Chapter 1
Grace
“What the actual fuck?” Kyle demanded.
The light coming on was enough to get Cameron and Darius up. “What? What’s going on?” Cam said, startled, squinting as he sat up. But once he saw who’d stepped into his bedroom, he shifted further up the bed to lean on the headboard. His eyes were wide and there was a moment of fear obvious on his face. “What are you doing here?”
Darius stayed on the bed, his hands up like he was already trying to placate my brother without saying anything. What was there to say? This was the trouble he’d been so sure would happen. I hated that he was right. He was just in his boxers, as were the other two men, so there was no hiding what had actually gone on.
“What am I doing here? What the fuck are you doing here?” Kyle barked out, his raised voice bouncing off the walls. “You know what, I don’t know that I want to know,” Kyle began slowly, taking in the bedroom's state. “Between the three of you, I can only guess that you were fucking each other. I would’ve been fine with that.” He paused, visibly caught up in themoment. “The real problem here is you,” he said as he looked at me. A sneer crossed his features, making him look ugly. I’d expected him to rage, to yell and scream, but I wasn’t expecting disgust. “The fuck are you doing here, Grace?” It was accusatory, but he didn’t sound anywhere near as volatile as I’d expected.
It was like I faced a time bomb slowly ticking down to zero, though. Kyle was going to explode on me at any second. And this had been my original plan? What the hell was wrong with me?
I stood up to face the music. There was no hiding from this. There was no way I was going to get out of it. Might as well own it. “What’s it look like, Kyle?” I asked slowly, like I thought he was stupid. I raised a hand and gestured to the room. “What’s it look like?” I took a minute to tug the shirt down so that I didn’t inadvertently flash him. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“These are my friends, Grace,” he snapped, voice raising to where it was nearly a shriek. “I’m allowed to be here. I have a fucking key.” He took a breath and let it go, putting his hands up like he was resisting the urge to step further into the room. Only he dropped them and glared at me. “Is this what you’ve been doing? You’ve been going behind my back and fucking all my friends?” He made a face, eyeing each of the men behind me before his gaze settled back on me. “Is this the type of whore you are? I always figured you were a slut, but I never expected you to prove me right.”
“Yep,” I said with enthusiasm. “Because that’s all I’m good for. Fucking your friends. Making your life miserable.” I shrugged, forcing the nonchalance. “I honestly don’t see why you’re surprised. God knows it’s all about Kyle. He’s the only thing that matters.” I waved a hand at him. “The whole fucking world revolves around you. You shouldn’t be surprised that I had to steal your spotlight.”
“Grace,” Adam objected from behind me. I didn’t turn to look at him. I didn’t want to see his face.
“Shut the fuck up,” Kyle blew up at the other man. “You don’t get to say shit. I always knew you were a piece of shit. I’m just surprised it took you this long to own up to it.” He kept going, stepping closer as he went on the tirade. “My fucking sister? After everything I’ve fucking done for you? This is how you repay me?”
“You mean your dad,” Adam said without hesitation. “Everything your dad has done for me. You have done nothing for me. You’re just taking the glory for his generosity.”
Kyle moved so fast that it caught me off guard. He shoved me back into Adam, causing the other man to stumble. I flinched, and that pissed me off to where I might’ve shrieked. Noise echoed through the room. I rammed my shoulder into his chest and Kyle was forced backward toward the door. He didn’t move like I’d wanted him to, but it felt like I at least knocked the wind out of him.
Things went nuclear from there. Cam and Darius got involved, moving faster than I expected. Darius stepped between us, his hands still up like he was going to stave off the fight. Cam’s back was to Darius, and he eyed me with concern that he wouldn’t be able to hide from Kyle.
I don’t know if he took a swing at Darius or if the other man shoved him. Cam was in the way. All of it was enough for my brother to realize he was outnumbered. His friends weren’t backing him up. They weren’t on his side.
It was obvious he realized it. His face was red. I’d like to think that was because of me, but I knew better. He took a step back, waving his hands around the room without actually pointing at anyone. “This is what you’re doing. You’re picking this bitch over me?” he demanded. “After everything I’ve done for you? Do you have any idea what loyalty is?” He backed up, his attention dropping back down to me. “I hope you’re proud of yourself. I’m surprised it took this long for you to show your true colors.”
“No,” I said without thinking. “You weren’t supposed to find out,” I said. “It’s not your business. This was supposed to be between me and them.” I didn’t give in to the urge to pour salt into his wounded ego, just told him the truth. “Nobody was supposed to get hurt.”
“You are my fucking sister,” he hissed at me. Something oddly possessive crossed his features. “They are my friends. You don’t have a right to do this shit.” He backed out a little, pointing at the room without really aiming his finger at anyone. “Fuck you guys. Fuck you.” His voice cracked, the emotions finally getting to him.
He waited for a beat, almost like he expected someone to apologize. I sure as hell wasn’t about to beg for forgiveness. When he didn’t get what he wanted, Kyle turned and stalked out of the bedroom.
It was like he took the air out of the room with him. It felt heavy now. My heart thundered against my ribs and I finally realized just what had happened. I went after him. Adam’s arms went around my waist, keeping me in place.
“He’s gonna tell my parents,” I objected, and fought his hold.
“I’ll go make sure he’s all right,” Darius said, picking up his jeans and pulling them on.
“Tell him I want my key back,” Cam said without hesitation. He cupped my face with both hands, drawing my attention to him. “You didn’t call him and tell him you were here?” His expression was serious, but he wasn’t acting as if he were blaming me.
But he still thought I would do something like that? I grabbed his wrists and forced him to let go of me. “I’ve been in bed with you all night,” I snapped at him. “My phone is in Adam’s shorts. I haven’t bothered to look at it since yesterday. You’ve all kept me pretty busy. I wouldn’t tell him when all he is gonna do is runand whine to our mom and dad.” I shook my head, not sure how he couldn’t see the trouble I had gotten myself into.
“How did he know you were here?” Cam asked, voice gentle but serious. “If you didn’t call him, how did he know?”
That’s when it hit me.Shay.I hadn’t been home since she confronted me about the moment I had with Darius. She wouldn’t do this to me, would she? She wouldn’t tell Kyle where I was just so he could walk in on the four of us. Would she?
There was no other way he could know. All I could do was shake my head. I couldn’t tell Cam that Shay was involved. I couldn’t expose her like that. Even if she’d just exposed me.
Chapter 2
Grace