Page 103 of Ronan

“I would have dealt with it and not even bothered you if it were me. Family is important. You shouldn’t have had to cut time with your mom for this.”

I shrug. “Business is business; it waits for no one.”

“Is that why you haven’t checked in on Anika? I mean, when was the last time you even spoke to her?”

I get ready to break on him, but something in his eyes catches my attention and I decide to take a different approach. I move over to the couch and wave for him to follow me. We both have a seat, and I take the time to assess him.

“When was the last time you spoke to her?” I ask.

He hesitates. Immediately, I know he’s about to tell me a lie. That is a huge red flag because Byron and I know each other too well to outright lie to each other.

“To be honest, I can’t remember the last time we spoke. It’s not like her not to talk to any of us. What happened between you two? How can it be fixed? She’s your sister.”

“Nah, she’s not. She’s just another bitch in the streets that needs to walk on by if we ever cross paths. She broke my trust. Her ass is dead to me.”

He releases a sigh. “Fuck. You and those fucking trust issues,” he mutters to himself so low I almost miss it.

“Excuse me? What was that?”

“Nothing.” He looks down at his watch. “Listen, I have somewhere I need to be. I’ll call you later.”

Yeah, I bet.

* * *

Lyric

“Time to findout what the fuck you’re up to,” I say to myself as I start my car and pull out to follow Byron.

I think Danny is finally seeing what I’ve known about Byron. Something isn’t right about that kid. I’ve never done shit to him, but he’s hated my guts since my father found me and brought me home.

“Sorry to ruin your perfect life, kid. It’s time you get over that shit,” I mutter.

I read the moment Danny shifted into that killer instinct. She saw something to trigger her watchful eye. Freddie made a machine out of that woman. I can only imagine what I’d be like if I had met the man sooner.

I’ve had a fucked up life so I try to never rock the boat. Never once have I complained to my father or anyone else about Byron. I would have loved to have been friends when we first met.

I did try. I thought it was cool to have a little brother. I was sorry to learn about the loss of our other brother. I never got to meet Myron.

From what I’ve heard, Byron is the good twin. If that’s the case, I’m glad I never met the other one. Byron seems to have a split personality.

He puts on around certain people, but I’ve seen the other side. The side he’s been letting slip lately. Something has been up with him.

If I’m going to be honest, he has gotten worse over the last two years. Maybe a little longer than that. More like right after Freddie’s death. Byron lost his mind when Danny chose me as her right hand.

I was just as surprised as he was. She’s known Byron much longer than she’s known me and from what I hear, they were once really close. Freddie was the man, and he treated me like one of his own.

When I was having a hard time when I first arrived, he took me under his wing and looked out for me. I’ll forever be grateful to him for that. That’s why I have Danny’s back. I’ll protect her with my life for Freddie.

I get caught at a red light, which Byron breezes past. Frustrated, I bite out a curse. I’ll have to race to catch up.

Suddenly, I can see Byron turn his car around up ahead. However, he’s in the wrong lane; he’s in my lane heading toward me.

“What the fuck?”

I just barely have time to reverse and try to back out of the way, but I’m not fast enough. I look on in horror as he races to collide head-on with my car.

Son of a bitch. The airbags pop out and I jerk forward. Then, on impact, I black out.

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