Page 13 of Devilish Ink

“Who’s Rian?” I said, aiming for nonchalant. I winced internally as my voice cracked at saying his name out loud.

Thank fuck she didn’t seem to notice.

“Oh, um…he’s the artist who actually works here.” She studied my wound as she bit her lip. “I’m just covering his chair while he’s…away.”

There was a hesitation in the way she saidaway.

“I think this should be okay.” She chewed on her lip. “The cut is shallow.”

“Like holiday leave?” I asked, not caring two shites about the scratch on my back.

“Yeah, you could say that.”

“Without you?” I asked, incredulous.

If she were my girl. I’d never fucking leave without her.

She frowned as the steady, numbing pain of the needle resumed its way across my back. “I mean, I’m taking care of his apartment and his chair.”

He could have gotten anyone to look after his shite.

But then again, maybe Rian was so particular about his chair and his place that he’d only trust his girlfriend.

Fuck, shows how much I don’t know about my own fucking brother.

“You must be close,” I said, trying not to let the jealousy shine through.

“Yeah.” Genuine affection lifted the side of her lips into a smile.

Fuck, it was radiant. My brother made her smile like that and I fucking coveted it. I wanted her to smile like that for me.

“I’d doanythingfor him,” she said, “and he’d do the same for me.”

Shite. Don’t say that.

I let my forehead fall back against the back of my hand, cocooning myself into a small cave of my hot breath and disappointment.

ShewasRian’s.

Maybe if she was unhappy with him, I could justify pursuing her.

But it was clear she cared for him.

I had no fucking business wanting her for my own.

Maybe Ryleigh was my punishment. Penance for all the reasons Rian hated me. A mirage I could never reach. A jewel I could never touch.

I let out a sigh and lifted my head to face outwards again.

“Must be nice,” I said. “Where’d he go?”

She frowned and held her gun between us. “You know, you ask a lot of questions.”

I lifted up my hands. “Sorry. Just making conversation.”

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Sorry. I don’t know why I’m so jumpy lately…”

But the way she said it made me think that she did know. She just couldn’t say it.

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