Page 52 of In the Midst of Chaos

I punched the wall. Pain spread through my knuckles up to my wrist.

“Fuck,” he hissed. “Bro, you need to get it together. You’re unraveling.”

“That—”

He cut off before I could let the whole world know what was going through my mind.

“That’s yourbrother’sgirl. Now take a deep breath. We don’t know anything else or who even was in the car.”

He had a point, but I was too far gone to listen to it.

I got on my bike, and Nate did the same. I called Duncan and no answer, but the little fucker never answered his phone, so I wasn’t surprised by this. Then I called Huxley.

“Where are you?” I asked, trying to hide my frantic tone.

“Out with Leon,” he said. I didn’t question it. He was Leon’s understudy. He was going to take over everything Leon did as soon as he graduated school. Something the fucker probably wasn’t too thrilled about.

“Have you seen Finley?” I asked.

“No, why?”

I felt like the biggest piece of shit when I said, “Just wondering.”

After all, I wasn’t sure if anything had happened, right? I glared at Nate so he wouldn’t say shit, then rode out to my father’s house.

Pain swept through my veins. I didn’t regret it. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Every touch, every kiss, whimper, and moan, I cherished them all. For fuck’s sake, she was my girl. She was mine even before I found out she was going to marry my brother. I hated that I was going to hurt him. His pride was going to take a fucking hit all because I couldn’t keep my dick on a leash.

But I couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t keep pretending like I was okay and let her marry him.

Chapter Eighteen

The tasteof copper coated my tongue; it was bitter and metallic. My head throbbed, and I felt as if I were drunk—close to delirium.

I tried to move, but I couldn’t.

When I craned my neck, a soft whimper escaped my lips at the tenderness in my neck.

“Shh.”

I recognized Duncan’s voice.

“Don’t make a noise,” he whispered.

It took effort, but I opened my eyes and followed the sound of his voice. He was on the floor, and I was bound to a chair.

My legs and hands were bound to the legs and arms while Duncan was hog-tied. His face was bloodied. He lay in a fetal position, and his face looked in pain.

“Morning,” he managed to choke out.

That’s when I realized he wasn’t whispering. He just couldn’t talk without the pain taking over.

“Duncan,” I whispered as I looked down at him.

“Don’t give me that look,” he rasped. “I’m a little banged up, but I’m not broken.”

I tried to wiggle myself and noticed there was a little room to move.

“It’s going to be okay,” I said. “My father tied me up like this once.”

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