Page 86 of The Devil's Wrath

Wrenly’s voice cut through the tension, her tone demanding. “Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on? What ‘truth’ are you talking about?”

Gage’s shoulders sagged, the fight draining from him as he turnedto face his sister. “Wren, I . . . I never wantedthislife for you. There’s too many risks?—”

“I’m well aware of the risks, Gage.” Wrenly moved between us. “I love him.”

He let out a mirthless laugh. “Love? You think that’s enough to protect you from their enemies?”

“Gage, stop. I’m not a child anymore. I don’t need your approval on who I choose to date.”

“Clearly, you do. Do you know how many women he’s been with?”

“I don’t care. Now, what truth?”

“Hundreds,” he spat in disgust, ignoring her question. He was too far gone in his anger at this point. “Maybe thousands.”

I stepped forward. “That’s enough. You’re out of line.”

He scoffed. “Am I? She deserves to know the truth aboutyou, Theo. About all of you.”

My fists clenched at my sides, my jaw tightening as I fought to control my temper. “I’d be real careful about what you say next,” I warned him.

“Or what?” His eyes flashed with defiance. “You’ll get rid of me like you do everyone else who gets in your way?”

I could feel the other guests’ eyes on us now, and the music and chatter were fading into an uncomfortable silence.

I held up a hand, my voice low and controlled. “I understand you’re upset, but this isn’t the time or place. We can discuss this later, in private.”

He shook his head vehemently. “No, I think now is the perfect time. She needs to know what kind of man she’s gotten involved with. A criminal and a goddamn murderer.”

“Watch your mouth. You may be her brother, but that doesn’t give you the right to disrespect me or what we do.”

“Gage, please,” Wrenly pleaded, pressing her hands gently on each of our chests, separating us.

Kai and Haven made their way over, their expressions grim.

“Kai,” I greeted him, my voice snipped.

He looked between all of us before speaking, and for a brief moment, I saw a flicker of recognition in his expression as he lookedat Wrenly. His eyes lingered on her and then quickly moved back to me. “Just wanted to make sure everything was alright over here. It’s Archer and Mila’s big night, after all.”

“I apologize for the commotion,” Wrenly said, shifting her eyes from Kai to Haven and back to Kai, as she too recognized Kai from the hospital. “Just a little misunderstanding.” She shrugged, trying to make light of the situation, but I could see how many emotions were warring behind her eyes.

But Gage wasn’t done.

He scoffed loudly. “Misunderstanding? Is that what we’re calling it now, Wrenly?”

She put a hand on his arm, pleading with him to calm down. “Gage, please. Let’s not do this here.”

“I think we’ll all be thankful later that we chose to handle this in a more civil manner,” I interjected.

“Right, because I should just be thanking you for soiling my sister with your diseased dick?”

“Soiling?” I laughed. “I think the word you’re looking for is fucking. I have beenfuckingyour sister.”

Wrenly whirled around to face me, her anger now directed solely at me. The sharp crack of her hand against my cheek echoed through the sudden silence. My head snapped to the side, and I blinked, stunned by the force behind her slap.

“Jesus, Theo. What the fuck? I am not some object for you to degrade and humiliate.”

I couldn’t explain it, but feeling her hit me and seeing the fury in her eyes had me harder than concrete, and I turned my head back to her and smiled.

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