Page 79 of Bulletproof Love

“They have to do a dare instead,” Blake suggests. “Something equally messed up.”

I eye the gun, already feeling my pulse speed up. “Fine by me. Ready?” Without waiting for an answer, I spin. The barrel whirs against the coffee table before slowing to point at Leon.

“Fuck me,” he mutters.

“Come on, mate.” I lean back, wrapping my arm around Falin. “Show us what’s in that dark British soul of yours.”

He holds his beer, peeling the moist label into little pieces, his gaze trained at a spot on the wall. “I went to school with my half brother for years. He never knew who I was. Sometimes I’d follow him home, just to see what a real family looked like. I’d watch my father kick the football around the garden, patting his back, and smiling…” He trails off, eyes coming back into focus as he takes a long sip of beer. “Fuck, that was deep.”

I reach across Falin to squeeze his arm. “Screw them both. We’re your brothers for life.”

“Don’t ever forget it,” Damon adds.

Leon nods, clearing his throat. “Let me give this a go.” He spins hard, the gun rattling against the wood. It lands on Blake.

She twists her hands in her lap. “One time a few years ago, I found something on Brennan’s phone. Photos. I didn’t know what to do or say. I convinced myself they weren’t real. That he wasn’t a monster.” She shakes her head. “He was all I had and I… Maybe if I acted, some of those girls…”

“Don’t.” Damon pulls her close. “You can’t think like that. We’d never be able to make it through one fucking day if we got stuck on the maybes and what ifs.”

She nods, inhaling a deep breath. “He’s right, Bee,” Falin says, her voice laced with care. “You couldn’t have known. He fooled a lot of people.”

My heart cracks in two for her and everything she’s gone through. Seeing her brother die in front of her… Damn. I don’t think I’d survive that.

The barrel spins again, finding me. Fuck. The secrets pile up in the back of my throat—the truth about the pills, the darkness that lives inside me, how scared I am of corrupting Falin with it all, of hurting her. But what comes out shocks me. “Sometimes I dream about Bailey being dead. And in those dreams, I feel relieved.” My voice cracks. “Because at least then I’d know.”

Falin wraps her hand in mine, squeezing gently. Everyone’s quiet, and I know I fucked up. How could I say that about my own sister? I truly am a monster.

Blake is the first one to break the silence. “I completely understand. It’s the not knowing that’s the hardest part.”

The silence sits like a viscous fog in the room until Falin snags the gun, spinning it hard enough to make the table creak. The barrel lands on Damon. This should be interesting.

“Alright,” he says, taking a swig of beer. He picks up the gun and messes with the barrel as he thinks. “I killed one of my mom’s junkie boyfriend’s when I was ten years old.” He drops the gun on the table, and drags a hand down his face.

When he doesn’t elaborate, I speak up. “That’s all you’re going to tell us? Bro, you can’t leave us hanging like that.”

He shrugs, and finishes off his beer. “Don’t feel like turning this into a therapy session.” Before anyone can ask him more questions, he spins and the gun lands on Falin.

With her knees to her chest, she chews her bottom lip for a moment. “I dated this guy in San Francisco. I think I told you about him, Bee?”

Blake nods. “That guy with the tech startup? Alden or something?”

“Yup, Mr. My Shit Doesn’t Stink.” She straightens her legs and a look of pure hatred flickers in her eyes. “He tried tohelpme.” Her voice is bitter with every word. “Called my dad, told him his daughter needed professional help. That I had control issues. All it took was three little clicks of my keyboard to destroy everything he built. His career, his golden reputation, gone.” Her eyes meet mine. “And I didn’t do it because he cheated. I didn’t give a shit about that. I was pretty much done with him and his tiny dick, anyway. I did it because nobody gets to control me.Ever.”

“Remind me never to piss you off,” I say, even though my cock is rock hard. Twisted is my type.

“Too late,” she smiles, lifting a brow. Holy hell, I’m going to fuck the shit out of that mouth later.

“Alright, Satan,” Damon says, making Blake slap his arm. “Your turn to spin.”

Falin gives the gun her best spin, but it doesn’t go very far, stopping on Leon. His jaw clenches. “I already went.”

“Come on,” I say. “I know there’s some dark secrets hiding in that head. Or if you want you can spin and kiss someone,” I add, purposely trying to egg him on. With my eyes scrunched shut, I cross my fingers. “Please land on Damon, please land on Damon.”

Everyone laughs but him. “Nothing left worth telling. I’m an open book.” He reaches for the gun, but Damon’s hand shoots out, stopping him.

“Really?” Damon stops to take a sip from the cup in front of him. “Because I can think of one. About a certain girl you met last sum?—”

“Don’t.” Leon’s voice could slice skin.

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