Page 40 of Five Brothers

“I picked him up.”

Milo sits at the table, doling out a hand of solitaire like he’s a king hovering over maps and planning a war.

Or like he has any idea how to play anything other than Go Fish.

My former boyfriend decided not to attend college right away, either. Instead, he’s been interning at his older brother’s law office, but probably using most of his mental capacity on just learning to tie a tie every morning.

“So this is your life now?” I ask him, glancing at his friends, whom I don’t know, who are sitting on the couches near the fireplace. Two guys, one girl. New faces, because nearly all of our high school friends went off to school this fall. “Taking your petty pleasures wherever you can get them?”

Milo smiles, his black hair combed and shiny, not a strand out of place. “I just wanted to lure you back to your side of the tracks tonight. Where you belong.”

How did he know I was in Sanoa Bay?

I step closer, glaring down. He still hasn’t looked at me.

“You don’t give a shit about me,” I say in a low voice. “You never did. Your pride is hurt because I like them more than you.”

His small grin locks in place as he stares at the cards, and for a moment, everything stops, because I know that look. The look of him angry and on the cusp of violence.

I shouldn’t have said that. It’ll only bring attention onto Liv’s brothers.

“Did you know your sister is in bed with a Jaeger?” He looks up at Mars.

But instead, I order my brother, “Let’s go.”

“In a year, they’ll be gone.” Milo continues placing cards. “The government will declare eminent domain and sell the land out from under them because it’s more valuable as a resort. Tryst Six will end.”

I shoot my brother a glare. “Now.”

But when he meets my eyes, I notice his pupils. They’re huge. The blue is barely visible.

I lean over the table, swiping my hand over the white residue on the glass.

My heart pounds in my ears.

“You son of a bitch,” I whisper.

“He wanted some,” Milo explains.

I tremble. Macon would handle this beautifully. Like a fucking Spartan. And all I can do is swear at him? I want a knife. A weapon. Something.

I swing my arm across the table, sending his cards to the floor, and get down in his face.

Slowly, he rises, and I know everyone in the room is watching us. We stand toe to toe, his eyes cast down at me, only slightly taller as he grins.

And then …

He swings his hand out, and I twist away, rearing back to shield myself from the blow.

But it doesn’t come.

He drops his arm, chuckling as his friends join in and the room fills with laughter.

I drop my hands, steeling my jaw.

“You don’t even know, do you?” he taunts me. “You have all the power in the world. Not me.”

He grabs me between the legs, and I yell, pushing him, but he pulls me in, holding me tight.

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