Page 32 of Eat You Alive (Court Legacy 4)

She was making what she did sound completely sane. My eyes narrowed. “And you had the right to do that because…”

“I don’t know, big, because you’re my brother, and I care about you!” she whisper-shouted. We both were, which I’d find funny if we weren’t so goddamn heated. She raised and dropped her arms. “I do, and I’m not going to let someone drag you down.”

Because even though we hadn’t grown up together… years apart, miles apart, she was still like my brothers, Bow, and me. We were family,Legacy, and we took care of each other.

We protected each other even without the biology.

But Sloane and I, we did have the biology. We were bonded in an intricate way that was just as strong as the others and myself, but it was different. We were twins.

So, yeah, that made it different.

I sighed. “I care about you too, and though I appreciate it, you don’t have anything to worry about.” I couldn’t have them worrying. None of them. I gripped the sink. “I’m tired of everyone worrying about me. Mom. Dad. The guys… I’m just tired, Sloane.”

I’d probably said more than I should have, but I needed her in my corner most of all. Her coming around meant D would, then Wells and Thatcher by proxy. Dorian was the one we all looked to in order to be okay, so yeah, if he came around, Wells and Thatch would too.

It all started with Sloane, though, the catalyst and pulse of our group. She did make things better all around.

She sighed too. “I know you are, and I’m sorry for overstepping. I just…” Her eyes closed. “Last year was real hard, Ares. Not just for you. I mean…”

Her voice broke, but I kept my composure, making myself. I rubbed her arm. “Eh. No more of that. We don’t have time for it, right?”

That was a promise we’d made. Just her and me. We’d shown strength together, strength for Mom and Dad. Strength for the guys and their families who were like family. We’d shown strength for Bru who hadn’t even wanted to start his freshman year of college. The kid would have stayed home, home for me...

That was how bad it had gotten, people worrying, and fuck if I’d ever be the central focus of it again. I’d seen what worry does firsthand.

I’d seen what I’d done to people firsthand.

It was Sloane’s and my strength that had gotten our family and friends to get back on track. We’d gotten everyone to move on, be normal.

She nodded, and when she hugged me, another one of her hugs, I didn’t fight her. I also wouldn’t let myself feel guilt, guilt for tricking my twin along with everyone else. This relationship with Fawn was necessary and strictly business for me.

And I’d make it work at all costs.

CHAPTERTWELVE

Fawn

I entered what should have been an empty dorm room.

Not one filled with football players.

I knew this because they wore hoodies and T-shirts exclaimingPembroke Footballand other things across their large chests.

What the hell…

The guys had my door open, moving boxes in and over the chaos, and a male voice directed them to the where.

A male voice I recognized.

Wolf sprawled out on the sofa that came with the dorm, his cell phone in hand and thumbs dashing across the screen. He waved a hand. “You guys can put things wherever.”

Whereverconsisted of his friends putting boxes on my stuff. I’d been working at the kitchen table, the kitchen connected to the communal living space. My computer and research articles were out and all those boxes stacked on top of everything but my laptop. My bag dropped from my arm, and Wolf glanced up from his phone.

Dark eyes pinned me in place. Especially when he placed his high-tops on the floor. He hadn’t really fit on the couch, his legs too long…

He rose in a pair of tight jeans, his curls chunky like he’d just taken a shower, damp. He fingered through them while looking at me, and I shouldered my bag.

“What’s going on?” I hadn’t been prepared to see him. He’d gone radio silent for like ever, and it wasn’t like I wanted to see him. The last time we were in the same room together, he’d violated me.

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