Page 99 of Riot

“I ain’t arguin’ with you. Bring her here.”

“I can’t.” I tear a hand through my hair. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“Are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me?” He explodes, his voice laced with fury and the bitter sting of betrayal.

“I love her.”

He scoffs. “You fuckin’ bastard. I invited you into my family, Nathan. I gave you a place in my home, and the first chance you get, you destroy everything I’ve built?”

These words ain’t coming from a place of logic. I know he’s reacting this way because he’s terrified what this might mean for him and May.

I won’t be able to make him understand this was not an attempt to sabotage what he’s created, but I have to try.

He’s not the only one with something to lose here. My family is also fracturing in front of my eyes.

“Ain’t like that and you know it.”

Mace scoffs. “You’ve spent your entire life fuckin’ and usin’ women like they were nothin’ to you. You have your pick of anyone, and yet you choseher, the one person you knew will break my family apart when you inevitably get fuckin’ bored. And we both know you will.”

I have changed, though. Ivy has rebuilt all those parts of me that were damaged. The mindless sex, the fighting, the drinking… it’s hollow now. Ivy fixed the pieces of me that I didn’t know were broken.

I want to sleep next to her every night for the rest of my life. I want to watch Seren grow and be a father to her. I want to be the kind of man they’re proud of.

That’s the family I’ll bleed for.

“Do you even care what you’ve done?”

“And what have I done, Mace?” I exhale loudly through my nose. “I love her.”

The quiet admission is like an explosion in the pregnant silence.

“What the hell? She’s just a kid, and she’s been through hell, you fuckin’ prick. She ain’t a quick lay for you to pass the time.”

“Fuck you, Mace.” Anger blazes hot inside me. “Get May and Toby somewhere safe. I’ll take care of my girls.”

“Your girls? Are you fuckin’ deluded? She’s not a doll for you to play house with until you get bored, shithead.”

“No, she’s my fuckin’ life.”

He huffs like a raging bull. “Where are you? I’m comin’ to get her.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Nathan, I swear to fuck?—”

“You try to take them from me, you won’t like what happens.”

He laughs, but there’s no humour in it. “It’s fine. We both know you’ll bring her back the second you get bored of whatever this is.”

I end the call before I spit the rage I want to. I should have expected that response, but for a moment, I allowed myself to hope my brother might see me as something more, see the real me.

I curl my fingers into fists, the urge to spill blood crawling through my veins. But Ivy needs me here, not losing my shit in the ring.

Still vibrating with anger, I call Dash.

I don’t want to bring anyone else into my shit, but I need him for this. He knows people who can help.

He answers on the third ring, and I speak before he can.

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