Page 37 of The Villain

“You think she’ll be okay with that?”

“She will be if she’s with me.”

“And what about you?” His stare narrowed like the scope of a sniper. “You going to be okay?”

I didn’t answer him and ignored the target the words painted on my back as I walked out of the room and headed for my bike. Normally, as soon as I was on the road, my mind would settle.Not today.

All I thought about the entire drive was the feel of her fingers on my face…and the look I’d bring to hers when I told her the truth.

“Let me talk to her.”

“No.” My shoulders lifted and tensed. “I said I’d do it.”

I turned and faced Rob, who stood with her shoulder propped in the doorway to the rec room. Per usual, she was in her uniform of all black with her hair braided over her shoulder. I remembered one time we’d gone to a local Celtic fair, maybe a year or so after her parents’ deaths, and a little girl had walked by us, pointed at Rob, and exclaimed, “Look, Mom, it’s Merida!’”It was funny. Cute, even. But Robyn was no princess,though she was brave.

“I know, but I think I should.”

“Why?” I demanded like an idiot—like Rob hadn’t been the one spending hours with Athena each day.

“Because I understand.” She reached for the chain around her neck, and I turned away.

I jolted and then threw back the remainder of the whiskey in my glass. “And I don’t?” I shook my head. “No one understands betrayal more than I do. No one understands what it’s like to realize the person you love tried to kill you.”

Not just me. My brother.My brothers.My feelings for Amira had almost cost all of us our lives that day. All because I’d been too blind to see the truth.

“And do you want to relive that?”

I gritted my teeth, breathing as though flames were sinking into my chest with each breath.“I told her I’d tell her when we knew about Brandon. I promised her the truth.”

She paused, and for a second, I thought she was giving in—giving up.I should’ve known.“And what about your truth?”

I froze. “I told you. I’m not telling her who I am. There’s no point, only more pain for her.”

“Not that truth,” she said, and I cocked my head in her direction.“That you care about her.”

Brave.

“I care what happens to her. There’s a difference.” And that difference was a hill I would die on. “She’s vulnerable and under our protection.”

“You care more than that.”

“No, I don’t. I can’t.I won’t.” I was a glutton for punishment—for her anger. I wanted her to feel toward me what she should. Resentment.

“Then let me tell her.”

Rob was right. I should let her talk to Athena. I should let her break the news. But dammit, I couldn’t. I couldn’t trust anyone else with her pain. It was mine and mine alone to suffer.

And to comfort her was my punishment. My redemption.

To be there for her in the way I wasn’t all those years ago.

I shoved away from the bar and strode over to my sister, towering in front of her. “And what do you know about love and betrayal?”

Something flickered in her gaze. She let go of the ring on her necklace and let her arm fall to her side.

“More than you know.”

Her answer surprised me. More than I was ready to process right then, which worked out because she didn’t give me the chance.

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