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What the fuck was I doing? I shoved my cock back into my jeans and crossed the room, tossing her panties onto the bed before grabbing some Kleenex. This wasn’t right. She was just a kid. I turned to my desk, yanked my headset on, and opened up a game, trying to force my attention on anything else.
But my gaze drifted to the white cotton ball now resting against my pillow. The scent lingered, filling me, taking up space that the bitter scent of antiseptic had occupied before. I didn’t know which one was worse.
A knock came at my door before it opened. I tugged my headset down as Caleb walked in carrying a plate of pizza and garlic bread. “Figured you’d get hungry sometime.”
“Thanks.” I stared at the screen, not even remembering what game this was.
He closed the door, placed the plate on the desk in front of me, and took a seat on the end of my bed. “Why the fuck are they here?”
I just gave a shrug, acting like I didn’t care.
“Dad’s actually smiling.”
I winced at the words.
“Haven’t seen him smile in—”
I cut him a glare, my pulse pounding in my head.Say it…say the words and I’ll punch you in the fucking mouth.But Caleb flinched as though he actually realized what he was saying. “Anyway. Food, fucker, and give dad a break, yeah? He’s just being a good guy to a friend, nothing more.”
I glanced back to my game. “Since when is heevera good guy?”
“That was the past, T. Don’t you think it’s time you moved on?”
“It wasn’tyouhe fed to the dogs though, was it?” I muttered.
He stepped closer, kicking the bottom of my chair. “You were the stupid fuck who went after Lazarus Rossi, so let’s just leave it at that, okay?”
Anger roared through me, searing just as hot in that minute as it had a year ago. “He fucking trashed my car, then sent his goons to pay me a visit at school, what the fuck was I supposed to do?”
Caleb just shook his head. “You made a move on his woman. I think his response was justified, don’t you?”
“It wasn’t even his woman. He didn’t love her, he barely even looked at her. She was fair game.”
“You didn’t want her either, T. You were only an asshole whose mom had just been diagnosed with cancer. Look, you were acting out, I get that. All I’m saying is, how about we let bygones be bygones? Dad’s doing a good thing here, helping these people out by giving them a place to stay and figuring out a way to get the girl’s dad out of jail.”
My lips curled, I stared at my brother as though he was a stranger. Because in that moment, he might as well be. He didn’t see dad like I did, didn’t see that this wasn’t him being a ‘good guy’, because men like my father didn’t fucking change.
He was a shark, feeding in the water, moving from one target to the next, always hungry…and fucking cold.
“Thanks for the pizza,” I muttered, and turned back to my game.
“I saw the way you looked at her,” Caleb murmured carefully, not taking the goddamn hint. His gaze went to the other end of the bed, and I knew the moment he saw them…saw her white cotton panties. He scowled for a second, until he realized whose they were. But he never said a word, just kept fucking talking. “And Nick did, as well. Don’t mess with her, Tobias. She’s…sweet.”
The corner of my lips twitched.Sweet.
“I mean it, stay away from her…and check your damn attitude.”
“Get the fuck out, Caleb,” I growled, and glared at the TV.
He stayed there for a second longer, then left. I wanted to throw that fucking plate after him…wanted to hit dad and that little bitch downstairs, too, just to prove a point. Instead, I strode toward the door, grabbed my keys off the dresser as I went, and slammed the door behind me.
Fuck him…
Fuck her…
And fuck the Rossis.
I strode down the stairs and through the front door, my face burning, as I left them all behind. No doubt dad would be making some bullshit excuse.
