Page 82 of My Brother's Best Friends

I watch her pour a glass and take a slow swallow. The smile she flashes tells me I’m already too late. Bile rises; urgency curdles to ash on my tongue.

“What did you tell her?” I demand. “What lies?”

“No lies!” Melanie snaps. “I only told her the truth. She didn’t seem too happy to learn that you and your brothers have trouble keeping a woman in your lives.”

“Like I said, lies.”

Melanie sighs, utterly content. “I simply mentioned our little encounter, and she wasn’t pleased,” she says, smirking like a cat with cream. “Like I said—no lies.”

“We both know context is everything. You would do and say anything to make yourself into a victim,” I snap, turning away from her.

There’s nothing more I need to know at this point.

Melanie snickers. “You should’ve known better than to underestimate me.”

“Go fuck yourself,” I mutter, though I’m not sure she heard me.

The damage is done. All I can do now is find Makayla, fill in the gaps, and give her the full picture—because I’m sure Melanie twisted everything, just like she did before we reached a settlement.

Coming out of the spa area, I run into Oscar, who looks about as lost as I feel.

“Did you find Kay?” I ask.

Oscar shakes his head.

Before I can say another word, Melanie catches up, lips curled in a false smile. She’s determined to milk the moment—like an arsonist returning to watch her own flames devour the place.

“Melanie,” Oscar says stiffly.

“You’re blowing this way out of proportion, Kellan,” Melanie says, seamlessly picking up where we left off. “Makayla thought she was special, but she’s not. No big deal—everyone learns that lesson eventually.”

“Makayla is special!” I shout before I can stop myself.

The last thing I want is Melanie sensing how deep my feelings run; she’d only weaponize them. But damn, she drags my reckless side to the surface.

“Aw,” Melanie croons, clasping her hands together to mock me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I guess things have changed a lot. Maybe now you’ll consider paying me what you owe me.”

“How much are we talking?” Oscar asks.

I shake my head and let the silence answer. Oscar knows me better than anyone—he also knows I won’t pay another cent to keep this monster quiet.

“We’re not paying anything, Oscar,” I cut Melanie off before she can whip out a figure.

Alex jogs up, clearly empty-handed. I step aside so he can see Melanie lurking behind me. He skids to a stop, surprise curdling into contempt.

“What the fuck is she doing here?” Alex grumbles.

“She was just leaving,” I say pointedly.

“You guys are no fun.” Melanie saunters up to Oscar and loops her arms around his neck.

She pulls him in, whispers something, then breaks away with a throaty laugh. A finger wag at all three of us, and she strolls back into the spa like she owns it. On anyone else that swagger might be impressive—on Melanie, it’s just more proof of her bottomless entitlement.

“What did she tell you?” I ask Oscar.

“She named a dollar amount,” he says. “Exactly what she wants.”

“No, you don’t get it—she already reached Makayla,” I say. “She wouldn’t tell me what she said, but Makayla knows.”

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