Page 37 of Backstroke

Fallon doesn’t wait around. She digs through her purse for keys, then tries to walk off from me. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?” I growl as I grasp her arm. I pull her back against me, feeling the heat of her body through the thin fabric of her dress. Her nails dig into my arm, but I don’t let go.

She struggles for a moment, her eyes flashing with anger and hurt. “I need to get out of here,” she snaps. “I can’t deal with this right now.”

I tighten my grip, trying to keep her from running off. “You’re not going anywhere alone,” I assert firmly.

“I have plans tonight, Remy. Now let me go!” She glares at me, probably waiting on me to release her, but that’s not happening. I can feel her pulse quicken under my fingers. I can see the conflict in her gaze, torn between the urge to flee and the need to confront the situation.

“Cancel them,” I demand, my tone leaving no room for argument.

Fallon’s eyes narrow and she stops struggling for a moment, her chest heaving with each breath. “You can’t just control everything, Remy,” she states, her voice a mix of anger and pleading. “I need space. I need to think.” She tries to pull away again, but this time with less force, as if she’s testing my resolve.

“You don’t need space from me,” I bark, enough to make her flinch.

“Stop! You’re my stepbrother, for fuck’s sake! This–this changes everything.” She pushes away from me, and I’m left speechless. I hadn’t considered all the implications of the evening’s news.

I stand there, stunned as her words sink in.Stepbrother. The weight of the revelation crashes over me, and for a moment, I can’t find my voice.

“Fallon, I…” I start, but the words die in my throat.How could I have been so blind?She takes another step back, forming awedge between us. The anger and betrayal coursing through me are almost too much to bear.He did this.He had to go stick is dick in the one person he shouldn’t. My father’s actions have once again left me to pick up the pieces.

I reach out but she recoils, wrapping her arms around herself as if to shield herself from the truth. She thinks she’s getting rid of me so easily, but this changes nothing.

“We can’t just pretend like nothing happened,” she responds, her voice barely a whisper.

I clench my fists, trying to keep my emotions in check. “He did this,” I fume, my voice shaking with rage. “He ruined everything, and now we’re the ones who have to deal with it.”

Fallon’s eyes soften for a moment, but she quickly hardens her expression. “I can’t do this, Remy. I can’t be around you right now.”

Before I can say anything else, the valet returns, breathless as he hops from the Jeep. “Sir, your vehicle is ready,” he interrupts. I pull a hundred dollar bill and slap it against his chest.

“Keep the change.” When I turn back, Fallon is gone.

I stand there, the keys heavy in my hand as the valet scurries away with a grateful nod. The realization that Fallon left hits me like a punch to the gut. The parking lot feels emptier without her, the silence almost deafening.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. The anger and frustration bubble up inside me, but there’s no one to direct it at. My father, Fallon, myself—it’s all a tangled mess.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, I grip the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles turning white. The engine roars to life, but I don’t move.I can’t. Not yet.

“Dammit, Fallon,” I curse under my breath. If she thinks she can escape me, then she hasn’t been paying attention. This changes nothing. Fallon Monroe belongs to me, and there’s not a damn thing anyone can do about it.

As I drive through the dark streets, my mind is a whirlwind of plans and possibilities. I need to find her. The city lights blur past, but my focus is razor-sharp.

I pull out my phone and start dialing, my heart pounding with a mix of anger and resolve.

“I need a favor,” I demand when the call connects. “Find Fallon.Now.”

Hanging up, I take a deep breath, the adrenaline coursing through my veins.This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Fifteen

Fallon

Ican’t believe Remy.His possessiveness, his refusal to let me go—it’s suffocating. And now, with the revelation that he’s my stepbrother, everything feels even more complicated.How the hell did we get here?

I walk quickly, my heels clicking against the pavement as I try to put as much distance between us as possible. I need space to think, to process. The weight of the evening’s news presses down on me, making it hard to breathe.

My thoughts drift to my mother and Remy’s father.How could they do this to us? Did they even consider the impact it wouldhave on our lives?This seems so selfish and viciously planned, like the universe is cracking a joke at our expense.

I reach my car and fumble with the keys, my hands still shaking. As I slide into the driver’s seat, I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Tears blur my vision, but I blink them away, refusing to break down. I need to get away.

---