Page 36 of The Bad Brother

“Yeah.” Sera nods her head on another sip. “He killed someone. Did five years in the Texas State Correctional—same as Jen.”

“Jesus…” River mutters it on aholy shithead shake.

“What?” Sera throws up her hands, green eyes wide. “Cade’smybrother. I can tell her if I want and besides, if she’s going to live here, she has a right to know.”

River looks at me on a sigh. “Jen only did eighteen months. He was injuvenilecorrections, not regular prison like Cade.”

“But he did hurt someone.” It’s supposed to be a question but it doesn’t come out sounding like one. Regardless, River nods her head.

“That’s what they said.”

Cade the smirky bartender went to prison for murder.

Jensen did time as a minor for an undisclosed, violent crime.

Oddly enough, still not scared.

Looking at River, I know that if I ask what Jensendiddo to get himself locked up, she’ll shut our impromptu pizza party down, take her pizza, and drag her big mouth friend out of here without another word.

So I don’t ask.

Instead, I take another bite of pizza, washing it down with a healthy gulp of wine. “So… what did River tell you that she was right about?”

“I told her she was going to like you.” Obviously relieved that I’ve decided to let it go, River reaches for slice number two. “She didn’t believe me.”

Looking at Sera, I get that feeling again—that I should be offended but I’m not. I like her—she’s fierce and outspoken and I very much want her to like me back. “And?”

Grinning at me, Sera gives me a shrug. “I guess I was wrong about that too.”

AFTER A FEW MORE GAMES OF POOL ANDmore beers than I probably needed, I sent Cade home to his kid and lock the door behind him, noting that my shitty little hatchback is still above water. After my run-in with Ethan at the club, Saturday night, I’m surprised it hasn’t been sunk by now.

River and Sera paraded through here a few hours ago carrying pizza and wine and even though I wanted to stop them, tell them that making friends with my torturer was not allowed, I didn’t say anything. And when they left about a half hour ago, I didn’t ask what they talked about or if Sloane confided in them that I’ve been a dick all week. I didn’t need to. I know she didn’t because if she did, River would’ve said something to me about it on her way out and she didn’t. Looks like Sloane, for whatever reason, has decided to keep our little war a secret.

Setting the alarm and making sure all the doors arelocked, I do a quick walk through the kitchen to make sure the fryers and grills are shut off before reluctantly heading upstairs.

It’s been a over week since launched my campaign to get River’s squatter out of the loft and beside the day she came down to the basement, half-naked, and nearly gave me a stroke, I haven’t heard so much as a peep from her.

Technically, it’s not my loft anymore since I moved out and River’s charity case isn’t squatting but I’m fifty percent drunk and one hundred percent angry so I’m giving myself permission to be an asshole about it.

Sloane.

Her name is Sloane, and whatare you so pissed off about exactly? The fact that River followed through on doing what you gave her permission to do or are you pissed because this woman’s got you twisted up in knots and acting like a psychopath without even trying. Got you feeling things you haven’t felt in months—shit, let’s be honest, shall we? She’s got you feeling things you’veneverfelt before and knowing that scares the shit out of you.

Maybe.

Probably.

But that doesn’t change what she is. She’s one of them.

Hypocritical, given the name on your birth certificate, don’t you think? You know better than anyone that you can’t choose the family you’re born into.

Again, maybe.

Probably.

But I never lied about who I was. I earned my right to be here. I didn’t feed some bleeding-heart kid a sob story about being homeless and heartbroken so I could weaselmy way in.

Stopping in front of my apartment door, I take my time getting it open. I don’t usually bother to lock it but that was before River invited a stranger to live across the hall. Not that I think she’s here to rob me. No—I think Ethan sent her here to gain my trust. Get under my skin. Fuck with my head. It sounds crazy and far-fetched but it isn’t. There’s nothing my little brother wouldn’t do to hurt me. Make me miserable. Destroy my life.

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