Page 96 of Stuck with my Brother's Firefighter Besties

“I always knew you were trash. You’remine, Lila! You were always supposed to be with me!”

My chest tightened, nausea rolling through me as his words cut like jagged glass.

My legs felt like jelly, but before I could crumble, Biscuit let out a sharp bark and darted closer to Rick, baring his tiny teeth.

“Biscuit, stop!” I cried, panic clawing at my throat.

My little corgi was brave, but he had no idea who he was up against.

Rick’s wild gaze dropped to Biscuit, his lip curling in disgust.

“Stupid mutt!”

He lifted his foot again, but this time Jaxon was faster.

Jaxon grabbed Rick by the collar and yanked him forward, his piercing blue eyes blazing with fury. “You eventhinkabout hurting her or that dog again, and I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your miserable life.”

Colt’s grip on Rick tightened as he leaned in, his voice cold as steel. “Say one more word about her. I dare you.”

Rick let out a humorless laugh, but there was an edge of desperation in it. “You think you’re her knights in shining armor? She’s just playing all of you. That’s what she does! She’s nothing without me.”

Was this man insane?

Had he forgotten that he conned me and then stood me up?

What thehellwas going on?

CHAPTERTHIRTY

Jaxon

I’d always thoughtI was the calm one.

I was the guy who could handle chaos with a steady hand and a level head, no matter how bad the situation got. But standing there, staring into Rick’s twisted, self-righteous face as he spewed lies about Lila, I felt every shred of control I’d ever had slip through my fingers.

“She’s just a desperate little girl who needed saving, and I gave her that! She wouldn’t have anything if it weren’t for me!” Rick’s voice rose, full of venom and misplaced pride.

My chest burned with a rage I couldn’t contain. The way he looked at her—like he owned her, like she owed him something—lit a fire in me I couldn’t put out.

Had this asshole not caused enough damage?

Why the hell was he back here now?

“She’s mine!” Rick shouted, jerking against Colt’s grip, his wild eyes darting between us. “You think she cares about you? She’s just?—”

I didn’t think.

I didn’t plan.

I justmoved.

Before I knew it, my hands were fisting the front of his shirt, yanking him out of Colt’s grasp. I slammed him against the side of the house with enough force to make the wood creak. The thud of his body hitting the wall echoed in my ears, but it wasn’t enough—not even close.

“What the hell did you just say?” I growled, my face inches from his.

Rick coughed, twisting in my grip like the weasel he was. I pressed him harder against the wall, my knuckles aching from how tightly I held his shirt.

“She’snotyours,” I spat, my voice low and shaking with anger. “She was never yours. And you’re going to regret every single word that just came out of your mouth.”

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