CALEB
“I thought I’d made my feelings perfectly clear?” I snarl, the venom heavy on my tongue and it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. “I fucking told you I didn’t want the Braxton brat anywhere near this house.”
“Are you being serious? It’s a party, man. Plus, I thought we’d moved passed this bullshit already?”
A deep insatiable anger runs through me, coursing through my veins like wildfire, ebbing and flowing, crashing into all my emotions and it makes me feel more unstable than I’ve felt in a long ass time. How fucking na?ve can a person be?
“Dane, if he comes back and…” my throat constricts, refusing to give my words an outlet. No matter how hard I try I can’t being myself to finish my sentence, knowing the second I do then I’m acknowledging it out loud. Committing the fact to my reality. Sure, we both know the chances of that happening are slim, but that doesn’t change the fact its still a possibility. He could turn up here any time. Completely unannounced.
Dane leans back, unfazed and unaffected as usual. Once again, more than happy for me to deal with the inevitable fallout. The fallout of his fucking messy and reckless choices.
“Yeah, like that’s ever going to happen. You and I both know that he’s too busy elsewhere to even think about coming back here. When are you going to open your eyes and see he doesn’t have time for us anymore. Plus, wouldn’t you rather have a little fun before he does return? Before he storms in like he never left and ruins everything you’ve built?” Waggling his brows, his lips curve into a sinister smile as he dares me to argue with his logic.
Usually, I’d be all for it. But I don’t know, something feels off about this current situation. Something isn’t sitting right with me and no matter how hard I try I can’t seem to fight off the unease. I can’t shut it down.
“It’s not that easy.” I reluctantly admit, more to myself than Dane, and I know the motherfucker doesn’t miss it. He doesn’t miss shit.
“Easier for who… you, or him?”
Fuck, any other time I’d be all over this. I’d be quick to shut Dane down in a heartbeat. I always put myself first—above anything and everything, regardless of the consequences. But I can’t do that. Not this time. There are too many complications and now I have to do something I’ve never done before. I need to take a step back and think. I need to tread these murky waters with care because this time it isn’t just about me.
This time it’s personal.
Personal for all involved. Dane included, even if he can’t see it because he’s too busy thinking with his dick. In an ideal world Dane would be able to see that there’s too much hanging in the balance. Even if I wanted to fuck about, I can’t allow myself to be the one who’s responsible for risking it all. You see, that’s where me and Dane are different. He thinks with his dick, whereas I like to think with my head—the one which houses my brain and not my japs eye.
I am the brains behind this operation, after all.
“Well?” He presses, refusing to take my silence as an affirmative answer. “How long are you going to stay hidden in his shadow? He doesn’t give a fuck about you. Not anymore. He doesn’t give a fuck about how his actions or lack of them affect your life man, so why should you care how your actions affect his?”
Deep down, beneath the stubborn armor I wear so well, I know Dane’s right. But I’m also a loyal motherfucker too. I will always give respect to those who deserve it and I’ll always expect the same in return. Sure, I get what Dane’s trying to say. Matteo doesn’t deserve shit from me at the moment, especially when he keeps disappearing, leaving me behind to pick up the pieces as they fall down around us. But he’s also my brother and a moment in time doesn’t erase a lifetime. Blood is so much thicker than water, and if it wasn’t for Matteo looking out for me and always having my back when we were younger, there’s no fucking way I’d still be here. I would have been dead and buried long ago.
No matter Dane’s thoughts on the situation, my debt to Matteo is too great. It’s lifelong. “Don’t try to twist this, Dane.” I warn. “This isn’t about me. This is about you deciding to go against everything we stand for.”
A quick flash of teeth graces my vision before his face sets, his jaw tight. “You know it’s all for the greater good.”
Biting down on a laugh I shake my head, refusing to process the bullshit he’s trying to hurl my way. This motherfucker is something else, that’s for sure. He’s bat shit fucking crazy. “There is no greater good. It doesn’t fucking exist. Not in this scenario. Fuck, we set ourselves a mission, focusing on one target and it’s getting closer and you’re ready to do everything in your power to sabotage it. Without any of us getting a say before you detonate the fucking bomb.”
“I know what’s at stake here.” Now it’s Dane’s turn to snap as he sets his jaw, his shoulders squaring ready for a fight. “Don’t stand there and make out I’ve forgotten.” Obviously, I’ve hit some kind of nerve for him to jump on the defensive so easily. “All I’m saying is, I don’t see why we can’t play around with Little Red Riding Hood while the wolf’s away. If the boot was on the other foot, he’d be all fucking over it. We deserve a little something for all our hard work, Caleb. Now it’s time to enjoy the fruit of our labor. We should be enjoying it while we still can, before it’s time to blow it all up.”
Narrowing my eyes, I take a step toward my brother while fighting an internal battle. I know he’s right but I’m not about to admit it. “You know why and so does Matteo. That fucker sees and hears everything. Whether he’s here or not his rules still stand.”
“Fine.” He holds his hand up in partial surrender. “You win. I’ll refrain from having any more fun with her… after tonight.” When I go to argue with him, he cuts me off, “I invited her so I’m going to play host and give her a night she won’t forget.” He raises a brow, watching me expectantly. “What do you say brother, are you in or not?”
“Just tonight?” I ask, nodding back at him, a silent agreement between us. “If I agree then I want you to have nothing to do with her after tonight. She’ll go back to the sewers where she belongs. She’ll live like the rest of them—the way we initially agreed. No special treatment.”
“That’s all I’m asking.”
“One night. That’s all you get so make the fucking most of it.”