Page 62 of A Twisted Arrangement

“Did you really force Scarlet to marry you?” Xander says and kicks his feet up on the coffee table. He’s lounging back in a comfortable pose on the long leather couch.

I glare at Damon.

“Do you really think I’d miss the opportunity for these two to make fun of you after all the shit you said to me when I was trying to get Misty?”

“It’s not the same.”

“It’s fucking worse.” Xander stands and stalks toward me. Unlike my other brothers, there’s no humor in his gaze. “Shesaved us. You ignoring her was already fucked-up, and now you pull this bullshit?”

“Do you think I’d do anything to hurt her?” I ask.

“It doesn’t have to be intentional to hurt someone, asshole.”

“Xander’s right. She’s our sister now, which means we’re not letting you mess with her anymore,” Bash adds, his eyes slits.

I deserve the looks they’re giving me. After all, I did take it further than I should have. I was never supposed to bring her home like that. The look of betrayal in her eyes damn near killed me. It was like I’d finally broken through her walls and earned her trust, then stomped all the fuck over it.

“I love her,” I say honestly. “I’ve always loved her.”

“We know.” Xander and Bash speak at the same time.

“I’m keeping her locked in that house until she realizes she loves me back.” I don’t care how it makes me look. I can’t stand the idea of letting her get away again.

Xander’s brows pull together. “What if that never happens?”

“I’m surprised you’d even ask me that, Xander. It’s simple—if she doesn’t love me now, I’ll wait for her. I’ll do whatever I need to do to show her I’m worth loving back. I’m not above begging.”

“You aren’t winning us over on the whole you-aren’t-going-to-hurt-her thing.” Bash takes a large drink from a bottle with a label I don’t recognize.

“What do you want me to say? That I’d get down on my knees and beg her? That I’ll bend to her every whim if it makes her happy? That I’ll uproot my life if she asks me? Because there is nothing I won’t do for my wife. She could ask me to walk off a bridge, and I’d ask her which one. Don’t fool yourselves—she’s not the one being strung along. I gave up any hope that I could live without her a long time ago. All I can do is do my best to show her I’m worth taking a risk on. That even though I’ve hurt her, I did what I did because it’s what she needed at the time.Not because I decided for her, but because it’s what she asked for.”

I scoff, knowing damn well my life’s in danger. “Don’t worry. She can give as good as she takes.”

“My money’s on her killing him.” Bash smiles.

“I’m not taking that bet,” Xander joins in.

Damon breaks up the boys. “Does she know where she is yet? That could change things.”

“No.” I shake my head, picturing her reaction. “I’ll let her figure that out on her own.”

Damon pulls up in front of my place. There are guards stationed around the perimeter. I’m not leaving anything up to chance.

The house is dark; all the lights are off. Hopefully, my Little Sparrow is asleep.

“Good luck in there.” He chuckles.

I’m more nervous than I expected. It’s not clear if the time I gave her helped her come to terms with her situation or if I’m about to take a lamp to my head.

I get out of the car, leaning in, and say, “What do you do when you piss Misty off?”

“I don’t piss her off.”

“Never?”

He lifts one brow at me. “I do everything in my power to make my wife happy. You should consider doing the same.”

“I’m fucking trying.” I slam the door shut. With each step I take closer to her, my heart pounds faster in my chest. I suck air in through my nose and push it out through my mouth. I have to have my shit together.

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