Page 30 of Shattered

Stunned silence fell over the room. Dammit all to hell. He was never supposed to find out this way. The heavy clouds of guilt made it impossible to breathe, at least until Koen raced in with Keaton on his heels. The relief was instantaneous. His mere presence had my lungs expanding, filling so fast with much needed oxygen it was dizzying. He was my strength and one of my greatest weaknesses.

“What’s with all the yelling?” he growled, searching high and low for a danger which didn’t exist, unless you counted the danger to my heart.

“Did you know?”

“Know what, kid?” He cocked his head to the side.

“About my parents.”

Koen flicked his gaze to me, desperate for answers I didn’t have. Closing my eyes didn’t shield me from hearing the hints of betrayal lacing Jett’s soft response.

“Yeah. You knew.”

“Can I have a minute alone with my brother, please?”

“You can have sixteen.” Henley winked. “That’s when the food will be done.”

I appreciated her attempts to break the tension and mouthed “thank you” as everyone followed her out of our small kitchen. Well, almost everyone.

“You too please, Koen.”

We were in a standoff of sorts. Him needing to make sure we were all going to be fine and me trying to ensure that was the case. Reluctantly, he backed slowly out of the doorway. Once he’d disappeared from sight, I took two calming breaths and prayed I’d be able to fix what I’d broken.

“Don’t hold back, Jade. I know it had to be bad if you thought getting hitched was the only solution.”

Sometimes I forgot he wasn’t the same little boy who used to sneak into my bedroom when he was scared. I’d blinked and he’d grown into the almost adult standing before me.

“They came by one afternoon when you were at school, spouting off about owing someone a lot of money. I told them I didn’t have any, so they said they’d take you instead. That you could make them a fortune in Vegas.”

“Assholes,” he grumbled under his breath.

I didn’t have the energy to fight him on the curse words anymore. He’d more than earned the few slipshe’d had. Later, when we were in a better place, I’d steer him back toward the right path.

“I called them worse. Long story short, they said they’d take me to court for custody of you. One night I panicked and spilled everything to Koen. He offered to marry me so we could show the court you were in a stable home if it ever came down to it.”

Erasing the distance between us, he took my hands in his, reminding me of the way I used to do the same when he was little.

“So marrying a man you barely know was easier than talking to me? Your flesh and blood.”

Ouch. Direct hit.

“When did we stop being a team, Jade?” His shoulders drooped. “It’s always been you and me against the world. I know I screwed up huge with the whole hacking thing, but I’ve learned from my mistakes.”

“I know?—”

“Do you though?” he interrupted.

“That’s not fair, Jett.”

“No. What’s not fair is you shouldering the brunt of the burdens when I’m right here. This isourfamily, Jade. I’m not a kid anymore, so stop treating me like one.”

“You’re right,” I sighed, squeezing his hand.

“I know.”

“Smug isn’t a good look on you, little brother.”

“Does Koen know you’re in love with him?”

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