Page 154 of Inside the Sun

"Run, Summer! Lock yourself in your room!" I shout, remembering his door has a security code.

Rocco snarls and swings again, this time trying to hit me with the back of his fist. But the moment his hand almost reaches me, his body suddenly collapses. Just crumples like a puppet with its strings cut!

Summer stays frozen, still leaning against the wall, staring at him.

"What just happened?" I choke out. That scuffle wasn’t nearly enough to knock him out, even drunk. I didn’t hit him, I just yanked him hard.

"I cut off the blood flow to his brain for a few seconds," Summer says quietly.

"Oh, right. Forgot you could probably take on an entire army if you wanted to," I mutter sarcastically, wincing.

I turn to head back to my room, but Summer grabs my hand again.

"Thank you… for trying to protect me," he says. His mismatched eyes bore straight into my face. "It means a lot. Especially since I know what it may cost you to step in. But, Sun… can we talk?"

I press my lips together. I don’t want to talk to him, he pisses me off. It’s like watching a god in chains. Summer could get out of here any time. He could smash those doors, those walls, and walk right out.

But I’m too drunk to argue. So I give a small nod. Fine, I can spare him a few minutes.

He takes my hand, which feels weird, and leads me down the hall.

It’s my first time in his room, it’s twice the size of mine, walls painted light pink, with an elegant bed—definitely a marital-style, though I doubt it’s ever been used that way. The curtains in the windows are light blue. Everything is so pastel here.

For a second, I wonder if this room used to belong to Moon. But then something else catches my eye.

A massive aquarium, sitting on top of a cabinet against the far wall.

Huh. That’s unexpected. Anzo got him this?

I walk over slowly, eyes fixed on the greenish glass surface. Inside, fish drift majestically through the water. Only one species: goldfish, but the fancy kind, with long, flowing tails and fins that look like sheer veil-like fabric trailing behind them.

They’re really stunning, so I stare for a while, admiring.

"Holy shit, so awesome. I’ve never seen tails like that. Looks like they’re swimming around in colorful wedding veils," I murmur, genuinely impressed.

Summer steps beside me, smiling faintly.

"That particular breed has especially long tails."

"You into fishkeeping?"

He nods. "I am. Very calming."

"Anzo let you have these?"

"Yeah."

A minute of silence, as I stare. He’s right, observing slowly flowing fish is calming, and kinda hypnotizing.

"So, that’s why I never see you in the garden. Staring at fish all day?"

"I just prefer the roof."

"The roof? What for? Stargazing? You a secret astronomer too?" I scoff.

"Among other things. I like it up there because I can be alone. There are too many people in the garden."

Yeah, like me, and his brother. Fucking. Before. No longer the case.

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