Page 77 of Declan

And that’s all the answer I need.

I force a bitter smile, one that doesn’t come close to reaching my eyes. “This is nothing, Wesley,” I say, voice hollow. “It’s absolutely nothing.”

I push past both of them without looking back.

My hands don’t start shaking until I hit the front door.

And by the time I’m in my car, I’m crying too hard to drive.

Chapter 22

Declan

“You and my sister?”

Wesley's voice cuts through the air like a whip, laced with betrayal and disbelief. His eyes are wide with fury, but it’s the hurt that gets me. That buried look of a brother who just got stabbed in the back by the one man he trusted most.

“You’re fucking my little sister?” he shouts, voice booming.

Lena’s face as she walked out, crushed, humiliated, done, won’t stop playing in my mind. The echo of her words rings louder than Wesley’s screaming.

This is nothing, Wesley. It’s absolutely nothing.

God, what the fuck did I do?

Wesley’s still yelling, but I barely hear it over the war happening inside my own head.

You just let her go.

You didn’t say a damn thing.

You let her think she’s just a secret.

You made her feel like nothing.

You made her believe you didn’t love her.

You hurt her.

“Answer me, Declan!” Wesley’s voice explodes again as he charges at me, grabbing my collar and shoving me back. His rage is a wildfire, and I deserve every bit of it.

“Whoa, what the fuck?” Elias shouts, shoving between us.

Kaden barrels in behind him. “What the hell is going on?”

And then, of course, there’s Lex. Calm, leaning in the doorway like he’s been waiting for this moment.

“I told you he was going to find out,” he mutters.

Wesley spins on him. “You knew? You knew he was fucking my baby sister and didn’t tell me?”

Lex doesn’t even flinch. “That wasn’t my place. Your anger’s misdirected. I’m not the one sleeping with Lena.”

“You’re screwing his sister?” Elias blurts, looking back at me like I’ve grown a second head.

I glance around, the room tightening, the walls closing in. “Can we talk?” I look at Wesley. “Alone.”

“You want to talk?” Wesley’s laugh is cold, unhinged. “Talk? No. I want to fucking kill you. Lena? Seriously? You could’ve had anywoman, any, and you chose her? My sister? I have no fucking choice now, I have to bury you.”

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