Page 38 of The Pact

“Let me tell you what you didn’t seem to notice. Them taking turns to fill up your wine glass. Damian serving you dinner. Sutton getting you a bowl of ice cream. They were doting on you.” My laugh comes out harsh, yet when I meet her gaze, I notice she’s completely serious.

“Oh, you’re not joking?” I take a moment to go over the evening. She isn’t wrong. “Cass, I’m still a guest in their home. They were being hospitable. Did they not do the same thing for you?” Her eyes narrow, knowing that I’m right.

“Fine, what about the four of them not missing the opportunity to stare at your ass when you bent over to pick up the cards you dropped? Or Damian’s eyes on your mouth practically the whole night, like he wanted to kiss you. Wesley eyeing your tits like he’s never seen a pair. Sutton staring at your legs every time you shifted in your seat.”

I didn’t notice any of that. I can’t even recall any of them paying that much attention to me tonight. “I think that you’re reading way too much into this. They’re guys, guys who live with a bunch of other guys and apparently don’t date much. Of course they’re going to stare. I mean, have you seen what I’m wearing?” I give a playful spin, sending the bottom of my dress twirling around me. Apparently, I’m a little tipsy as well.

“I don’t know Thea. It kinda seemed like they were all into you. And that seems like trouble waiting to happen.” I roll my eyes.

I send Cassie off with a warning to not be so paranoid and to get some sleep. I want to brush off her comments, but I can’t. My mind replays the night over and over, wondering if I was that dense or if she was right. Damn her detailed eye, picking up on any and every insignificant thing. Leaving me with all the pieces to try and make sense of.

I head inside, hoping I’ll only find Cole. Coming face to face with his brothers wouldn’t end well with Cassie’s words swirling in my mind.

Tonight, my wine hazy head needs some sleep. Tomorrow I’ll sort through her claims.

DAMIAN

The front door closes and I know it’s Thea coming back inside. She’s probably heading downstairs to Cole. The thought irks me a little.

Her presence around here these last two weeks has shifted something between my brothers. I’m not sure I like it. I’m getting impatient with Cole and his moodiness. Wesley is equally moody. That’s normal for him. He has his ups and downs, although he’s extra pissy when she’s around. Sutton’s been strangely energetic.

Thea’s affecting each of us differently. She makes me want to push her buttons just as much as she wants to push mine. That comment about not caring to earn my respect should have pissed me off. Instead, I found it amusing.

That pretty mouth of hers needs a lesson in manners.

I’ve been on edge trying to manage these changes. After all, I’m the oldest and that means I’m responsible for all of us, no matter what. But it wasn’t always that way.

Wesley was the one we turned to when we were younger. Mostly because he’s always been massive. We became quick friends when he saw some assholes bullying me about my pathetic lunch in fourth grade and knocked one of them out. Got detention and everything over a kid he didn’t know. After that, we started eating together every day.

I’ve never told him, but he saved me. Growing up poor and beaten by my drunken stepdad nightly, I was doomed to follow in my parent’s footsteps or worse. My will to live at ten years old was dwindling. I didn’t see the point. Until I met him.

Wes wasn’t all muscle. Despite his own shitty situation, he was always joking and had that stupid grin on his face. I needed a ray of light in my life—he was that for me.

Not only for me. He did the same for Sutton. That man is a savior. It’s why I give him a lot of leeway these days. I’ll put up with his moodiness because he tolerated mine when he didn’t have to. I need to figure out a way to navigate these changes with as little damage as possible.

Unfortunately, I know what will probably resolve most of these problems. I’m hoping that isn’t why Cole’s been acting out—that would be a disaster. He needs to tell her the truth and soon, before she causes a rift that we can’t fix.

My fingers fly across the keyboard. I have two monitors in front of me and dozens of screens on each. Various projects, both personal and professional that require my attention. Right now, I’m working on a personal one.

Gavin Tallentire’s name sits in the search bar. I hit the enter button.

I’m proud of Thea for giving up his name, even if she fought to keep it to herself. I didn’t need her to tell me, honestly I already had it. That was an exercise to gauge her reception to my need to protect my family.

I’ve pegged her as someone who’s independent to a fault. She’ll likely help anyone who asks, even if asking for help in return isn’t her strong suit. I picked up on that when she told us that Cassie had to convince her to move here for months before she finally caved.

Even when it’s in her best interest, she doesn’t want to let anyone protect or provide for her. That will change. She has no choice.

The most interesting part of our conversation earlier was when I revealed what I know about her, a glimpse of the info I’ve gathered. She doesn’t know the full extent of it. However, I could see in her eyes that she was terrified that I’d keep digging. What are you scared of me finding, Thea?

It takes less than five minutes to find out everything I need to know. Gavin’s age, where he was born, pictures of his family, his address, and phone number. His record also comes up. DUIs and… assault.

I pull up the court record. Dismissed. I dig a little farther. He was eighteen, just about to head off to college. I type the Judge’s name into my system. A handful of pictures come onto the screen.

I scroll through them. Most are insignificant. But then I spot something. I toggle back to the screen with pictures of Gavin’s family. Sure enough, the Judge and Gavin’s dad are golfing buddies.

Reopening the case file, I see it was a seventeen-year-old girl accusing him. There are photos of bruises on her body. Fuck, he’s a monster.

Does Thea know about this? No, I can’t imagine she’d be with him if she knew. Had he put his hands on her while they were together? The thought sends an irrational surge of anger through me.

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