Page 62 of Cohesion

Jericho licked the corner of his mouth, tasting blood. “First one’s always free, old friend.”

“Did you know he was my brother?” Riley asked angrily.

Jericho swiped the rest of the blood with his thumb, ignoring the light sting from the split. It was mostly superficial and would heal in a day or two. “Yes.” No use lying about it. When he was interrogating someone, Riley never asked a question he didn’t already know the answer to.

“You son of a bitch.”

“It’s not your business.”

“I’m making it my business. He istwelveyears younger than you, and you knew damn well he was off limits.”

“He’s an adult, capable of making his own decisions.” Would Peyton take kindly to his brother “defending” him like this? Jericho doubted it. He’d be in Riley’s face if he were here. Their ex-soldier had a fiery spirit.

“You don’t give people the chance to makedecisions, Jericho. You forget that I’ve known you too long. That I’ve worked with you, and I know how you operate. You say and twist what you need to and wrap everyone around your little finger because you’re good at lying and being a goddamn fucking con artist.”

“Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?” Jericho wouldn’t lie and say that didn’t hurt even if it was the truth. In all but this one particular instance. He’d never been anything but honest with Peyton and all of them. He’d beenhimselfand let them in even when he shouldn’t have.

“Stay away from him.”

“I do believe I told you that it’s not your business.”

Riley stepped forward dangerously, and Sebastian slid further between them, creating a gap. “Stop it.”

“You’re an asshole, Jericho, but I thought I could trust you.”

“You can trust me.”

“You’re fucking my brother!”

“So am I,” Sebastian pointed out.

Riley turned his furious gaze on Sebastian. “You think he doesn’t have enough problems without the two of you screwing him up further?”

“I know you’re angry,” Jericho said. “Don’t say something you can’t take back.”

Riley rubbed his forehead. “He isn’t as mature as he thinks he is, and both of you carry baggage he doesn’t need. Do you understand that? He doesn’t need your complications.”

“Maybe that’s exactly what he needs.” Jericho crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve seen what he’s dealing with. I can help him.” Peyton held a lot of demons inside himself, ones he likely didn’t even realise that he carried. He reminded Jericho of his brother, and that, above all else, told him that he could help. There was no one-size-fits-all cure. No cure at all. But whatever burdens Peyton carried, Jericho would gladly carry them for him, shoulder some of the weight so he didn’t have to do it alone.

“He’s my brother,” Riley said through gritted teeth.

Jericho understood on a personal level. He had a younger brother too. If he thought for a second that anyone in Hunter’s vicinity was there to cause problems, he would do a lot worse to them.Haddone a lot worse.

“I want to look after him,” Jericho confessed. “All of them.” His entire job was about protecting people. Doing what needed to be done to keep the innocent of the world safe from those that would prey on them. This was more than that.

Jericho was drowning in all the things Will, Sebastian, Peyton, and Quinn were making him feel. And the last thing he wantedto do was hurt any of them. He couldn’t even say with complete confidence that he wouldn’t sacrifice the innocent to keep them safe.

Sebastian pressed a hand to his back, a comfort and steadying weight.

“Fucking hell.” Riley’s gaze flitted to Jericho’s lip, but he didn’t apologise. Jericho hadn’t expected him to. Riley never apologised. It wasn’t who he was. “One issue, Jericho. Just one. And I’m coming for you.”

“I wouldn’t expect any less.”

Riley switched focus to Sebastian. “I came to check up on you.”

“Me?” Sebastian asked, frowning. “I’m not the one who almost gotkidnapped.”

“We’re not talking about me.”

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