Page 52 of Rule Breakers Fall Hardest

I lie there for what feels like hours, fighting the urge to see what she’s doing. Eventually, though, my curiosity gets the best of me, and I slip out of the bed and go in search of her.

Quietly, I take the main staircase to the first floor and trek to the kitchen. By the time I get there, I feel as though I’ve walked miles. Though I grew up in this house, it never fails that when I return, I’ve forgotten how large it is.

At the soft murmur of voices, I stop and listen.

“You and Daire, huh?”

Sounds like Cash.

A glass clinks, like maybe he’s toasting our marriage, though his tone isn’t overly congratulatory.

“Yep.” She sounds bored by the conversation. I guess it’s a good thing, but after the way he greeted her and drifted toward her at the hospital, I can’t help but wonder if they planned to meet up like this.

“I’m not buying it.”

She’s quiet for a long moment, but finally, she says, “What exactly aren’t you buying?”

“I don’t know what went down with you and my brother, but he’s a grudge holder. I can’t imagine him forgiving you so easily for whatever you did.”

She snorts, the sound pure annoyance. “I didn’t do anything to him. He’s the one who hurtme.”

I rear back, and my lungs practically seize up.What the fuck is she talking about?

Cash chuckles, though there’s no humor in the sound. “Whatever it is obviously still has you heated, petal. And you want me to think you’re happily married?”

Petal?

My blood heats at the word. At the implication.

There’s a crunching sound, like she’s chewing. Then she clears her throat. “Don’t call me that.”

My brother has a pet name formywife? I don’t like that. Not one bit.

With a sharp breath in, I step into the kitchen, making my presence known. Instantly, my boiling blood turns to ice.

Cash has his hand on Rosie’s cheek.

And I see fucking red.

Instinct takes over, and I rush up to them. I’m too irate to register Rosie’s cry of “Daire, no!” as I cock my arm back and punch my brother in the face so hard he falls off the barstool.

He lies on the tile floor, his hand covering his face. A line of blood trickles out of his nose.

“I told you to keep your hands off my wife.”

The bastard has the audacity to laugh at me. I’ve always gotten along with my brothers. There’s never been any true animosity. Competition, yes? But never flat out hate. Right now, I think I hate him.

Cash chuckles, rubbing his jaw and ignoring the trickle of blood. “Maybe you really do care about her.”

I have to fight the urge to take another swing at him. “What does that mean?”

He says nothing, just picks himself up from the floor and turns to Rosie. “It could’ve been us.” And with that, he turns and exits the kitchen.

“What the fuck?” I turn my wrath on her.

Her shoulders are curled in on themselves, but as I step closer, she straightens and shoots figurative daggers my way. “Why are you pissed at me?” She grabsa half-eaten apple from the counter in front of her and takes a bite. “I haven’t done anything.”

“Why the fuck is Cash so into you? Did you hook up with him?”

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