Page 135 of Never You

“Came to pick up my little brother.”

Confused, we break loose, and I blink in question at the look on his sharp jaw, a little wicked twist on his lips.

“Bodi called me,” he explains.

My face splits, hope swelling in my chest again.

“He also told me what mother is hanging above your head.”

I nod, the hope no longer growing, but still there, wondering if my brother’s presence says anything about how I’ll walk into this war by coming home.

“Don’t worry about it.”

I chuckle, cynically. “Unless you’re telling me that you’ll sacrifice yourself for the wellbeing of your brother by marrying Emily, there's not much you can say that will stop me from worrying.”

He pulls a face, tucking a hand in the pocket of his trousers. “Sorry, man, I don’t have high standards, but she’s a little too dense for my appetite.”

“Right.” I grimace.

“I’m serious, though. She’s not getting away with this.” Finn gives me a serious look, his blue eyes holding no room for doubt. He looks completely believable, but I also know it’s a stance he’s trained to have. “I didn’t study law to sit by and do nothing when our mother is being a fucking psychopath.”

“Then what the hell have you been doing for the last two years?” I joke, halfheartedly.

“I waited for you to wake the fuck up, but clearly, sleeping beauty needed a pretty blonde to pull him out of his endless slumber.” He cocks his head, a mocking grin on his face.

Suddenly, I recognise the big brother I’ve always looked up to when I was a teenager.

Always looking out for me, always my shadow, but never too much. Always letting me make my own mistakes, but always there to pick up the mess. Holding his gaze, I realize it never changed. He has always been there.I just forgot.

“You’re going to help me?”

He squints, his nostrils flaring as he sucks in a deep breath. “You didn’t really think I’m going to let anyone fuck up my little sister’s life, did you?”

I shrug, because I have nothing else to offer right now.

“I’m not. No one fucks with my sister.Or my brother.Not even my mother. I got you, buddy.” He forcefully grabs my shoulder.

Fuck, I didn’t even realize how much I needed him.

“Does Della know?” I ask when we make our way to the exit.

“I haven’t told her yet. I figured it would be best to wait until you were here.” He glances at me. “But you know she’s not gonna comply anyway.”

“That’s what I’m worried about. She’ll tell mother to fuck off, and I’m not sure what mom will be holding against her. I can’t let her fuck up her life to fix mine.”

“Neither of you is getting your life fucked up. Whatever mother wants to pull, we will fix it.”

We make it outside, and it all feels different. As if the world rushes by in a fast pace, and I can’t catch up. Don’t want to catch up. But having Finn by my side makes it all bearable. Like now I actually stand a chance.

“It’s gonna mess with elections,” I say, still not fully ready to shake this completely misplaced sense of loyalty. “If dad gets elected, that will help your position too. Help your career.”

“You think I give a shit about that?” Finn asks as we make it to his car.

There is an offended frown on his face that makes me feel like shit. I shouldn’t doubt my brother. He’s here when he doesn't need to be.

“I don’t know?” I watch how his usually confident stance breaks a little, a misunderstood grimace visible.

“I don’t, Jensen.” He grinds his teeth, standing beside his black town car while I make it over to the passenger side. He’s peering at me over the roof, his elbows resting on the black metal.

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