First Debt (Indebted #2)(34)

Okay…that was just plain rude.

Kes snickered. “Fair enough.”

My teeth almost cracked from clenching. Why had I been worried about what I was about to do to her? She made me believe she cared—just a little—about me. She’d sucked me off for Christ’s sake. She’d asked me to f*ck her. She was attracted to me. I knew that.

Just like I was attracted to her.

So much.

Too much.

I was beyond f*cking ready to slam inside her wet heat and finally show her the truth. That no matter her birth-right or mine, we were equals. And I’d never met anyone as challenging or intriguing.

But she’d manipulated me.

She’d used me, not once, but more times than I knew. All along I’d been fighting for the right to gain her trust, only for her to give it to my bloody brother.

Damn woman. Damn Weaver Whore.

Snapping my fingers, I hissed, “You’ve had your fun. Congratulations on winning once again, Ms. Weaver.” Pointing at the ground by my shoes, I ordered coldly, “Come. It’s time. You’ve wasted my day hiding. Now it’s time to get this over with.”

Nila tilted her chin insolently. “I didn’t know we were fighting for something. Why exactly did I win?”

Goddammit.

Ignoring her question, I repeated. “Come. Now.”

Kes crossed his arms, watching us as if we were his favourite volleyball match.

Nila rose gracefully from her seat. In her hands, she held the Weaver journal, which she stroked reverently, before transferring it from her lap and onto the chair she’d just vacated. Her actions were stiff, back ramrod straight. “Whatever you believe, I wasn’t hiding, Jethro. Merely finding friends in the unlikely of places.”

I froze as she moved toward Kestrel.

He opened his arms.

She walked into his embrace.

She walked into his f*cking embrace.

I couldn’t understand.

I didn’t want to understand.

She prefers him over you, idiot. She can see you’re different. She can sense you’re screwed up.

The hug lasted far longer than my tolerance level. Who was I kidding—I had no tolerance level.

Kes was mine, and Nila was mine. They both belonged to me. They had no right to gang up against me.

“Kes…” I immediately snapped my lips together. I refused to be weak and ask him what the hell this meant. Instead, I embraced vulgarity. “I wouldn’t get close to her, brother. Never know where her mouth has been.” My tone was a viper ready to strike.

Kestrel let Nila go, eyeing me coldly. “If it’s been anywhere on you, then I can guess. But you’re forgetting, brother, I’m not the one with sharing issues. Am I?”

My mouth fell open. A pain shot deep inside my heart. In our entire lifetime together, he’d never provoked me that way. Never brought up something so painful or the crux of my whole issue.

“Fuck you,” I growled.

Kes’s eyes tightened, finally showing some sign of regret. Bastard.

Nila looked between us silently, crackling with energy. No doubt this family drama was hugely amusing to her. I never wanted her to see me like this. What was this? Had Kestrel finally had enough of being second best to the firstborn son, or had he seen something he truly wanted in Nila?

Either way, it didn’t matter. He couldn’t have her. No one could.

“Jet, let’s forget it, okay?” Holding up his hands, he added, “Bygones, yeah?”

“Bygones? What the hell are you doing?”

Kes shook his head. “We’ll talk about it later. Right now, you have things to do.”

“Things like extract a debt from me?” Nila snapped.

My attention flew to her, just in time to see her topple sideways as one of her stupid episodes rendered her incompetent.

“Shit.” Kes ducked at inhuman speed, catching her before she hit the ground.

My stomach twisted with jealousy.

Moaning, Nila crumbled into Kes’s arms.

“You all right?” Kes slowly guided her onto her feet.

That—right there. That was the true difference between my brother and me. He caught those who needed to be caught, while I stood by and watched. The memory of Nila falling to the parking garage floor at the Milan airport showed me just how true that statement was.

I have no choice.

Empathy and softness weren’t permitted. They were the root of all evil for a person like me.

Taking a deep breath, Nila pushed Kes gently. “I’m fine. Thanks for your help.”

Kes nodded, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets. “You’re welcome. You should probably have that looked at.”

“It’s not a disease,” I jumped in. “Besides, she’s better than when I first collected her.”

Nila’s cheeks blazed with colour. She wobbled a little as another wave hit her. “Do you know why that is? I was thinking about it before actually.”

No one spoke, waiting for her to continue.

“I get them when I’m stressed. I probably suffered five or six a day when I was working so hard and presenting my new season to buyers and reporters. And yet, here…I only seem to suffer them around you.” Cocking her head, she placed her fists on her hips. “What does that tell you, Jethro?”