Page 28 of Inferno

I look at him and give him a warning glare not to wind Finn up anymore.

“What? He’s the fucking doctor here. If he tells me I’m dying, what the hell else am I supposed to think?”

As I indicate to take a left, heading on the straight back to the hotel, I zone out as those two bicker. I’m the eldest, they both listen to me. But they argue constantly between themselves.

As I pull up into the back of the lot, I hide the keys on the tire for Romeo to collect and grab my black T-shirt, putting it back on, it clings to my sweaty skin.

My dick aches and I adjust my pants.

“You caught something?” Finn laughs.

“No. I got punched in the dick earlier,” I tell them quietly.

They both stop and look at each other, then back to me.

“What? Who? Did you kill him?” Con says, trying to hide his laughter.

“No, they’re alive. And not a ‘he’, a ‘she’. A very beautiful she.”

Finn’s eyes almost pop out of their sockets.

“Beautiful, hey? Someone’s got a crush. Careful, you might actually end up with something.”

I shake my head and slap his arm.

“Enough. Beer?” I ask my brothers, redirecting the direction of conversation.

They both look at me sporting the same menacing grin.

“Fuck yes,” they say at the same time.

I rub my hands over my face in frustration. These two will be the end of me.

As they go to walk off, I put my hand out to stop them.

“Silence. I want the first drink in absolute silence. I don’t want to hear a fucking word from either of you until I’ve finished. I don’t even so much as want to hear you breathe. Clear?” I tell them.

“Whatever.” Conan strolls off and Finn walks next to me.

“Somethings getting to you, Declan,” he presses, and I sigh.

“I thought you were training to be a surgeon, not a psychiatrist.”

“Ha-ha. Smart ass. It’s that girl. Ain’t it? The dick-puncher?”

My jaw ticks as I picture her. I can’t explain it. Why did it feel like I was about to pass out when she looked at me?

It wasn’t just looking at me. She saw through me.

No fear. No judgement.

She pressed my buttons and tricked me.

I rub my hand along my throat, right where she grabbed me.

There’s something about this girl I can’t put my finger on.

“I’ll take your silence as a ‘yes’.”

---