Page 111 of Indulge
But, as I look up at my brother, I don’t have a choice. Until I can confirm Lyla is lying, I need to protect him.
“You’re all fucking crazy!” Lyla shrieks, tearing herself from Rowan’s hold and storming out.
Rowan doesn’t stop her. His fury is all aimed at me now.
He steps beside Bella protectively.
“Precious,” he says quietly, “go home. We’ll meet you there and talk about this like adults.”
He looks directly at me. “It’s about time, for all of us.”
She nods, brushing her hand against his as she turns away.
Just another hit to the ribs.
51
ROWAN
Song- Eternity, Xstitch, Dekerakt
As soon as Reggie steps foot next to me, I square up to him.
“What the fuck was that, Reggie?” I growl.
He doesn’t look up right away, just downs another shot like it’s water. “What’s it look like? I handled it.”
“You handled it?” I take a step closer. “You just chose another woman over your own. The hell are you doing? And what the fuck were you thinking having Lyla in a private room?”
He finally looks at me, calm in that dangerous way he gets right before he explodes. “I wasprotectingyou, like always.”
“Protecting me?” I laugh, sharp and humorless. “From what? That wasn’t protection, that was you making our girl cry. Again.”
Our girl. It comes out so naturally. This isn’t about her being one of ours. No. I’m pissed at the fact he upset Bella.
His jaw ticks. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, I do.” I shove his shoulder, hard. “You’re hiding something. I can smell it on you. What did Lyla say? I know you have no feelings for her, so what? Why were you even here?”
He exhales through his nose. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Bullshit.”
The fact he’s lying to me, protecting me in some way, is winding me up.
He slams his glass onto the bar, the crack echoing off the marble. “I said it doesn’t matter, Rowan!”
“Of course it does!” I snap back. “Because every time you get involved, Bella ends up upset. You keep hurting her and pretending you’re doing it for some noble reason, when really, you just can’t stand the thought of her choosing anyone else. Yet, by stopping her from hitting Lyla, you chose against her.”
He stops, taking a deep breath, his eyes darkening. There’s only one reason I can think of he’d do something so fucking stupid.
“Did you fuck Lyla to try and stop your feelings for Bella? Is that it? You thought you could sabotage everything? Make Bella’s choice easier; sacrifice yourself so she and I can be happy?”
I know he would. That is who he is.
That does it.
His fist connects with my jaw before I can blink.
