CALEB
“It’s happening, Caleb.” Dane glares at me, refusing to back down, his mind firmly set on his decision. “It’s happening and she’ll be here whether you agree or not. Look, I’ve done what you asked. I stepped back. I paused my fun just so you wouldn’t spit your dummy out. I stayed well away…”
“For what… two fucking weeks?” I seethe, my shoulders squaring, ready for the inevitable fight. “That’s not staying away. Not if you’ve always planned to go back.”
“Fuck man, two weeks is a long time. My balls are blue as fuck.”
“So go shoot your load into some random chick. There’s enough around here to choose from.” I growl out, my patience wearing thinner by the second. I’m so over Dane and his bitchin, and I already know where this conversation is headed. “Phoenix isn’t here to keep your dick warm.”
“But she could be if you backed the hell up and quit being a massive cock blocker.”
A heavy sigh escapes me as my brother stares me down. Refusing to stand down. Dane is obsessed. He’s like a man possessed when it comes to Phoenix. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so hooked on one chick before and that makes this whole situation worse.
Dane could fuck any girl he wants and fuck me, he sure as hell tears his way through them at a rapid rate, but I have never seen him like this. “She isn’t a pawn in one of your games, Dane.” She’s mine. The pussy he’s dipping is our enemy, yet he’s still more than happy to fuck her and play with her mind. Right alongside screwing up our plans. Jeopardizing all our hard work—just to empty his load.
Pussy he can get anywhere.
“Overdramatic, much?” He fires back, still refusing to acknowledge that he’s playing with fire.
“You know the rules,” I warn, my hands balling into fists at my sides as the son of a bitch flashes me a killer smile. A killer smile that the Devil himself would be proud of. But even he can’t help us now. I know that if I don’t find a way to fix this mess then all bets will be off.
We’ll be as good as dead. When this all goes tits up, we’ll be nothing but ash and bone. Sent straight back to the earth like we never fucking existed. Me, Dane, Cameron and anyone else associated to us.
“Yeah, but you and I both know that the rules were created to be broken.”
“Not these fucking rules.” I growl back. I watch him closely as I try to fight my own inner demons. So far it looks like I’m winning, but fuck knows how long that’s gonna last. “If you’re not careful the only thing being broken will be your jaw when Matteo catches you.”
“If Matteo catches me brother—if…”
He sounds so fucking confident. Disbelief floods my body as I puff out my cheeks. If he’s not careful Pheonix will end up being his downfall and we’ll all be going to hell with him.
“Anyway,” Dane’s dark brows knit together, defiance creeping onto his angular face. “Fuck Matteo.” He hisses out his name. “What the fuck does he care what I do or don’t do?”
“Trust me, a hell of a lot more than you can imagine.”
Dane shakes his head, “Look around, Caleb. Where is he? Oh, I’ll fucking tell you where. That motherfucker is off doing his own thing as usual, leaving me and you behind to pick up the slack. Zero fucks given.”
Deep down I know what Dane is saying is the truth. I’ve felt the same way for a while. A nagging thought at the back of my mind that we’re just Matteo’s lacky’s. There’s no way I’m about to admit that to Dane—or to anyone for that matter.
“He’s got his reasons.”
“What the fuck are you still defending him for? He’s never there for you when you need him, so quit acting like his bitch and grow some balls.”
The air grows thick and heavy between us, the weight of our new and unexpected arrival and the difference between us heavy on my shoulders. Obviously, I’m the only one feeling the pressure because in Dane’s world he doesn’t have to worry about shit. He can do what he wants, when he fucking wants—without facing any consequences.
I don’t have that kind of luxury.
I move forward, closer to the liability before me while forcing my mind to think and act rationally. I can fight him all I want but the stubborn son of a bitch is always going to go against me. If I tell him not to do something he’ll go and do it anyway. Just to prove he can.
The truth is, me and Dane going hard at each other isn’t going to change anything. Our problems will stay the same, personal or otherwise but that doesn’t mean I’m happy about it and it sure as hell doesn’t mean I approve of his latest game. His actions piss me off—or should I say lack of them.
Stonebrooke, for all intents and purposes, is my home. But lately my safe haven isn’t hitting the same. I look around at my surroundings and everything looks the same. Nothing seems out of place but there’s a shift in the air and its palpable. A sure sign of things set to come. Our plans have changed and that alone has sent my determined mind out of whack. Not knowing which way things are headed sends my mind spinning. And that’s without mentioning that Matteo doesn’t know shit about our latest development.
I guess that’s another hurdle for another day.
I pull myself out of my thoughts and snap my attention back toward my good for nothing stepbrother. Again, nothing seems to phase this guy at all. He’s positioned comfortably, legs outstretched as he leans back into the leather sofa. His lips twist into a sadistic smile as he finds me watching him. Eager to get some kind of read on him, but as usual he’s a closed fucking book. “Quit stressin,’” he tells me, joint in one hand, a bottle of beer in the other.
I close my eyes and breathe in deep through my nose, counting backwards from ten just the way my anger management counselor taught me, but as usual it doesn’t do shit. “Are you being serious right now?” I demand, my teeth grinding together. This guy never fails to fucking surprise me. Just when I think he can’t annoy me anymore, he goes right ahead and proves me wrong.
“You’re overthinking things. This really isn’t as bigger deal as you’re making out.” He blows a plume of smoke into my direction, fueling the fire in my chest. This son of a bitch is pushing me and he knows it too. The one thing which angers me the most is that Dane isn’t here by my hand. He’s not reliable enough for me, and he doesn’t deserve the power he’s been granted. Fortunately for Dane, and less fortunately for me, Dane’s fate lies in Matteo’s hands, so for now he stays. Well, that’s until Matteo learns about his unforgivable act of betrayal.
“What the fuck do you expect me to do?” I demand, the words falling from my mouth on a heated plea. “I’m the one who’s trying to keep everything together while you’re out there getting all close and personal with the fucking enemy. Seriously, Dane… if you can’t see how fucked up this is then we’re more screwed than I initially thought.
“Chill… it’s only a little lighthearted fun.” Sure, only Dane can think locking someone in a fucking damp empty room for the night is nothing but lighthearted fun.
“Lighthearted fun?” I ask. “That’s what you’re chalking this up to?” he shrugs his broad shoulders back at me. A perfect example of someone who clearly doesn’t give a fuck—about anything. Stepbrother or not, Dane’s a jackass at the best of times. A grade A douche with honors. Hell, I’m not being harsh for the sake of it. I need him to wake the fuck up and snap into action. If he doesn’t get his shit together, and fast, I’ll make sure he’s out. I’ll tell Matteo myself. I’m no snitch, but we don’t have room for failure. Not now.
“Damn straight. Phoenix is about to get fucked up anyway so what does it matter? You tell me why I shouldn’t speed up the process.” Jutting his chin, his deep blue eyes dare me to argue with his logic. To find the flaw in his plan. Usually, I don’t give a fuck what he does with his dick or where he sticks it, but this time is different.
This time it’s personal.
“Nothing has been decided yet.” I remind him, but I can already tell my warning has fallen on deaf ears. If Dane doesn’t want to listen then he won’t. He’ll switch off, zone out to everything around him until he’s ready to come back to reality.
“My point exactly. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. So how about you do you, and I’ll do Phoenix, and quit bitchin’.” Reaching out he grabs another bottle from the fully stocked table before bringing it to his waiting lips.
“You’re trippin’ if you think this is going to work out in your favor.”
Eyes narrowed; he leans closer to me. “You haven’t seen her yet, have you? At least, not in the flesh since she arrived?” Dane’s eyes burn into mine, his time to try to get a read on me but I mastered my emotions long ago. If Dane’s a closed book, mine is sealed for all eternity. His curiosity is heightened when I don’t give him an answer. “Maybe you should change that and fast.”
“I don’t need to fucking see her.” I bite out and the venom leaves a bitter taste on my tongue.
“We’ll see.” Disbelief floods his tone. “You will and trust me, you’ll be the same as me. There’s enough of her to go around, brother.” He raises his dark brows before adding. “She’s a greedy little slut and I’ve barely even touched her.”
I don’t miss the humor in his voice as he tries to clear the air, removing the heated tension which has been building before us. “Not gonna happen.” I confess and the finality in my tone is evident, but as usual Dane ignores my warning.
Cupping the back of my neck, I massage the skin trying to remove the dull tension as it throbs, reverberating deep in my skull. The stress of recent events is building, adding unwanted pressure to an already fucked up situation and it will keep building until it explodes all around me.
“I’m not here to play games, Dane. I’m here to get things done.” I’m not in the mood to be dealing with his bullshit. Not today.
“Hmmm. Maybe you’ll feel different when you’ve emptied your load.”
Raising a brow I reach for my own beer. “We’re not all built like you and have to have our dicks wet to function. And I don’t think it’s the right time for you to be running that smart ass mouth of yours, do you?”
Amusement creeps onto his face, pulling the corner of his lips. “Talking of mouths, you can ask any chick here and they’ll tell you my mouth is my best asset—aside from my dick…”
“Sure you’re not confusing the two? I mean, you’ve always been a dick so…”
My comment causes Dane to smirk some more, clearly enjoying the show I’m putting on for him. Gold entertainment at my own expense.
“There he is. That feisty brother of mine. I was starting to think we’d lost you for a moment there.”
Against my better judgement my lips lift a fraction, but they fall just as fast before I clench my jaw and snap straight back to business. “Alright… the party can go ahead if it shuts you the fuck up but it’s invite only. I don’t want the whole school thinking they can rock up at the Manor house.”
“Fuck yes. Now that’s what I’m talking about brother…” Elated he’s getting his own way.
“No first years allowed.” I deadpan and his face goes slack. The realization of what I’ve just said hitting him hard.
“But…”
“But nothing. The Braxton Brat isn’t welcome.”
“Come on… it could be a way in.”
Slamming my hand down on the counter I lean over him. “I said what I fucking said. With Matteo out of the picture I make the rules. It’s non-negotiable. You want a party, fucking have a party… but I don’t want to see Phoenix anywhere near this place. She stays in the dungeons, festering alongside the sewer rats where she fucking belongs. Like we fucking agreed.” I press. “Don’t go against me on this, because if you do, I’ll fuck her up in front of everybody. Including you.”