Page 60 of Stolen Kiss

“You’ve known me my whole life. You know me, knew me. We had each other’s backs.”

“We were such good friends,” he jeered and seemed to deflate, falling back onto his elbows. “We were such good friends you didn’t even tell me you were fucking my sister,” he said seemingly worn out by the argument.

A humourless laugh came out of his mouth as Jason took a step towards him. The audience didn’t utter a word at Keith’s crudeness. Jason heard that more than the gasps.

A hand rested on Jason’s forearm and he whirled around. Archer was there with his hands, palms up, waiting for Jason to recognise him through the red mist.

“We need to go. Cool off and we can return to this conversation tomorrow.”

Jason stared at his brother wide eyed and then back at Keith who then laughed again, this time with a sneer curling his lip, seemingly unaware his lip was cut.

“Need your big brother to fight your battles for you? You’re pathetic.”

“Don’t,” Archer said into Jason’s ear, still with his hand on his forearm.

“You should’ve told me about her,” Keith said, his voice breaking.

“Me and your sister was none of your business. None of anyone’s business.”

Keith sobered for a moment, he looked like he was deciding to carry on with his tirade. Keith nodded, making a decision.

“No, not her. The other woman,” he said.

Another gasp from the peanut gallery.

“What other woman?”

“The woman you were going to marry that Christmas.”

Mutterings ran through their audience. But the thoughts running through Jason’s head were louder. He had no idea what Keith was alluding to.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” he snapped.

Archer let go of Jason’s arm and stepped forward in front if Jason.

“Jason has never been engaged to be married. What are you talking about?” Archer said in a more controlled voice.

Archer had better control of his emotions that Jason did so he let his brother do the talking. He scanned the crowd lookingfor Heidi but didn’t see her. He didn’t see Freya either. In fact he didn’t recognise anyone.

If he walked onto the next boat and went to the mainland would anyone miss him?

“Maybe you should go and speak to that witch you call an aunt,” Keith said and then spat out blood to the side.

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and the blood seeping from his nose smeared across his lips.

Archer turned and stared at Jason, tilting his head to the side, anger lacing his words.

“Tomorrow morning we need to have a chat in the morning room,” Archer said through gritted teeth.

Jason nodded and took one look at Keith. He was being helped up with two men and then walked backwards away from Jason’s swinging arm.

“We’re not done,” Jason yelled at him, stretching his arm over Archer’s should jabbing his finger in Keith’s direction.

“You know where my shack is. Bring it,” Keith jeered then turned and walked into darkness with the two men Jason had never seen before.

“Let’s go, Jason,” a female voice said. “let’s get you cleaned up.”

Jason looked to his side and saw Erica looking at him, her face filled with worry and pain.

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