Page 156 of Undisputed Chaos
"Until you guys showed up. That was the most bada—cool—thing I've ever seen in real life."
I couldn't help but smile at my brother's resilience, the way he could bounce back and find something to be excited about.
It was so perfectly Crew—finding the silver lining even in getting held hostage.
Adrian watched our interaction with soft eyes, and I saw Jax exchange a meaningful look with him before heading toward the door.
"I'll leave you three to catch up," Jax smiled, keys jingling. "Take care of your sister, Crew.”
"Always do," Crew replied seriously, straightening up immediately.
After Jax left, we settled on the sectional, Crew immediately sprawling across one end like he owned the place.
I curled up next to him, and he automatically shifted to make room, letting me lean against his shoulder.
Ignoring the whole Noah incident, today was probably the best day of Crew’s life. He got to meet the three champion boxers he was probably obsessed with.
"So," he said, eyeing Adrian with barely contained excitement, "that was the most insane thing I've ever seen in my life."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Which part?"
"All of it!" Crew gestured wildly. "When you, Connor, and Jax showed up, it was like watching the Avengers or something. Those guys holding me went down so fast I barely saw what happened."
"Connor's efficient," Adrian agreed with dark amusement.
"And then you..." Crew's eyes went wide, his voice dropping to an awed whisper.
"Dude, you stabbed that guy with like, zero hesitation. It was terrifying and awesome, and I'm pretty sure I wet myself a little."
"Crew!" I protested, embarrassed by his graphic enthusiasm.
"What? It's the truth!" He turned to Adrian with the kind of hero worship that made me simultaneously proud and worried.
"I've been following your career since middle school. You guys are legends. But seeing you fight for real, protecting Isla..."
He shook his head in amazement. "That wasn't sport."
Adrian's expression grew serious. "Your sister means everything to me. What I did today was completely necessary."
"Good," Crew said with fierce satisfaction. "Noah deserved worse. I hope you get to finish what you started."
The bloodthirsty comment from my baby brother was slightly alarming, but I also found it oddly endearing.
Seeing him channel that same intensity Adrian carried was both amusing and touching.
“A little bloodthirsty, huh?” I teased, poking his ribs. "Save some righteous fury for the rest of us."
He squirmed away from my fingers, laughing. "I'm serious! That guy tried to hurt you. He used me to get to you. If I ever see him again?—"
"You won't," Adrian interrupted with a manic smile, his voice carrying dark promise. "I'll make sure of that."
Crew studied Adrian's face for a moment, then nodded with grim satisfaction. “Just... make it hurt, okay? For what he put Isla through."
I couldn't help but laugh at the casual way my little brother was discussing torture. "God, you really do have Adrian's bloodthirsty streak, don't you?"
"Must be genetic," Crew said with a cheeky grin, then yelped when I grabbed him in a headlock and ruffled his hair aggressively.
“It doesn’t work that way,” I scoffed, wrestling with him on the couch. "You get that from too many video games."
