your call.”
Gabriel heaved a sigh and grabbed the door handle. “Go home. I’m sure as hell not bringing you down with me.”
But when Hunter was backing down the driveway, Gabriel felt very alone facing his brother from the sidewalk.
He set his shoulders and tried to play it easy. “Why’d you wait up? Think Hunter was going to get fresh with me?”
“Where were you?”
Gabriel shrugged. “Grabbed a burger. Hung out.”
Michael was looking at him a little too intensely. “And what did you do last night?”
For a second, Gabriel wondered what his brother would think if he told him the truth.
He wondered how much Michael had guessed already.
“Cut the crap, Michael. What do you want?”
“I want to know if you’re starting these fires.”
The words hit Gabriel like a fist to the face.
That’s what his brother thought? That Gabriel was out deliberately setting fires, purposely killing people?
He almost couldn’t breathe for a second, the feeling of betrayal hit so hard. Just like last night, when Nick had stolen his air. Only Nick hadn’t been accusing him of murder.
That moment of brotherly camaraderie earlier in the evening was completely gone. He’d been so stupid to think Michael could ever be a friend. Gabriel clenched his jaw and moved to walk past him up the steps. “Fuck you.”
His brother caught his arm. “Are you doing this to get back at Becca’s father? Do you want the Guides coming here? Tell me.”
Not just a murderer, but someone who would turn on his family. Gabriel jerked free and shoved him away in one motion.
Michael caught him and spun him around before he could make it through the door. “You were pretty upset when you ran out of here last night. Where did you go?”
Gabriel tried to yank his arm free again, but Michael was working a death grip.
“Let go of me.”
“Damn it, I can’t help you if you won’t talk to me.”
“Help me? Help me?” Gabriel hit him with his free hand, getting in a solid punch before Michael wrestled him against the siding of the house to pin him there.
“Yeah,” Michael said, and his voice was tired. “Help you.”
Gabriel glared at him, struggling, but his brother had six years and a good twenty pounds on him, plus leverage to boot.
