Page 98 of Tempting Fate

Once I’m settled, he claims the section of bench next to me and hands me my coffee. I take a much-needed mouthful, all the while keeping my eyes on my brother as he sips at his drink.

Slumped shoulders. Hangdog air about him. The frown line between his eyes is deep. A heavy, dense quiet hangs between us. I’m about to break it when he finally speaks. “Nadia’s story is hers to tell.”

I nod, biting my tongue because I don’t want to argue anymore. He’s more than likely right, anyway. That doesn’t mean I’m about to go all kumbaya on her arse when the time comes. She hurt my twin. Lied to me when I needed her truth. I can’t let her get away with that—no matter how much the men in my life might feel she deserves a break.

Of course, I don’t have to alert Sander to that little tidbit either.

“Let’s just say that she was in a fucked-up place because of me, and because of her father, and Alex took advantage of that.”

My breath leaves me in a rush. “How?”

“Similar to what he did to you, except he used drugs to get away with it instead of blackmail.”

I’m glad that he made me sit for this revelation because the moment it sinks in, my head starts to spin. Sander rescues my coffee from my shaky hand. He places it back in the tray and moves it to the far side of his lap. Sliding closer to me, he drops an arm over my shoulders and tucks me into his side.

“I don’t understand,” I mutter, closing my eyes to combat the dizziness.

“None of us do,” he replies. “Doubt we ever will. I mean, I know he hated me for reporting his hazin’ and getting him expelled for life from the federation, but it doesn’t make sense for him to use you and Nads to get back at me.”

“I’m your twin, so that kinda explains it.” Sander squeezes me in a silent apology. “And I guess since you and Nads were on and off during high school, he saw her as another way to hurt you. And me. Whatever his reasoning, the fact is, I need to put him down before he hurts anyone else.”

When I lapse into silence, and my indignant statement hangs between us, Sander shakes his head. I extricate myself from beneath his arm and hold out my hand for my coffee. Without a word, he passes it to me and grabs his own. In the quiet of the corridor, I run over what my brother just said about Nadia and find that the anger I’ve been holding since I learnt the role my best friend played in Sander’s drug use has lessened a little. A combination of the agony in Sander’s voice and my own trauma at Alex’s hands makes it hard to hold her actions against her.

If anything, we should start a support group for survivors of Alexander Kingsley.

I’m sure there’s more victims than the two of us.

“So, was this your roundabout way of telling me to lay off Nads?”

“I’d appreciate it if you would.” He leans away, and grinning, pokes me in the upper arm. “We all know how much you love to flex your muscles and bring us all to heel whenever we annoy you. I guess I’m just hoping you’ll stop and make sure she’s worthy of your wrath first.”

Holding up the arm he just prodded, I clench my muscles, then use my finger to push up my puny bicep. “Oh, so I’m supposed to retire these guns just because you say so?”

“Yeah.” Sander chuckles. He holds his hand out, palm down, and tilts it from side to side as he says, “Maybe not retire, per se. Just give ’em a rest long enough to use your ears for once.”

“I can do that.”

“Good.”

Satisfied that we’re back on solid footing, I make a move to retake my feet. My brother grabs my elbow to hold me in place. This time, when our gazes lock, the humour has drained from his face, and in its place is genuine fear.

“What?” I try to smooth out the line formed by his drawn together eyebrows, but he catches my wrist. “You’re freaking me out, Sander.”

“Good. ’Cause it scares the fuck outta me that you believe you’re gonna handle Alex by yourself.”

“What else am I—” Sander presses his fingers to my mouth to shush me.

“I don’t know… maybe give Zeke a chance to explain what happened back then too. Hear him out. He has his reasons.”

“That’s none of your business.” With a shake of my head, I attempt to stand again. I am sick to death of hearing how the men in my life are going to save me from a situation they don’t seem to fully comprehend. “My relationship is?—”

This time he grips my thigh to hold me in place to stop me from stalking off as he speaks over me. “I mean it, Cherub. He loves you to death—and with Dad bein’ all up his own arse about the Alex situation and the Maddison’s—Zeke’s the one who’ll protect you. Me, Slash, Toker, Cub, Fret… fuck even Hunter and Wyatt and Nate… we’ll all do our best, but we’re not as crazy as your old man. Especially when it comes to you.”

Sander shudders as he trails off.

I grimace.

In my brother’s eyes, I spy the same memories that have invaded my head. Zeke isn’t known as Venom just because of his striking resemblance to a young Tom Hardy. My man is lethal. Dangerous. Unhinged when he truly loses control. Unafraid of making people bleed. Animalistic, easy to anger, slow to forgive, self-righteous yet highly critical of himself. Venomous when given a reason to bite.

---