Page 186 of Chasing Sparks

“What the fuck?” he snaps, his eyes blazing.

I shake out my hand, ignoring the sting as I press it against my thigh. “It’s nothing. Just leave it, Braden.”

“It’s nothing?” He points at the hole in the wall, his jaw tightening. “You just put your fist through the wall and your hand’s bleeding all over the damn floor. What the hell is going on?”

“I said it’snothing.” I bite out the words, desperate to get my brother off my ass.

Braden tosses up his hands in resignation. “I’m so over this goddamn drama. What is happening to you?”

I don’t answer. There’s nothing I can tell him. At least, not now.

My brother steps back, his expression hardening. “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”

I meet his gaze, my chest heaving with unspoken words, unspoken fears. “It’s better if you don’t know.”

His face falls, disappointment etched into every line. “I’m done. Whatever this is, I’m done with it, and with you.”

“Braden—”

“No.” He holds up a hand, cutting me off. “Figure your shit out. Before you lose everything.”

He storms into the back as I stand there, blood dripping from the cuts on my knuckles.

What he doesn’t realize is I’m terrified I already have.

After Kevin’s surprise visit, I don’t waste a second.

I clean up my hand and the mess on the floor, hanging a random photo to cover the hole in the sheetrock. One more repair to add to my ever-growing list of things to do.

I call Trace, my voice sharp and shaking. “Meet me atBlack Lotus. Now. No questions asked.”

But even as I hang up, my mind is somewhere else—on Ori.

I march over toOne More Page, my chest tightening with every step.

God help Kevin if he’s gone anywhere near her.

The bell above the door jingles as I step inside, but I barely notice the few customers milling around. My eyes zero in on Ori, perched at the coffee bar, sipping her drink like the world isn’t crumbling around us.

I can’t let her see how wrecked I am. I have to hold it together. For her. For our baby.

But the second I open my mouth, my thin veneer of control snaps. “We need to talk.Now.”

She turns, startled by the edge in my voice. Her eyes widen as they sweep over me—my bandaged hand, my disheveled hair, the barely concealed panic vibrating from every pore.

“What happened to you?” Ori asks, her voice laced with concern.

“Don’t worry about it,” I bite out.

Her gaze drops to my hand, her brows knitting together. “Your hand?—”

“It’s fine.” I wave her off and grab her elbow, steering her toward her office.

But no place feels safe anymore

“Ash—”

“I said don’t worry about it.” My words emerge harsh and sharp, as the fear inside me roars like an unrelenting beast.

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