Page 209 of Under an Endless Moon

“I love you so much, Otto. You’re my favoriteperson.” There was no tease to it that time. Only stark adoration as she brushed her fingertips over my lips.

I grabbed them and kissed across the tips. “No one can compare.”

We stayed like that for a moment, just gazing at each other through the lapping darkness of the room before I pulled out of her, more than reluctantly, and started to tuck myself back into my jeans as I helped her readjust her underwear.

But it wasn’t soon enough before the door crashed open behind us.

Not soon enough to conceal what we’d been doing.

Not soon enough to stop the fury that lanced through the room.

Because River was there, raging in the doorway, Kane’s key hanging from the lock, his mouth twisted in venom. “You fuckin’ lying piece of shit. I fuckin’ knew it.”

Then he was storming across the room toward me.

FIFTY-SIX

RAVEN

It was disorienting,floating on the highest high one second, then being sucked down into the mayhem that suddenly spiraled in the room.

A vortex swilling all air and light from the space.

An animosity and disbelief and hurt so thick that I didn’t think my brother could see anything in front of him other than a man who’d violated his sister.

Someone who’d lied and betrayed.

Someone he no longer recognized or loved.

Someone who’dhurtme.

Not when he flew across the room at the same second Otto had fully turned and taken two steps toward him with his arms stretched out at his sides like some kind of offering.

River gave no warning before his fist flew. A violent crack ricocheted off the walls when it landed on Otto’s cheek.

Shock ripped out of my lungs, for one moment stunned that my brother would attack Otto this way.

Probably more stunned that Otto just let him.

Like he was inviting the punishment.

Otto grunted a low sound at the connection. Pain that he tried to keep contained.

He just stood there while River delivered another punch, that one to the other side.

No doubt, he believed he deserved it.

Blood splattered with the crunch, and Otto rocked to the side, inhaling a sharp breath before he forced himself to upright stand again, shaking himself off as he readied himself for another blow.

“You fuckin’ vile piece of shit. You think you can touch my sister? Behind my fuckin’ back? You fuckin’ swore to me, you bastard. Come on, you twisted fuck,” River taunted.

Otto didn’t take the bait, though, he stood stock-still, welcoming the malice that oozed from my brother.

“River,” I begged, trying to break through the madness. “You don’t understand.”

“Oh, I understand perfectly, Raven. Can’t believe you’d let this disgusting prick touch you. After everything you’ve been through? Thought you knew better.”

River spat it like an accusation, one I wasn’t sure if he was issuing to me or Otto. But it was the one thing that got a rise out of Otto, his own fury brimming to the surface. “Don’t fuckin’ talk to her like that.”

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