Page 35 of Welcome to Carnage

I keep my mouth shut, as Avina wants to do the talking.

“He brought me over,” Avina says.

Pierce’s brow furrows. “Why did he…” His expression darkens as he trails off. “Don’t tell me you slept at his place?”

Avina nods. “Don’t get angry, and hear me out.”

His eyes narrow. “If you touched her, I swear to—”

“Pierce,” Avina growls his name, stopping him mid-sentence. “Listen to me.”

He falls silent.

“Nyx and I are together,” she says.

“Together?” he repeats. “What the fuck do you mean?”

“He’s my fiancé.” Avina holds up her hand to show him the ring.

“Like hell he is!” Pierce throws the takeout bag onto the sofa and jumps to his feet, swaying a little. Avina was right. He’s still drunk. And if he tries to come at me, he will get seriously hurt. “What the fuck are you playing at, man? That’s my sister.”

Pierce lunges at me, his fists swinging erratically. But I’m not worried. I could take him down in a heartbeat if I wanted to, but I don’t because he’s her brother. And I won’t hurt her family, no matter how much I want to.

I duck his wild punches, keeping my hands where he can see them. “Pierce, calm down,” I say. He doesn’t hear me, or maybe he doesn’t care, as he swings a decent punch that lands and snaps my head back. Dark and feral rage flows through my veins as I growl at him. “Big mistake.”

Avina jumps between us, hands outstretched toward me, her eyes pleading. She knows what I’m capable of, what the beast inside me wants to do to her brother.

“Please, both of you, stop!”

Pierce looks ready to murder me. It’s when I spot a jacket and shirt in the corner of the room.

Fucking hypocrite.

I know exactly who those clothes belong to. And he’s acting like the bigger man when he’s done the same to Avina. “Back down,” I warn.

He glances at the clothes and pales slightly. “Or what?”

“Or I’ll fuck you up. We both know I can, Pierce.”

Pierce’s shoulders slump, and he glares at me. “Our friendship is fucking over.” He points at me.

As if I give a shit. All I care about is Avina.

“Whatever.”

Avina rolls her eyes. “You’ll get over it.”

Pierce growls. “No, I won’t, it’s a fucking betrayal.”

I want to hurt him so badly. The basal instinct to kill clawing at my insides, but Avina would kill me for it. I can’t risk losing her.

“I’m going to move in with Nyx,” Avina announces.

“No freaking way.” Pierce shakes his head. “I’ve seen the dump he lives in.” His eyes narrow. “Have you?”

She shakes her head. “No, but this place isn’t exactly a palace, Pierce.”

His jaw clenches. “Why doesn’t Nyx move in here? I’d be more comfortable with that.”

---