Page 61 of Treason's Temptation
“Go study because I don’t need any more stress.”
“Love you, Vie.”
“I love you, more Ray.”
Hanging up, Ward didn’t mention the change in my demeanor or how my voice softened. The concern in his eyes said enough.
“What are you looking at?” I asked, tired of ignoring the elephant in the car.
“I didn’t say a word.”
“But you want to. Spit it out already.”
“You could just tell him.”
My gaze flicked to the back of his head like he could see me.
“Tell him what,Darren?”
“You need to see Rayven.” He paused until I locked eyes with him through the rearview. “And whatever you don’t want him to know about Lorenzo.”
I knew Ward was right, but hearing him mention Rayven felt like a violation that I needed to correct.
“Why would I do that?”
“Y’all are a team, right,Pippen?”
“We’re a team when it’s convenient for him.”
Ward grinned again, cocky and knowing. “Y’all are a team, but if he can’t serve, the nigga gets real twitchy.”
“Twitchy?” I echoed, folding my arms.
“Yeah, like a cornered animal. Snaps at anything too close.” Ward looked at me. “You.”
“He could easily let me go. That would solve both of our problems.”
“You really think it’s that simple?”
“I’m just saying. If I’m such a problem, let me go.”
“He can’t. That’s just trading one sorrow for another.” Ward took a breath, then glanced through the rearview mirror. “Because not letting him in feels like rejection.”
I sat back, confused and annoyed. “That’s because he thinks everything is about him and it’s not.”
“He doesn’t do well in spaces he can’t control. If he can’t fix it, protect it, or call the plays, he feels useless. You don’t depend on him, and that’s new. Tre’s not mad at you. He’s mad at the space between what he knows how to give and what you need.”
“So what, I’m supposed to coddle him?”
“Nah, he hates that shit more than not getting his way. That’s why you have to be careful what you ask for. The same shit he loves about you fucks with his head.”
“Does your brother know you’re telling his business?”
Ward gave me a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Sometimes being a sibling means doing what’s best for them when they can’t do it for themselves. Tre will be aight. If he’s not, I’ll fuck him up.”
“Get in line. I’m first.”
