Page 82 of Trustfall

He looks back at me with a questioning expression, maintaining his grip on the man in front of him.

“Us against the world, remember?” We used to say that when we were young.Us against the world.We thought we were badasses, but we were just stupid kids with daddy issues. It didn’t matter, though. We felt like we could conquer the world anyway. We were always stronger together. If he got into a fight at school, I was right behind him throwing punches. We shared everything. Answers to tests, booze, girls…

And we were unstoppable on the field. We worked together in perfect harmony. He threw and I caught. Simple as that. But it’s so much more. He’s my brother.It feels weird to say that now.I shake the thought away.

“You know I always have your back,” I go on. “So, if you’re going to jail, I’m going with you.” I’m right in front of the two of them now. I reach up and gently place my hand on the back of Nate’s—the one wrapped around this guy’s throat—so we’re effectively both choking him. “Now I’m an accomplice.”

Nate flicks his eyes to my hand holding his. Then he looks back up at me, his grey eyes pleading. He’s still angry, but now there’s a faint line of uncertainty forming. He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out.Please, just let him go. We’ll figure this out.When I think he’s going to call my bluff, Nate slowly starts to release the man. I instinctively move my hand down with his. Once free, the man gasps and falls to his knees, taking in strained lungfuls of air. My own lungs fill with the breath I had been holding, and relief washes through my body.Thank God.That was my Hail Mary. I didn’t have another plan if that one didn’t work.

I hear a relieved sob behind me and realize Emory and Allie are still here. Ashton looks apologetic. I figured Emory wouldn’t leave her brother like that. And Allie wouldn’t leave Emory. It’s not Ashton’s fault. I’m sure he tried. Meanwhile, Nate is pacing back and forth, looking like he’s still about to go on a murderous rampage.

I turn toward the guy on the floor, who is now attempting to stand. “Get the fuck out of here,” I yell. Despite the five people in this small, enclosed area who presumably want him dead, he doesn’t seem to be in a hurry.

Nate whips his head around. “I swear to fuck if you ever come near my sister again, I will make sure we’re alone next time. There will be no one to save you.”

The guy straightens out his crumpled shirt and suit jacket, pressing his hands over the wrinkles like that will somehow make any of this better for him. And then he smiles. He fucking smiles. He just narrowly escaped certain death for God’s sake.

“You know, Nate. You’re awfully concerned about me,” he whispers, the rasp in his voice doing nothing to hide his devious tone. “You’re missing what has been right under your nose this whole time.”

Fuck.

Thankfully, Nate doesn’t take the bait. “Get. The. Fuck. Out,” he roars, punctuating each word.

“I’m going, I’m going,” the guy says, inching towards the entrance to the gazebo. As he walks past me, he claps me on the back and leans in, speaking softly but still loud enough for Nate to hear. “Thanks for saving my life, man. I owe you one.” His breath reeks of alcohol and cigarettes. I think he’s going to pull away, but he keeps his mouth steady near my ear, leaning in closer but speaking at the same volume as before. “Does her pussy still taste as good as I remember?” Something deep inside me ignites at his words. My hands clench automatically, and it takes every square inch of the self-control in my body not to react. Then I remember. He’s fucking bluffing. He’s never even tasted her. That thought calms me ever so slightly but doesn’t make me want to tear his limbs off any less.

Before I can do something really fucking stupid, he stumbles out of the gazebo, leaving the five of us standing there with our jaws on the floor.

28

EMORY

I seethe moment the dots connect in Nate’s head. He overheard my conversation with Jaxon, or at least part of it.Does he make you come?Bile rises in my throat when I think about Nate having heard that. And then what he just said to Luke.

Nate’s eyes ping back and forth between the two of us. “How long?” he asks, and I think he’s talking to me, but he’s staring straight at Luke.

When neither of us responds, he takes a step toward Luke. “How long have you been fucking my little sister?” he snaps.

Luke's face flashes with rage, and he steps up to Nate so they’re toe to toe. They lock eyes for a moment, and then something erupts. Nate throws a punch, hitting Luke square in the jaw. Luke stumbles backward, his lip split, and blood sprays across his cheek. I reach for him, but he pins me with a look. He raises his head, wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, and stands still, refusing to fight back.

“You get that one for free,” he says, spitting blood onto the floor. “Only because we kept it from you. But that’s it. Emory and I?—”

“I dare you to finish that fucking sentence, Collins.”

“It’s more than sex,” Luke says calmly. “You would know that if you took the time to understand your sister. Instead, you make unreasonable demands without asking what she thinks or how she feels. I don’t care that you’re her brother, I will not tolerate you speaking disrespectfully about my girlfriend again.”

“What the fuck did you just say to me?” Nate looks around in genuine confusion. “Your girlfriend? Did you hit your fucking head before you came in here?”

“I’ve never been more clear-headed in my life. She’s it for me, man. You can accept it or not. That’s up to you. It won’t change anything for us.”

“I swear to God, Collins,” Nate says, raising his fist up again, but Luke doesn’t cower. He just stands taller.

“Look, I get why you’re so protective, but you have to know I would never hurt her.”

“Then why were you fucking sneaking around?”

“Because of this exact reaction!” Luke throws his hands up in frustration as Nate closes in on him again.

“Stop!” I yell, and just like that, four sets of eyes are on me. “Can you both stop talking about me like I’m not standing right here for one fucking second? Or do I not get a say in any of this?” I march over, wedging myself between Nate and Luke, pointing a finger at Nate’s chest. “You’re done controlling my life. I’m not twelve anymore. I can date whoever the fuck I want to date.”

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