Page 124 of Diem

“Do you think he would hurt me…us?”

“I don't know,” he says heavily.

Burying my head in my hands, I suppress the scream pressing at my throat. I knew it was coming to this, but it doesn’t change the ache I can’t outrun. My dad is a murderer.

Now that I know, what the hell do I do about it?

“Just leave it alone, Mae,” he says and when I glance up, I find him sitting against the door.

“You sound just like Diem,” I grumble, and his brows drop.

“Stay away from Diem.”

“Is there anyone I can be around?” I sass.

Ollie’s eyes flash and he pounds his fist against the floor. “You think this is funny? Diem’s gonna be the next mafia king. He’s a fucking criminal.”

“He’s your best friend,” I say softly, and he shakes his head.

“Not if he thinks he’s going to suck you into his world.”

Wow. That’s…my heart hurts at his callous words but I change the subject because it’s about to get awkward, and murmur, “I’m worried about Penny.”

His snort does not inspire warm fuzzy feelings and I roll my eyes to the ceiling when he says, “Stay away from her, too.”

“She’s my friend…”

“Really?” he says. “She thinks I killed your friend, Dixie or whatever.”

Turning to him, I study his features in the shadows and say carefully, “Why would she think that?”

He raises his brow and ice slides down my spine. “Is that what you think, sis?” he asks so coldly that I shiver.

Crawling into my bed, I turn away from him and stare at the door, before saying, “What happened to you?”

He doesn’t answer which is just as well because I don’t think it would bring me any comfort. My brother changed somewhere along the way and there’s fuck all I can do about it.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Maeve

Ollie sits on the floor beside my bed all night. The notion that he’s afraid to leave me alone does not sit well but I sleep better for it.

In the morning, I follow him out to the car with a brewing headache. His statement about Diem still rings in my ears and I can’t help but see the little boy with only his brothers by choice beside him.

Am I coming between that?

They formed a bond that nothing should tear apart and yet Ollie is willing to do just that for me. I get why he thinks he needs to protect me, but shouldn’t it be my choice?

Of course, I don’t want to be with a criminal, but Diem is so much more than that. He’s passionate and loyal. He’s fucking amazing.

Back in the day, when it was just us with no one else around, I saw the real Diem. He had a softness about him that drew me in because I so rarely got to see behind the touch exterior. Truthfully it makes me wonder if he even wants to be the person his family expects of him.

When we roll up to the lot, I stare out the window at Diem and my heart clenches when he searches out Ollie before turning away.

Diem needs his brothers. He doesn’t need me.

Resolved, I head toward Harriet chattering with Mr. Halsey by the door and studiously avoid looking at Diem but I’m pretty sure I feel his burning stare until I escape inside with Harriet beside me.

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