Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 80507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Jealousy.
Rage.
Betrayal.
I saw it all.
In a blink of an eye, I went from brother to enemy.
And even though we had done nothing wrong, it didn’t matter to him; it never would. Because I was always a threat, wasn’t I?
Sometimes, things were better left broken. You could only fix things so many times before it was suddenly impossible to fix what wasn’t yours to begin with.
“Tristian.” Eden frowned. “Is something wrong?”
His eyes widened. “I don’t know, you tell me? I heard you were feeling sick and panicked, and then I find you on the bathroom floor in my brother’s fucking arms.”
She flinched like he’d slapped her.
I clenched my fists. “Enough, Tristian. I was in here—”
“With another woman,” Eden finished for me. “Lifting her skirt past her ass and getting ready to plow another field, then I started puking—”
“Ruining my hard-on,” I pointed out.
She exhaled heavily. “Yes, that. So he held my hair for me.”
“Yeah.” Tristian rolled his eyes. “That’s exactly what it looked like, with his arms around you, his chin resting on your head, his mouth inches from yours like he was holding your hair.”
It was a struggle, but Eden finally made it to her feet and stomped over to him. Her hand came flying out of nowhere, landing a blow across his cheek that was so loud it shook the room. “How dare you? I’m carrying your child.”
She shoved at his chest and then walked out of the bathroom in tears.
His gaze flew to mine. “You always make her cry.”
“It’s the one thing I’m good at,” I lied. “But this time, I’m not the reason for her tears. You are, brother.”
“Bullshit,” Tristian snapped. “You’ll always be the reason for her tears because she can’t have you, and even though she has me, she still fucking wants you!”
I tensed. “That’s not true.”
“You’re such a liar.” He looked away. “Sometimes I wish…” He hung his head. “I wish—”
“What? What do you wish? I’d choose my words wisely if I were you. If you know anything about me.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Does it sound like one?” I asked, keeping my voice calm even though my body was shaking with the need to punch him for making her cry.
“I’m only going to say this one more time.” Tristian clenched his teeth. “You don’t get to look at her, you don’t get to pine for her, wonder what her kiss tastes like. You don’t get to comfort her. You don’t get to be her friend. You lost her friendship the minute her father gave her away—to me. Having you close only hurts her; it only breaks us. So I wish you’d stay away. I wish you’d just…leave.”
“You want me gone?” I took a step toward him. “Out of your life? Out of hers? My nephew’s? Is that it?”
He crossed his arms. “Even you can admit it would be better if you just stayed away like you have been.”
“So you get the girl, and I lose my brother and my best friend all in one blow? And now you want me to lose my first nephew too?” I shook my head. “That’s your fear speaking, and you know it.”
“I’m afraid of nothing.” He lifted his chin.
“That’s where you’re wrong, brother.” I squeezed his shoulder as I walked past. “You’re terrified you’ll never be as good as me. The favorite. To our family. To her. Your wife. She chose you. Married you. Remember that when you’re feeling weak.”
He gritted his teeth and jerked away from my touch.
“Stress isn’t good for the baby; I’m going to go out the back. Now go apologize for being a jackass; it’s good practice for the future when you fuck up because trust me, you will, but as long as you love her and take care of her, it doesn’t matter,” I muttered under my breath. “Wish fucking granted.”
Numb again, I walked out of the bathroom and down the hall, my face impassive as I snuck out the back, made my way to the car, and opened the door.
Eden was staring out the kitchen sink window when I looked over my shoulder, her eyes sad.
I gave her a quick nod.
And I left.
In that moment, I had no idea that it would be two years before I saw her again.
Those two years would build a chasm so deep between us, it would forever be impossible to cross.
I didn’t just give her up to my brother. I had now abandoned her because of him.
Not only her…
Him.
My unborn nephew.
I walked away that day and didn’t look back; if I did, I would have stayed.
Fought.
For not only her.
Them.
His family, which should have been mine instead.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Sweet as sugar, hard as ice, hurt me once and I will kill you twice.” —Mr. Villain
Eden
Now
I woke up with a start, eyes swollen, body sore from being so tense the day before. My vision was blurry as I rubbed my eyes then reached for my cell.