Chapter 6
THREE YEARS AGO
SAGE
Men are truly exhausting; I think to myself as my brother follows me up the stairs and towards the library. Saint’s close on his heels as Saxon berates me about my boyfriend.
“Sage, are you even listening to me? I’ve had enough of that shitbag. You’re not seeing him anymore. Have I made myself clear?” Saxon scolds me as I continue down the hall and into the library.
“Sage!” His tone is getting deeper, and I can tell he’s about to blow his top. His anger is about to rear its ugly face, and I physically don’t want to endure this fight with my brother anymore.
“I heard you, Sax. Loud and clear! You don’t have to worry anyway—he dumped me. Are you happy? You got your way once again.” I turn to face the bookshelf, searching for my favorite book, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Pulling the book off the shelf, I head for my chair that’s facing the window overlooking the garden. I pull my legs underneath me and lean against the armrest as I flip open to the first page. The guys are silent for a moment, and I catch a glimpse of the two of them sharing a look before Saxon steps further into the library.
“He broke up with you?” Saxon asks me, his voice no longer sounding like he wants to strangle someone, but now sounding almost sympathetic. I sigh to myself, not wanting to explain why I was dumped but knowing my brother and Saint won’t leave me alone until I give them an explanation.
“It’s nothing, Sax. Please, just drop it,” I say into my book, flipping the page, not having read a single word.
“Sage, why?” My brother is relentless, and I know he isn’t going to let this go. I slam my book shut, my cheeks already heating with embarrassment as I blurt out, “Because I wouldn’t have sex with him! Happy? Now, please, just leave me alone.” I turn away from the two of them. The setting sun beams in through the window, warming my face. Loud footsteps exit the room and echo throughout the foyer as whoever left stomps down the stairs. I breathe a sigh of relief but know he is still in the library with me.
“Saint, you can go too. I’m fine. I don’t need you giving me a lecture either,” I say over my shoulder, knowing damn well Saint’s still here. He doesn’t speak; in fact, he’s so quiet I turn to see if he didn’t sneak out without me hearing him. Pulling my legs out from underneath me, I shift in my chair and see he’s leaning against the door frame, his expression unreadable.
“What?” I say to him, sitting up straighter and turning my book in my lap. His eyebrows are pinched together, and he’s giving me a hard look. Silver eyes are on me, and I’m about to tell him to leave me the hell alone when he finally clears his throat .
“Where does he live?”
“What?” I say, confused.
“I’m asking you, where does he live?” I scoff to myself, rolling my eyes but not answering him. Pushing off the door frame, he stalks over to me, his large frame filling the room and making me feel so small all of a sudden. Grabbing the arm rests of the chair, he leans his face close to mine. Our noses are practically touching.
“I’m not going to ask you again. Where does he live?” His scent invades my nose: warm notes of cedar and red sage. I discreetly inhale his scent, my eyes closing a moment longer than normal. When I open them again, he’s still there. His eyebrow now lifted higher, waiting for me to respond. My eyes drift to his mouth, where he rolls a toothpick from one side of his mouth to the corner.
“He—uh—he lives in The Pines development with his mother,” I stutter through my words. I’m suddenly feeling very nervous as he hovers over me.
“What house number, Sage?” Damn, I was hoping he wouldn’t ask me that. My mouth falls open just slightly, my mind trying its hardest to find a way out of this, but I come up short. His silver eyes are still on mine, and I have to turn my head, the intensity of his stare becoming too much. Strong fingers grip my chin, forcing my head back towards his.
“One more time. What’s his house number?” Saint whispers, his voice so low it almost sounds like a growl.
“219,” I whisper. This man is insufferable. I wish he would just yell at me like Saxon and get it over with. This technique is far worse. I crumble beneath his gaze. He has a way of making me feel so flustered, so out of control, I give in almost immediately.
“Good girl.” Releasing my chin, he kisses the top of my head before standing up and heading towards the door.
“What are you going to do?” I ask, standing from my chair as fear begins to bubble in my chest. My brother is a scary man when it comes to intimidating the men I date, but Saint is terrifying. Last time a man, or rather, a boy, did me wrong when I was a freshman, he didn’t show up to school for two weeks. When he finally did show up, he did everything in his power to avoid me. Never making eye contact and even going so far as to change his entire schedule, so we never shared a class together again. Saint and Saxon told me they didn’t do anything to him, but I’m not stupid.
“Saint?” I call after him.
Stopping in the doorway, he turns toward me once again. He brushes his hair back with his hand, closing his eyes as he does so. As he reaches for his head, his white t-shirt rises just enough that I’m able to see just a bit of his lower abdomen. My eyes instantly focus on his tattooed skin, my face suddenly becoming hot.
When I look up at his face, his eyes are on me. The corner of his mouth tips up just slightly as his heavy gaze remains on me.
“Listen, Sage. Men like that need to be taught that a woman is more than just her pussy. If he keeps going through life thinking women are merely a gift to men, he will end up hurting someone, and I’ll be damned if that woman is you. You’re far more than just a trophy for him to win. You deserve more than anyone, Sage. Never let a man make you feel like you’re not enough. You’re more than enough.” The room falls silent as the two of us stare at one another. Saint is a second brother to me, but when he talks like this, I envy the woman he ends up with.
I wrap my arms around myself, not sure how to respond. One minute, he’s an overprotective brother, and the next, he’s my defender from evil.
“Stop thinking too much on it, witch stick. I’m just going to pay him a quick visit. No need to start digging a grave just yet.” He winks at me, then turns around, leaving me speechless. I let out a long sigh, before I send up a quick prayer for my brother and Saint not to kill this poor man who’s about to get one of the hardest lessons of his life.
Fucking hell.