Page 57 of Don't Look Away

I don’t even acknowledge Lucas’ statement, because it doesn’t feel like they’re my brothers right now. They went behind my back and did something I’d explicitly told them not to do. Andwhy? For some hundred-year-old rule that doesn’t mean shit?

“Where is she?” I bite out, my gaze still drilled into Christian.

“Roman…” Lucas starts, but I cut him off before he can try to mollify me with more fucking lies.

“Where. Is. She?” I ask again through gritted teeth.

I’d track her on the app, but the guys know about it, and I’m sure they’ve turned off her location-sharing. I could guess where she is, though. There are only a handful of places she could be, and internally, I decide the second I’m done here, I’ll physically go to each of her possible locations until I find her.

“Roman,” Lucas says again, more firmly, like he won’t tolerate being cut off again. “Bro, you know we love you. And I know you don’t see it now, but we’re on your fucking side.” He pauses a second before continuing like he’s hesitant to say this next thing. “But we feel like all of this shit with Lux has gotten out of hand.”

That last statement strikes me like a blow to the face, and I take a step back, blinking at Lucas. “What’s that supposed to mean?” My gaze shifts to the other two, and they’re all looking at me the same way like I’ve lost my damn mind.

“It’s obvious that your relationship with Lux is….different,” Christian says, and I can tell he’s being careful with his words. He studies my expression like he’s waiting to see how his words land before continuing.

I take another step back, my gaze darting between the three of them. “You know it’s different. I told you that myself,” I say defensively.

I lunge at Christian again and this time, he’s not expecting it, so my fist connects with the sharp edge of his jaw. I‘m going in for another swing when both Lucas and Jackson jump in and pull me off him, dragging me several feet away.

Lucas turns on me, shoving me hard, his fist twisting my collar. “You think we fuckingwant this, Roman? Huh?” His face is half an inch from mine, spit punctuating each syllable. “You’re fucking losing your mind, just like yourgoddamnbrother.” He shoves me again roughly, and I pull my arm back, raising my fist. If it weren’t for Jackson and Christian flanking him, I’d fucking lay him down. “Do you want to end up like him?” he continues.

I shove my finger in his face. “This isn’t about my brother. This is about you betraying my trust.”

“No, Roman,” Lucas says, taking a step back. “This is about that goddamn girl and the chokehold she has on you.”

I shake my head, ready to argue, but Jackson says, “It’s true, Roman. You’re not thinking straight. If you were, then you’d know the initiation wasn’t about betraying you. It was about protecting the society.”

Christian sneers at me. “And if you hadn’t left your fucking book where—”

Lucas cuts him with a sharp look. “It doesn’t matter how it happened. It’s over. It’s done.” He retreats again, pointing his finger at me. The other two back off, too. “You need to get your shit together, Roman, or we’re calling this whole thing off. I’m not having another brother arrested for a piece offucking ass.”

“She’s more than a piece of ass,” I bite out.

So much more. But it doesn’t surprise me that Lucas has no damn clue about that. Before Lux, I was just like them. I’d fuck any pretty little thing that walked my way, then discard her just as quickly. Brutal, maybe, but it was the world I lived in.

Until Lux.

Everything changed themomentI laid eyes on her. I didn’t want to admit it then, but it’s impossible for me to deny it now. The second our gazes met on the beach, the ground shifted beneath my feet. It hasn’t stopped moving since.

“Two days, Roman,” Lucas says, more calmly now. “It’s almost over. You just need to keep your shit together. Soon we can put these last few weeks behind us.”

I grunt without saying anything because these last few weeks have changed me so profoundly, I don’t think there’s any going back to the way things were…

Not in a million-fucking years.

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

Lux

When I getto Wyn’s house, she’s waiting for me on the front step of the sorority house, arms crossed over her chest. Damn. She looks pissed. I knew she would be, but there was a small part of me that was hoping she’d understand.

Nathan pulls up in front, and I flash him a smile. “Thanks for dropping me off, Nathan.”

“You’re one of us now. We watch out for our own.”

With a smile, I open the car door and step out. Before I shut the door, Nathan says, “Someone will be by later to drop off your stuff.”

I smile again. “Okay, thanks.”

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