Page 52 of Brutal Game

I looked up. Isaac’s voice was soft, his blue eyes watchful, usual smirk nowhere in sight.

“Yeah,” I said.

He shook his head, like he was disgusted with me. “Come downstairs. We need to talk.”

Part of me wanted to argue, to stay camped out on my floor outside of my bedroom, like a guard dog. But Aviva was safe, and couldn’t go anywhere because I’d locked the door from the outside. And sitting here on the floor like a pathetic fuck wouldn’t do anyone any good.

Isaac held his hand out and I took it, using his help to stand on my own two feet before following him down the stairs.

The first floor was empty. The rest of the team had cleared out, probably on Judah and Levi’s orders. Judah and Levi were in the media room, Judah’s hand down his boxers as he played NHL 24 one handed. Levi was cleaning his glasses while staring off into space like the lunatic he truly was.

They both looked up when they saw me.

Judah paused the game, shaking his head, hairs escaping his man bun. “Dude.”

“I don’t want to hear it,” I said, dropping onto the opposite couch.

“You don’t even know what he’s going to say,” Levi pointed out, logical as ever.

Isaac joined me, slinging an arm around the back of the couch but not saying anything.

“Fine, what were you going to say, Judah?”

“You’ve got it bad, man. Down bad.”

I laughed. It sounded hollow. “I didn’t need you to tell me that. Or Taylor Swift, for that matter.”

Judah rolled his eyes. “I know you said she’s a lying, conniving, bitch and is trying to take down Coach and the team?—”

Anger pulsed through me, and I started to stand before I even realized it.

Isaac put a hand out to stop me. “Jack.”

Exhaling, I forced myself to slump back against the couch.

“This is what we mean.” Levi took over. “You claim to hate her, say all these horrible things about her thatshouldmean you don’t give a shit if anyone else says or does anything cruel to her. But if we do, you go apeshit. It was your idea to bring her to the house and fuck her in front of all of us.”

“Nonconsensually,” Judah interjected, his jaw tight. “Which we didn’t realize until the way she fought you once we all saw her scar.”

Levi pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t even want to touch that part. What’s even more fucked is that you invited us to join in, remember?”

“I never invited you to join in,” I protested, feeling sick.

“Maybe not verbally, but when we asked, you didn’t say no. And then the second we touched her, you freaked out. Fucked her like a goddamned animal, and?—”

“It was hot as fuck to see though,” Judah interjected again. “And I hate what that says about me.”

Used to his brother’s interruptions, Levi ignored him. “—acted like it was the two of you alone in that room. Why invite us, if you didn’t want us there, Jack? Why ask us towatch, only to blow up when Dave sees something you didn’t? What’s your end game here? You always used to know—do you now?”

“I know exactly what I’m doing,” I argued. “She needs to pay. Needs to know her place.”

“Does she, really?” Levi asked. “Even if she is a lying, conniving, bitch?—”

“Hey!” My voice was sharp.

Judah chuckled. Levi’s lips twisted in a smile.

“You clearly like her,” Judah said. The insightful asshole added, “You don’t react that strongly to someone who you only keep around for a good fuck. Don’t be an idiot, Jack.”

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