Page 138 of Rush the Edge

Malaki stops mid-walk. He straightens his shoulders, unsure of what my brother is going to do.

“Are you about to punch me for having your sister naked in my bed? Should I brace myself?” There is a hint of amusement in his tone, and I’m pretty sure he’s the only one who thinks this entire ordeal is funny.

River shakes his head. “I’m not going to punch you. I’m protecting you.”

A laugh bursts out of Malaki’s mouth. “From your sister?”

“From Kane,” my brother answers.

I turn and lock onto Kane over my shoulder. His smooth expression is long gone, and in its place is anger. One would assume that Kane is playing along with our made-up scenario, but with the way his jawline is sharpening and his fists are flexing at his sides, I’m not so sure.

“See.” River snorts. “Kane is more protective over my sister than I am. Never once in high school did I have to throw a punch. He was always there first.”

Malaki’s mouth turns up on its side. “But what if Kane was the one to fuck your sister? Then what?” he asks.

My brother spins to face Kane and me. With Malaki behind him, he looks at Kane and puts his hands in his pockets with his eyebrow raised.

“He wouldn’t fuck Daisy.”

River answers so confidently I almost choke on the taste of Kane still inside my mouth from last night.

“We made a pact years ago, and Kane is too loyal to break it.” My brother chuckles.

A pact?

About me?

“What?” I ask. “A pact?”

River chuckles. “Well, yeah. I didn’t want him fucking my sister…” He pauses. “I still don’t.”

Knife to chest.

In the worst way, I want to turn and yell ‘See!’at Kane, but I quickly move on.

“How many other guys in high school did you make a pact with?” I ask, fully invested now.

“I don’t know…” He pretends to think and shrugs. “All of them.”

“Oh my god!” I huff. “Are you kidding me?”

River tries not to laugh. His mouth flattens, and he glances at his partner in crime.

I spin and glare at Kane.

He doesn’t look guilty at all. In fact, he looks pretty damn proud of himself with that arrogant smile.

“Anyway,” River sighs. “I have the morning off because I made Ted take my shift.”

I cross my arms. “You clearly didn’t make a pact with him since you gave him my number!”

Kane steps forward. “Wait, what?”

River puts his finger up. “Actually, that’s why he has my shift this morning. He asked for my phone with some bogus excuse, and instead, he looked up your number so he could text you like a fucking creep.”

“Time to get a new number,” Kane grumbles.

An annoyed breath rips from my lungs.

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