Page 50 of Revere
It got worse after his failed trial left him physically scarred on parts of his body. To the point where the doctors assumed he had haphephobia. But here he is, holding Mila’s hand, keeping her at his side, and not flinching as her hand rubs his forearm.
“When did this happen?” I slam the car door, trying to keep my composure. “Howdid this happen?”
“I didn’t mean for you to find out like this.” Mila shifts on her feet, not letting go of my brother’s hand. “When Alex was in Montgomery?—”
“This started while he was in the psychiatric ward?” I cut her off, my eyes widening.
I was still here at that point. How did I miss it? Why does it feel like I’m suddenly in the dark about everything?
“It wasn’t like that then,” Mila says.
“But it is now?”
“It’s just—” Mila closes her eyes, taking a shallow breath. “Everyone was gone. Alex was here. We started spending time together, and it just happened.”
“He’s my brother.” And clearly, I know nothing about him anymore.
It’s one thing for him to keep secrets from everyone else. To shut everyone else out. But me? When did I get set on the outside of his life? And why has he let my best friend in?
“I know. And I’m sorry about that. But it doesn’t change how I feel about him.”
“How do you feel about him?” I ask, dreading her answer.
Girls always found Alex attractive in school. They would flock, trying to catch his attention. But that was only because they never understood how dangerous he is. Mila doesn’t know what she’s getting into.
She glances up at Alex, and her lips purse like she’s searching for an answer. And I wonder if maybe I’m pushing too hard because she doesn’t seem to want to admit what he means to her. Which, if anything, only tells me exactly how much she cares.
She’s been my best friend since we started at Briar, and even when she was dating Marco, I never saw her look at anyone like she’s looking at him.
Alex tips her chin up, tracing the line of her jaw and staring into her eyes like he cares about her.
Loves her even?
“You don’t need to explain yourself to anyone.” Alex’s voice has my blood running ice cold in my veins.
It’s been years since he’s said a word.
To the point where I didn’t even know if he had a voice anymore. And here he is, talking to Mila like it’s any other day.
Alex turns to me, and my cheeks drain of any remaining color. “If you have any questions about my relationship with Mila, feel free to interrogate me, sis.”
Sis.
I never thought I’d hear that again. It cracks something in my chest. My jaw slacks, and my eyes widen.
My brother is back. Somehow, in some way, he’s returned to me.
“You’re—” Shaking my head, I can’t speak as the first tear slips out. It feels foreign on my cheek. A wet streak of emotion when I’m so careful never to let my feelings show anymore. But here, in this moment, I don’t care about appearances.
My brother is speaking again.
“You’re talking.” Without thinking, I close the space between us and throw my arms around his neck.
I can’t help it. Neither of us is affectionate, but if I don’t grab on to him, he might slip away like everything else. For years, I’ve felt the teeth of our family name rip us to pieces while Sigma Sin rotted us from the inside out. But in this moment, I have my brother with me, and that’s all that matters.
Alex wraps an arm around my back, not letting Mila go with his other hand, and I don’t care. This half hug is more than he usually offers and all I need if it means he’s some fragment of himself again. Sobs shake my chest as tears wet his T-shirt. I’m a mess in his arms.
After everything, he’s finding his way back to me.
