Page 69 of Second Shot

“I didn’t say that. But I’m not the one with pictures all over the internet looking like you’re making some sortof-”

“You want to know who she is?” I yell, making herwince.

“I want thetruth.”

“Bullshit. You want something you can use against me so that you don’t have to feel the things you do.” I stalk towards her, and she backs up until she’s flat against the wall, and I shoot my arms out, palms flat beside her. I lean down, narrowing my eyes at her, my breathing rough, my emotions frayed. “You keep pushing me away. Wanting me to fuck up. Because you’re too damn scared to admit you care aboutme.”

She doesn’t respond, just holds mygaze.

“You think you’re strong. Think that steel cage you’ve got yourself trapped in is going to protect you from getting hurt. But it just makes you acoward.”

She sucks in a breath, and I know I’ve hit a nerve. And like the asshole I feel I am right now, I push at itharder.

“Admit it, Brynne. You’re a coward. You’ve got everything you want standing right in front of you, but you’re too damn scared to takeit.”

Her bottom lip trembles, and for a second I think she’s going to break. To finally admit the truth. But instead, I see her expression cloud over, and the stubborn set of her jawreturns.

“You’re trying to change thesubject.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “No, sweetheart. I’m just trying to make you see the truth. I’ve been too worried about protecting you, but it’s obvious you don’t need or want myprotection.”

“You’re right. Idon’t.”

I hold her gaze, but there’s no give there, just wall after wall of self-preservation.

God, I love her so damn much it hurts. But right now, I wonder if it wouldn’t hurt less to walkaway.

I push off the wall and take a stepback.

“The girl in the pictures is my sister.” There’s no emotion in my voice, just cold, hardresignation.

“You don’t have asister.”

“I do. But you’d know that if you hadn’t hidden from me like a fucking coward for the pastyear.”

Her mouth parts, eyes widening slightly. Maybe she believes me. Maybe she doesn’t. Normally, I’d care. But right now, anger is the only thing that consumesme.

“You think you’re the only one in this world who deals with shit? We all have our problems, and we face them. You don’t run away like some scared teenager. Your brother died. He killed himself. Yeah, it sucks. But stop taking it out on everyone who loves you. Or you know what? You’re going to push everyone away, and you’ll have no one. Not evenme.”

She sucks in a shaky breath, her eyes wide. “Kane-”

“Save it.” I rub the back of my neck where all the tension sits like a heavy stone. “I’ve had a long, shitty day. Funny thing is, I couldn’t wait to come home to see you. But I should have figured you’d find something to sabotage what we have.” I walk away, but toss one last truth over my shoulder. “You alwaysdo.”

Chapter 23

Brynne

Kane storms towards his bedroom,and even though I want nothing more than to follow him, I don’tmove.

Can’t.

I wince as the door slams behindhim.

Every one of his harsh words burns through me. I’ve allowed my fears and insecurities to destroy the trust he’s been so careful to build betweenus.

This whole time, it’s been him who’s tried to make thiswork.

“You’re an idiot,” I mumble to myself, picking up my phone and deleting the link Felix sentme.

---