Page 196 of Brutal Prince

Like he’s always been, I’m starting to realize. Not in a gay way. I don’t think that’s it. But he obviously knew we were half-brothers way before I did.

Suddenly, all those ‘bros’ we sent back and forth have so much more meaning.

And they would have, for him.

I was protecting you, bro.

She wasn’t good enough for you, bro.

In his sick, twisted mind, did he really think he was doing me a solid? I must have seemed such an ungrateful prick.

“I…I’m sorry,” I say.

Beside me, Indi lets out a tiny huff of disbelief. But thank God it doesn’t travel, because I’ve literally just managed to get Marcus’s attention off her.

God, how I wish we could read each other’s minds. Would have made all of this so much fucking easier.

“You are?” Marcus says, and then barks out a laugh. “Of course you are. And you should be.”

“You were right.” I take another slow step. “You were right every time, bro.”

I try to let it sound as natural as possible, but there’s suddenly a suspicious gleam in Marcus’s eyes. “Yeah,” he says quietly, and his eyes move to Indi.

“About her,” I say, pointing at Indi. Then I take another step, this one diagonal, cutting off his view of her as if I have something really important to say. “About Addy.” I put emphasis on the last word, and Marcus gives me a fierce nod.

“You know, I saw her making out with Jess?”

I lick my lips, but don’t have words. Instead, I just shake my head.

“Should have told you,” Marcus says, looking briefly abashed. “But that made me wonder if Jess was gay and that’s why she didn’t want to fuck you. No one wants to hear their girl is gay or some shit. Then you’d start wondering if it’s because of you.”

I nod. “Nah, man, it’s cool. I’m glad you didn’t tell me. I’d probably just have dug in my heels.” I try and laugh, but it comes out sounding faker than a three-dollar bill.

“Warned you, bro,” Marcus says, and he even has the audacity to waggle his finger at me. “I warned you.”

“You did, man, you did. And I didn’t listen. I didn’t fucking listen.” I thump my fist into my palm and then drag my hands through my hair.

I probably sound like an idiot, but when I glance at Marcus, he’s gone stock still. Face expressionless. The hand holding the gun dipping.

Marcus shakes his head, and the gun sinks to his side. “She was distracting the fuck out of you, that gay, stuck up cunt.”

“And the night I’m supposed to sort her out,” I say, my hands twisting at my side, “I go and fucking pass out.”

Marcus lets out a low chuckle that makes my hackles rise. “That’s ‘cos you drank out the wrong cup, man.”

“I…what?” My brow furrows.

Marcus shakes his head, looking up as if he’s trying to deal with a difficult kid or something. “Man, I was so fucking careful to keep track, but then you somehow got Jess’s cup.”

I think back to the video, but that couldn’t be it.

“Since eleven, I was trying to roofie her.” Marcus is grinning openly now. “She either left her drink and fucked off somewhere else, or spilled it. Then you drank it. I was about to give up before I finally got some of that shit in her.”

“The vodka.” The words slip out through numb lips.

Marcus chuckles. “Wasn’t fucking vodka.”

It had been water. Water, so Jessica wouldn’t taste the liquor. And no doubt, she couldn’t taste those bitter pills over the bitter beer.

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