Page 44 of Dangerous Love

“Shit,” he said, small lines crinkling his eyes. “I almost forgot. You’re still picking up my sister?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Does she sound okay to you lately?” His hand raked over his buzz cut. “She seems to have retreated back into the land of Sienna again. Not too sure why.”

My stomach cramped at where this was headed. I felt like shit for how everything morphed and fell into the ‘too hard’ basket lately. “I haven’t been around much. Sorry, I’ve probably not been a very good friend to her either.”

His hand tapped my shoulder. “Riley, you brought her back to us. That’s all we’d asked. You did me a fucking solid. I owe you one. You don’t worry about her anymore. We’ll take over. Her therapist is great. She’s keeping an eye on her too. For now, you focus on taking care of yourself, all right, mate?”

I nodded, the knot in my throat dragging my oxygen down with it by the second.

Tell him…An invisible hand slapped me hard until I saw imaginary stars. Who the hell was I kidding? There was no way I could admit to Avery that I’d completely crossed my own boundary and put his sisterand everyone elsein danger by telling Hal Cooper to burn in hell. The night before his wedding.

No. My little confession would have to wait. “Glad to hear. She deserves to be happy.”

Another tap shook my back. “And so do you. All good things are coming your way, buddy. Hang in there.” He pointed to the kitchen as he stepped down the stairs. “I better get this show on the road.”

Left to prep for my gig, I studied him as he shook hands with Jarryd before kissing Grace on the lips. Then, hand in hand, the two disappeared behind the walls of the commercial kitchen.

It’s time…As my fingers drifted over the strings, my mind cleared. Slowly, all the pain and darkness faded, and I was left with the peace from the melody.

The crowd grew quiet. A small breath filled my lungs as the same words I’d sung a thousand times in the last two weeks escaped from my lips. They were raw. Naked. Freeing. As I chanted my fears and pain, a weird peace took over me. And I relinquished to the relief.

Brother in life.

Brother in death.

I’ve watched you hurt.

Now I watch you play.

Like the kids we were,

You’re finally there.

As soon as the last chord finished, everyone in the club clapped and whistled. A few onlookers stood as they raised their thumbs at me.

“You’ve got a gift.”

I jolted sideways until my body was squared with Jarryd’s. A small smile found its way through the emotions still swaying to those lyrics. “Thanks.”

“I know that was a deeply personal song. Your brother would be proud, Riley.”

I nodded, words stuck in my throat. Would he? ‘Cause from where I stood, everything was falling apart. “Why are you here, Jar?”

He pulled on his earlobe, hesitation glazing his pupils. “If I said I came to check out the new menu, you’d call me on my bullshit, right?”

I let out a small laugh. “Probably.” His hands found his pockets, and in silence, Jarryd balanced on the heels of his feet. And I knew the answer to my own question. “You’re worried he’ll turn up here?”

Our eyes met when he responded, “I wouldn’t put it past him.”

“I’ll go back and apologise if that’s what it takes.” I pulled on my hair. “I hate the fucking bastard, but I care about you guys more.”

“Have you heard anything?” he asked, his complexion a little paler than usual.

“Not directly. But he sent Fish to Trey’s with a kilo of coke. I’m guessing he’s either generous or he’s hoping we’ll do something stupid with it.”

“Fuck,” Jarryd grunted between clenched teeth. “Tell me you’re not stupid enough to be using?”

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