Page 88 of My Brother's Best Friend

“No,” she said.

“Maddie,” I said, grabbing her elbow, “working with Poison is a bad idea.”

Maddie turned to me with tears in her eyes and shook her head. “This is the only chance that we have of getting him back, Alec. I don’t care what happens to me as long as Spencer doesn’t kill my brother. I-I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”

“This isn’t the only chance we have,” I said. “I can do something.”

“No,” she said immediately. “You have hockey. You can’t risk it. This is the only way.”

João cleared his throat. “We’ll do it for three, but then you work for us.”

“No,” I said.

“Deal,” Maddie said. “But if you don’t bring my brother back alive, then the deal’s off.”

I released Maddie’s hand and rubbed my forehead, wondering when I’d get wrinkles like my father had. Because I couldn’t deal with all this stress. I didn’t want Maddie working with Poison. What would they force her to do?

“You’re not working with them,” I said.

“If they find him alive, then I will,” Maddie said.

“What’re you going to make her do?” I asked João.

“Whatever she is useful for.”

After blowing out a heavy breath, I shook my head and paced around the room. Maddie, João, and Vera talked quietly about what had happened and what Poison would do, but I couldn’t stand it. Maddie was putting herself in danger with the worst gang in Redwood.

I wouldn’t let her get in trouble. I refused.

So, I slipped out the front door and shut it behind me.

“I don’t blame you,” Blaise said, leaning against the side of the house.

I jumped back in surprise. “When the hell did you come out here?”

“When you started pacing inside,” he said. “You looked like an idiot.”

“Fuck you,” I spit. “I don’t give a fuck what you think. I’m only here for Maddie.”

Blaise chuckled and kicked himself off the house. “And I’m only here for Vera, and I don’t like her working with Poison either. João’s messing around with Imani, but he’s too close with Vera for my liking.”

“I have bigger problems than listening to you bitch about João,” I said, walking to my car.

“You want to stop Spencer without getting Poison involved,” Blaise said. “Let me help.”

“How—and why—would you do that?” I asked, pausing at the curb.

“Because he screwed me over two years ago,” Blaise said. “I’m not going to explain shit to you, but I’ve been wanting to kick his ass ever since. I’ll help you without getting Poison involved.”

“And what do you want out of the deal?” I asked.

“Nothing.”

“Bullshit.”

“If Vera found out that I forced you to pay me for some shit like this, she’d have my dick.” Blaise drew his tongue across his teeth. “All I want is to stick my foot so deep up his ass that he can’t shit again.”

I twisted my head and stared over my shoulder at him, pressing my lips together. I didn’t know if I trusted him, but it was better to work with him than associate ourselves with Poison. Though … somehow, I still felt like Poison would insert themselves into our situation.

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