Page 64 of Her Filthy Mistake

His eyes glisten in anger as I brace for the punch. I don’t blame him for hating me. He should. I violated his trust. I violated Zoe’s trust. I close my eyes. I violated Zoe in so many ways.

Maybe not how he thinks I did. But I did all the same. I came on to her when I had no business to do so. I should have stayed away. I yearn to tell him the truth, but I can’t. Just because my brother believes me doesn’t mean anyone else will. I can’t prove it was all a lie. I don’t have a shred of evidence. And without it, she’ll be dropped from the music industry and lose everything she’s fought so hard for.

He fists my white button-down dress shirt and yanks me closer. When I open my eyes, pain slices through my chest. I’ve lost both of them, and I deserve it. “Do it.”

“Do what?”

“Punch me. Go ahead.”

His lips twitch as he studies me. “Are you going to fight me back?”

“No.” I shake my head and wait.

The corners of his eyes crinkle as he breaks into a chuckle and pulls me to his chest in a bro hug. “I love you, man.” He smacks my back hard enough that the air leaves my lungs.

“I’m not sure I understand.” My head spins in confusion as I take in his rapidly changing demeanor.

He laughs harder, smacks my back again, and rocks back onto his heels. “Dude, I’m a trained interrogator. I can play bad cop with the best of them.” His eyes narrow into slits. “So, do you want to press charges against my father?”

I blink, trying to decipher what he means. “How? Why would I?” Did my brother tell him? And he believed him? I can’t go to court with this story. I’d be laughed off the stand. Does Zoe know? Does she believe me? My heart aches for that to be a reality.

He paces the floor in front of me. “My father is a lying piece of shit.” He stops in mid-step and winks. “But you have him on video. Zoe found it two nights ago in your phone when she was trying to find a way to get ahold of you. She saw the recording on your phone.”

She wanted to get ahold of me? My hands shake uncontrollably as my knees buckle. A recording?

“What recording?” My eyes widen. The video I was recording while waiting for Zoe to return from talking to her father. It didn’t stop. Fuck. Why didn’t I think of that?

Who cares about that. She wanted to call me. I swipe my hands on my pants again. “Is she okay?”

“Yes and no.” He shrugs. “She’s upset with our father for being the ass we always knew he was. She’s worried you’re angry with her because our father is a colossal douche who ruined your music career. And I don’t think she’s eating or sleeping like she should. She looks like a ghost. But–”

“Stop.” I grab his upper arm. “Where is she? Did she come with you?” The need to be with her and take care of her overrides everything else.

“No. She wanted to confront our father before she saw you to apologize. She wanted that out of the way. And I want you to press charges against the asshole.” His eyes are dark. “The lengths he went through to destroy you is disgusting. And all because he thought you were using Zoe to get close to him. For a man who manipulates more than he breathes, he’s surprisingly hypocritical.”

“I didn’t use her. I never did. I’ve always had feelings for her.” I bite my bottom lip. I hurt her and must make it right. Whatever it takes. “I didn’t want to upset anyone. Including her. If she didn’t feel the same way. So I pretended like she didn’t mean anything to me.”

He snorts and slams his hand into my chest, shoving me backward. “If you shoot music videos, you might want to hire a guy who looks like you to play the part because you’re a shit actor.”

“Bite me.”

“Why else do you think Mom and Landon planned this entire trip?”

“What?” I clasp the chair again. I didn’t go into details with them on what happened at the resort, so as far as I know, they don’t realize we had sex. Or do they? Blood drains from my head. Shit.

“They set the entire thing up.” He smirks. “All of it but me leaving. I was supposed to be there to force the two of you to interact. But I guess my leaving proved to be a better stimulus than my being there. And I’m grateful I was called back to the States. I didn’t need my virgin ears hearing all that endless headboard banging. With my sister of all people.”

“Don’t say anything you’ll regret.”

He raises his hands in defense. “No worries. I respect you.” He waggles his eyebrows. “Even if you are banging your niece.”

“Stop,” I growl as I yank him to my chest. “Thanks for coming. I don’t know what I’m going to do about your father, but I need to fly home and set things right.”

“The flights booked for two o’clock.”

After letting him go, I punch him in the gut. “Asshole. That’s for fucking with me when you came in.”

“That’s warranted.” His chest rises and falls with laughter.

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