Page 114 of Brutal Game

Micah smirked. “Because Isaac talked shit about his girl.” He didn’t even glance at me for confirmation.

“I’ve fucked up a lot,” I said into my hands.

Kara laughed. “So did they,” she said, meaning my brother, Conor, and Luke. “Sometimes love makes good men do bad things.”

I didn’t contradict her. I loved Aviva, but I wasn’t sure she loved me.

“She’s not loyal to me,” I said.

“And are you loyal to her?” she asked.

I shrugged, picturing her face when I’d told her her brother was lying. She’d been sad, not angry.

“She thinks Coach…” I trailed off. “Did something fucking awful. But I know him, and he’d never?—”

Kara gently peeled my hands from my face. “Jack, look at me.”

I did. It was easy to see what had made my brother determined to have her. She was beautiful, with her red hair and big golden-brown eyes, but she also had this…I don’t know. A steel spine surrounded by a soft joy. The first part reminded me of Aviva. The latter…I wanted that for her. Wanted to give it to her, like my brother had given it to Kara.

“I’m looking,” I said gruffly.

“Don’t look too hard,” Conor called, clearly territorial over his woman.

Kara ignored him. “Sometimes good men do bad things for love. Often, powerful men do horrible things for more power. The charismatic ones? They hide it well. Take it from me—listen to your gut, even if you’ve been silencing it for a long time. Before it’s too late.”

Before she could say more, the door opened, and my team entered. Coach was the last one in.

Isaac wouldn’t look at me.

“Uh,” Judah said to Kara. “You’re hot, but your entourage is unnecessary.”

Luke growled.

“Eyes off,” Conor barked.

Coach cleared his throat. “None of you can be in here.”

Marcus straightened, staring down Coach, but didn’t say anything.

Coach’s face began to turn red.

“We were just leaving,” Micah interjected.

He came over to us, reaching his hand out to Kara, who took it.

As all seven of them exited the room, Kara stopped, tugging on Micah’s hand. She looked up at Coach. He towered over her, but for some reason, in that moment, he seemed small.

“The most outwardly powerful men are often the weakest ones. Isn’t that true, Joshua?”

Now Coach turned full on red. “I don’t know who you are…” he began.

Kara shrugged. “You don’t need to. But I know whoyouare. Women like me, women who’ve been hurt like me—wealwaysknow..”

Micah looked back at me. “Save your loyalty for the people who deserve it, Jack. Call if you want to talk.”

And then they were gone, leaving me with a confused, curious team and a pissed-off looking Coach.

Kara’s words rang in my head. She saw something in him I couldn’t.

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