Page 187 of Falling in Reverse

Reeve shrugs. “Then I’ll watch her. I’m the only one here who actually likes her. Torin can’t decide one moment if he wants to fuck her or kill her.”

“Because I don’t trust her,” I maintain.

And I can’t decide if I’m off my rocker or on my shit.

“And we can't put a hit on her,” Cairo imparts. “We can say goodbye to South Shore and that peace treaty for good. If Emilio finds out?—”

“We’re not going to kill her,” Reeve clips out. “This isn’t what she wanted. I bet if she could go back, she’d change all this. I’ve spent time with her. She’s not some power-grubbing whore out for her—” I step up on him, anger slicing through my reserve because he’s better than me. He’s far superior in the emotions department than I could ever be. Regardless of what he’s suffered in his life, he’s still Reeve. He’s witty and charming, and he loves and hates with everything he has.

I’m cynical.

My petty seeps through my veins quickly and hot. I don’t give second chances, not daring to deal with the same consequences. The same pain or heartache. I’ve dealt with my mother’s promises of stopping her addiction, the vow of getting help. I’ve trusted Ramsey to protect me when he was the one who became an abuser at some point. Emilio was only good enough until I got older and my being deaf in my left ear was something he believed better suited out of this life. I could wear a hearing aid to help assist; however, why would I when my brothers can sign and I can keep that so-called weakness a secret.

Regardless, when it comes to Bay and Reeve…

“Is that where you were the other night? There was no news on your dad so you ran to the enemy?”

Reeve meets my pissed-off expression with one of indifference. He’s not scared of me, never has been, and out of all of us, he and I have always knocked heads. We’re too different, two separate sides of the spectrum and he’s still the better man.

“She’s not my enemy until she gives me a reason,” he says very fucking slowly. “And until then, Wildes, I’m not gonna crucify her before she does.” Something transforms in his head because his hazel eyes bore into mine. “You’re becoming more and more like the men you’ve come to despise.”

“I’m nothing like?—”

“Emilio is forcing his hand with her loved ones to pay attention and love him.” He looks down at me in disgust. “And you’re oppressing yours with her loved ones to stay away. Don’t you see what kind of position you’re putting her in? You’re fucking deaf, not blind.”

I shove him, for no good reason other than he’s right.

“And what am I supposed to do in the meantime?” I solicit. “Wait for something to go down?”

“If you wanna waste your time, sure.” Reeve glances over at Cairo. “And you worry about your own shit. You have a job. If you don’t beat the shit or kill De Leon, that fucking prick is going to take over Wharf Bay. Torin and I will focus on South becoming, not only an ally, but a new place to stay when we pull from Emilio.”

Cairo is silent, stewing over his words, as am I.

Maybe we’re putting too much focus into this. Maybe she’s not who I believed she is or could be. Maybe Reeve is thinking with his dick and nothing more.

“This fails,” Cairo finally says. “It’s all our heads.”

“I’ll keep mine on straight,” I concede. “That mistrust will keep me on the path of not becoming Reeve.”

Said brother scoffs at that. “Yeah, whatever. She continues to hate you, then she’ll definitely fall in love with me.”

“How about you stay out of it because we know how you get.” Reeve may be a lover and the most chill out of all of us, but he’s the worst when he’s been hurt.

I’m talking heavy drugs and alcohol binges for days upon days.

“I’ll decide what’s best for me, Wildes,” Reeve retorts with a snarl. “If we allow you to take full control, she’ll have Wallace throw a hit on us and we won’t have to worry about that Landing seat, will we?”

I avert my gaze, demanding my temper stay put.

Looks like I’ll be the one babysitting.

FORTY-SEVEN

bay

Underneath the hood of Dad’s Chevy Nova, I hear the bass of music creeping louder toward the house over the song that’s currently playing on my phone. My brain is in spaz mode because Levi is coming over today and I’m finally going to tell him everything that’s happened, and how the hell I’m going to manage to get through this. The latter is my problem, not his, but I can’t go another day without him knowing everything that surrounds me.

Guilt is beginning to suffocate me, and the last week since the race debacle with the guys has been plaguing my brain to men up, fess up, and deal.

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