Page 63 of InfraRed

“Dear God, please let me fall and hit my head so I can develop amnesia and forget I ever saw this.”

Casey yelps, and I growl as I set her to her feet, ensuring her skirt is back where it belongs, then turn and meet my brother’s green eyes as he stares at us from the white, overstuffed sofa. “What the fuck are you doing here? And how did you get in?”

“So, big brother doesn’t know everything. I figured you had the apartment wired.” He smirks as he shifts on the sofa, looking around me at Casey. I glance over my shoulder with a lifted brow. She bites her lip, looking anywhere but at Jagger or me. “I didn’t realize we’d progressed from stalking to… Well, I guess you caught your prey.”

Casey sucks in a breath behind me. I glare at my brother who’s being an ass, noting how glassy and red his eyes are. He’s either drunk or high. My guess is both. “Jagger, I’m seconds away from removing your tongue. How did you get in here?”

“You want to tell him,Sunflower.”

“He has the code,” Casey says so low I almost miss it. “H-he started sleeping over once in a while when Lily moved out.”

“Did he now?” There’s no mistaking my irritation. Actually, it’s barely contained wrath. If it were anyone else on that sofa who let themselves in tosleep over, my hands would be wrapped around their throat. Then this little shit has the gall to smirk and waggle his brows at me, and the taut rubber band holding my temper in check stretches to near-breaking tension as I step forward with my teeth bared ready to knock my little brother’s head off. I freeze in my steps when a soft hand wraps around my forearm.

Jagger laughs loudly as he stands from the sofa, raising his arms over his head and stretching. “Calm your fucking tits, Graham. You know there’s nothing…” he pauses, raising a mocking browat me as he runs his tongue over his teeth, “salacious going on with Casey and me, but watching that vein between your eyes throb is too amusing to let the opportunity pass. I just stopped by to check on Casey like I always have. Nice to see the food problem is resolved.”

Casey stiffens next to me, then shifts on her feet. She watches Jagger for a moment before lowering her eyes to the floor. It’s obvious that she’s uncomfortable, and it fucking irritates the hell out of me. It’s been weeks. My dad has even caught us, yet she’s still bothered. I keep telling myself it’s not about being a secret as much as Casey is naturally timid, not enjoying when she garners unwanted attention. It’s probably true, but in my gut, I know it’s not the only reason.

“I-I’m going to change,” she says.

I don’t have time to respond before she vanished down the short hall and disappeared into her room. Gripping my chin, I twist my head back and forth until I feel the satisfying pops of the joints, then make my way across the room until I reach the kitchen. I’m too rough when I yank the cabinet door open, retrieve the bottle of scotch I keep there, pour three fingers, and then turn to face my brother without offering him any. He looks like he’s had more than enough of something. He doesn’t need extra.

He leans on the counter with his elbows, propping his chin in his hands with a mischievous grin and hazy eyes. “I knew you wanted her. I didn’t realize you were already in love with her.”

I roll my eyes and sip my scotch. Does he think I’d be this goddamn psycho if I didn’t fucking love her? That I would risk her heart if I weren’t certain of my feelings? But I’m not telling him that. He won’t get affirmation or denial from me before I tell the girl. Instead, I growl, “When did you get back?”

“This morning.” He’s been in Florida checking out some prospective artists for a few weeks. “Most of them were shit, but I brought some demos on two or three worth giving an extra listen. I heard you guys are scrambling to rework Lily and Jacob’s Ladder since Ryder decided Sons won’t be touring in August after all.”

“It wasn’t a big deal. Rescheduled them for later in the year and replaced them with Maverick and My Time. It’s not Sons of Sin, but it’s an excellent lineup. Masters’ sister had a meltdown, though.”

“Not surprising. Callie is always freaking out over PR. She forgets this is a record label with musicians not a Fortune 500 company with tech gurus, engineers, and all that shit. These guys are expected to be fuck ups.”

“Hmm,” I turn up my glass, taking another sip of my scotch. “You’re not wrong, but neither is she. A little more walking the line and discretion could go a long way.”

“Good luck getting that,” he snorts, his eyes drooping closed.

My chest vibrates with a silent rumble as I bite back the need to demand he tell me what he’s on. I toss back the rest of my drink and then pour a little more. “You should come see Dad,” I say when I turn around.

That gets some clarity in those green eyes—raging, venomous clarity. “No.”

I look behind him, ensuring Casey is still out of the room. I haven’t told her about her mother yet. Upsetting her is the last thing I want, or scaring her. But also, I know it will raise a lot of questions about her mother being gone but leaving the baby behind. “Krista’s gone,” I tell him, keeping my voice low. “You should come meet…”

“Don’t fucking say it, and don’t fucking ask. I said no. I don’t careif she’s there or not as long as that…” His fingers rip through his hair as his shoulders shake with his heavy breaths. He’s almost hyperventilating. How badly this has fucked him up suddenly slams into my chest like a sledgehammer when he lifts his hand and points a shaky finger at me. “I-I didn’t ask for any of this. I want nothing to do with…” He drags his hand over his mouth, looking sick, as he leaps off the stool and starts for the door.

My hand clamps on his shoulder before he gets very far. He tries to shrug me off, but my grip tightens. “You’re not leaving.” I keep my voice firm and steady but low so Casey doesn’t come out because I know Jagger isn’t ready for her to know. He definitely doesn’t want her to find out like this. “Not now. Not in this condition.”

“I don’t need this.” His jaw ticks with anger—with pain. “Not from you.”

My lips press together as I take a deep breath. Words—the right ones elude me because there are none. Everything in me says Jagger will regret his decisions down the road, but I can’t say that because I’m not in his position. The entire situation is beyond fucked.

“Jagger, I know you didn’t… Fuck,” I hiss. “You were fucked up. You didn’t know, but…” My words trail off and my lips clamp shut when his nostrils flare. I swear his eyes fill with tears. It’s the confirmation I need to know this goes beyond that one night. “Just go to Lily’s room and sleep it off. Please.” I add the latter, the word tasting bitter on my tongue when he hesitates.

He nods once, and I drop my hand from his shoulder. He walks past me, his head hung low as he stumbles across the room. “Jag,” I call out when he reaches Lily’s door. He glances over his shoulder, eyes full of so much pain I feel like an ass for not seeing it before. I drag my hand over my mouth and compose myself. “I’m sorry I was a shit brother.”

“You weren’t a shit brother, Graham. You just forgot whose brother you were.” With that, he disappears into the room.

My gazes moves from the door Jagger just vanished into to Casey’s. I rest my hands on top of my head and groan. I guess I’m lucky he doesn’t resent her. The jury is still out on me, but I know I’ve earned that one.

I tried to protect one and failed both.

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