Page 111 of Heart Sick Hate

“I’m aware.”

“Good. Because while I don’t know who shot our brother yet, I did find something else.”

“What?”

Adam doesn’t ever look nervous. He doesn’t hesitate. Right now, I sense both those things as he stares at me.

“Things that are going to make this a lot more complicated for all of us.” Adam crosses his arms over his chest, and his jaw clenches. “Seems Ryan has been getting into trouble, and he’s using the church to cover it up.”

“Echo’s dad?”

Adam nods.

“What could a preacher possibly be getting into?”

He makes the rest of us sinners by simple comparison. Ryan doesn’t swear or get involved in any of my father’s bad shit. It’s annoying as fuck because I watch him get constantly walked all over because of it.

“He’s funneling money from the church.”

That can’t be right. Her father wouldn’t.

“Why would he do that?”

Adam relaxes his posture and grips the desk. “I’m still figuring that out.”

“Does Dad know?”

He nods.

“Rhett?”

“Not yet.”

A lead weight drops in my stomach. “Echo?”

Adam shakes his head, his expression tense. Echo worships the ground her father walks on. He saved her from a mother who deserves to burn in Hell. But if he’s been hiding this, what other secrets is he burying?

“You’re the one who texted me.” Adam taps the desk. “But are you really prepared to face what’s about to happen? Because when Echo finds out what’s going on, things are going to get a lot worse, and she doesn’t need someone who is going to waver on her. Rhett might be a prick, but he’ll take care of her.”

“And I won’t?”

This conversation isn’t about Ryan or what he’s doing to pad his pockets. Adam’s genuinely worried about me. And it’s so unlike him, Lakeyn must beto blame.

“I need to hear you say you won’t back out of this, Crew. You might care about her, but if you’re going to break them up, then you need to hold up your end of it. If there’s a fallout with her father, we’re all she’s got left.”

“Since when do you care?”

He barely knows Echo. He never comes to family dinners. And this lecture is so unlike him I can’t find my bearings.

“Because I’ve recently learned that there are in fact things more important than money. And I’d hate to see you fuck this up like you do everything else. Just because you’re destructive or bored or pissed at our father. Are you really ready for this?”

“Were you?” I stand in front of him, looking him dead in the eyes. “Because if you really understand how I feel, you’ll know there is nobeing ready. There’s nothing to prepare for. One look in her fucking eyes, and she drags my ugly, bloody soul straight out of me. She empties me until there is nothing left but how I feel for her. Ready or not means nothing when she’severything, Adam. And I’m not letting her go.”

Adam crosses his arms over his chest, and if he were the type of man who would be caught smiling, I’m pretty sure that would be what lights his eyes.

“Very well then.”

He’s so fucking proper and uptight, I can’t help but chuckle. If it weren’t for our dad’s cheekbones and Mom’s dark hair, Adam and I wouldn’t even look like brothers. Him in his suit and styled hair, me fresh out of the showerin faded jeans and the Iron Maiden T-shirt Echo wore all morning so I can spend the day drowning in her scent.

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