Page 69 of Broken Bonds

She was everything I wanted but couldn’t have.

Turning on my side, I pulled the covers up to my chin, willing her sun-kissed face to disappear from my mind, though it was futile to even hope. She filled every bit of me.

The room was silent, Ryan’s snores no longer filling the air. “You awake?” his sleepy voice called.

I grunted. “Yeah.”

“You have to stop this; stop encouraging her.” His voice was pleading. I didn’t say anything. “You don’t deserve her, Ace.” His words punctured the silence, each one stabbing me in my gut.

I don’t deserve her.

I didn’t deserve anyone after letting Jack die.

I didn’t deserve happiness; he was right.

A bitter laugh spilled past my lips. “There’s nothing to end.”

I could feel his scowl burning into the back of my head. “Ace, I mean it. Stop fighting me on this, please.”

“I didn’t start anything with her.” The lie slipped off my tongue so easily, it was frightening. Because Ihadstarted something with her. Something beautiful. Something I wanted more than anything else.

I wanted Celine to bemine. But her brother was always going to remain in my way, wasn’t he?

“Then, what was Amber going on about?” he demanded.

Anger rumbled in my chest at his accusation. “Must be some stupid gossip between the two. I didn’t sleep with your sister,” I snapped at him. I wanted to.God, did I want to. But I’d done nothing but relieve some of the tension in her body. I hadn’t even gotten off, instead choosing to ignore my own erection and give myself blue balls. Because Celine was all that mattered.

Ryan shifted on the bed. “Don’t even think about touching her. I won’t be held accountable for what happens if you do.”

His threat hung in the air for a moment. When I heard his deep breaths, I knew his fists were clenched.

“Don’t threaten me, Ryan,” I warned him, my voice cold. “I won’t be told who I’m allowed to screw. You don’t own her body.” My words were a mere hiss. I’d been pushed around and told what to do long fucking enough. I’d escaped all that shit. Ididn’t give a damn who Ryan thought he was; I wasn’t one he could bully.

“I’m her protector, and I’ll keep her safe from you, even if this friendship ends,” he promised.

I clenched my jaw. “I’m going to bed, dickhead.”

“I don’t want to have this conversation with you again, Ace,” he warned me. “I don’t want her to come between us because Iwon’tpick you over her. Blood comes first.”

Pain tightened my chest at his words. If only that were actually true.

“As it always should,” I quietly told him.

The next morning, I woke up alone, sunlight streaming into the room through a slit in the blinds and shining right into my half-lidded eyes. Ryan swung into the room a moment later, the bedroom door slamming against the wall, only making more light wash over me. I groaned.

“I’m trying to sleep here,” I grumbled, shoving my face into the pillow.

“Get your lazy ass out of bed, Ace.” He kicked the air mattress hard, making me roll to the floor with a loud thud.

“Leave me alone,” I snarled, but it came out muffled through the pillow I was still clutching to keep away the light.

“Can’t do that. Your presence has been requested downstairs.”

I groaned. “Tell them to screw off.”

Ryan snickered. “I don’t think my mother will approve of that.”

I sighed and slowly lowered the pillow, squinting into the too-bright room. “I’ll be there in five.” I lifted my head to see him shuffling out of the room. “How’s Celine?” I blurted.

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