Page 23 of His Lovebug

He groaned but still managed to grin at me with a bloody smile. “Nice to see you haven’t changed, Colt.”

My chest heaved in exertion as Quin came rushing around the couch to stand beside me with wide eyes. He wore a pale pink negligee, with a thin strap falling from his right shoulder, and he had white cream on his face. His hair was tied up into a messy bun, and it was obvious he’d been getting ready for bed.

“What did you do?” Quin’s lips shook as he glanced from Jackson to me. “Why did you hurt him? He didn’t do anything.”

It was difficult to stay angry around Quin. He was too kind for this world, and hewasmy world. He’d been hurt too much in his life already, and I didn’t want to add to it. If my hands and shirt weren’t covered in my brother’s blood, I would’ve brought him against me into a tight hug.

I closed my eyes for a second to gather my wits while Royal stepped closer to Jackson with a box of Kleenex he’d picked up from the coffee table in front of the couch. He passed the box to Jackson, but I doubted the tissues would help. Jack needed a first aid kit.

Or a hospital.

He glared at Royal as he snatched the box from him.

I ignored Quin’s questions, instead focusing on my brother. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” I curled my fingers into fists at my sides. “In your stupidity of playing Topher and his daughter, you’ve put my wife in danger.” I inhaled deeply, pushing aside the urge to punch him again. “Topher called me. He gave me forty-eight hours to hand you over before he comes for you.” I shifted forward, but Quin hooked his hand around my arm, stopping me from physically assaulting Jack again. “He’s not a man to mess with, you fucking moron. He has resources, and he’s dangerous. And you put the man I love at risk so you could net a small hustle.”

Jackson snorted, blood spurting from his nose as he did. He grabbed a tissue and shoved it up his nostril, wincing. “Fuck off. He wouldn’t mess with you. He’s not stupid.”

I shook my head. I’d thought Jackson had some sense in that manipulative brain of his, but now I was questioning it. “I might be in a partnership with Derek, but that doesn’t mean we’re safe. Topher doesn’t mess around when it comes to his money. Fuck!”

I turned my back on him to stop myself from surging forward again, and I stared down at Quin’s concerned expression. He smiled sadly up at me, and I cupped his face, blood be damned. I slanted my mouth over Quin’s and kissed him gently, drinking in his taste and the comfort that came with his scent tickling my nose. He was my safe space, and my foolish brother had put him in danger.

By the time I was done, the blood sprinkled across my face had mixed in with the cream on Quin’s, while he’d shared the mess to my upper lip and chin.

I sighed against Quin’s lips, wiped the cream off my face, and glanced over my shoulder at Jackson.

An emotion close to regret flashed in his eyes—but it disappeared—and confidence replaced it. He stood from the couch, and despite the swelling of his face and the blood to go with it, he looked like a man who had everything swimming along as planned, which it most definitely was not.

“You know what your problem is?” I stepped up to Jack, and Quin made a small sound of worry. “You never reap the consequences of your actions. You run before you experience them or you have someone else fix your problems.” I laughed, the anger bubbling over again. “And I was one of those idiots who fixed your issues for you, but this is the last time. I’ve never loved anyone with my whole heart, never cared about anyone enough to worry about their life, but I have Quin now. He comesfirst. He willalwayscome first.” I poked Jackson’s chest. “This is the end of the line for us.”

Jackson glared at me for a long moment, the facade of his charm gone. Instead, coldness stared back. This was the real Jack, the one who didn’t understand, couldn’t comprehend the meaning of feelings. He understood that I was his brother, that society expected him to have an emotional tie to me, but everything centered aroundhimand how I could benefit his life. His manipulation and fake charisma came from years of practice and watching others. I didn’t know if he was a sociopath or if his lack of comprehension came from the absence of affection as a child—sometimes it felt like the real Jack was hidden beneath an aloofness. How could I get past the ice wall?

“You’d choose Quin over me?” He glanced at Quin, then me, from beneath swollen eyelids.

“Yes,” I answered without hesitation. “Any day, any time, any place.”

“He’s the son of a world-class grifter, Colt. There’s an endgame to what he’s doing.” Jackson leaned in closer and grinned, red-stained teeth flashing at me. “I’m your brother. I have your back, he doesn’t.”

“The same brother who slept with my ex-wife?” I raised my eyebrows. “You’ve given me reason to hate you, Quin hasn’t.”

Royal frowned between us, but I ignored him.

“I love Matt.” Quin curled his arm around my elbow and narrowed his pretty hazel eyes at Jack. “And no matter how much you want to believe it, I’m not conning him.”

Jackson chuckled, some of the blood spitting out from between his lips. “Sure thing, sweetheart, keep telling him that.”

“Enough,” I snapped, gnashing my teeth together. “Fucking enough. We’re done here. You will not speak to my wife like that.” I pointed a finger at Jack. “You can stay here until we figure out what to do with you. I’ll find you a safe place to hideuntil Topher stops looking for you, but then we’re done.I’mdone with you, Jack.” I sliced my hand through the air in front of us. “You’ve put me and my wife in danger, and I wouldn’t care as much if I lived alone, but I love Quin. I won’t let any harm come to him because you’re a loose cannon. Get upstairs and get in the shower. You’re a fucking mess. There’s a first aid kit in the guest bathroom.”

Jackson’s eyes burned a hole in me for a moment before he took a step back and spun on his heel, stalking out of the living room and toward the stairs.

I sighed, squeezing the bridge of my nose, then hissed when a sharp pain shot across my knuckles and down my arm. The adrenaline had worn off, and the scrapes and cuts on my hand from the punches I’d unleashed on Jackson were beginning to ache.

“You’re hurt,” Quin whispered, shifting to stand in front of me and grab my hand in a gentle caress. He brushed his thumb over my knuckles, and I winced. His gaze shot up to meet mine and tears flooded his eyes. “I’m so sorry, Matt. This is my fault.”

I blinked, confused. “How is thisyourfault, Baby Girl?”

“He wouldn’t have stayed here if I didn’t insist.”

I shook my head. “He would’ve. He’s my brother, and as much as I hate to say it, I have a weakness for him no matter how much I protested and argued.” I dropped my forehead against his and clenched my eyes shut. “He relied on me when we were younger, and being his protector isn’t something I can forget.”

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