Page 27 of A Twist of Poison

I loved women—black, white, Asian or jellyfish looking. And they adored me right back. The thought of tapping out of the sea of opportunity where I could have a different person each time did not appeal to me.

And yet… the thought of one particular girl had me, and that thought process wavering. Was it just the fact I hadn’t had her yet? Maybe it was the chase, and once I’d been there and done that, I’d move on, conquering the rest who were begging for a night in my bed. Or shower. Or against the window. Or over the car hood.

Point being, Milla needed to be a one time fling so we could all carry on with our respective individual lives that didn’t intertwine anymore.Why does that make me so down in the dumps?I had an inkling that dipping in that honey pot would leave me wanting. Reeling me straight back in like a fish caught on a rod.

Which was kinda why Texas, Hollis, and I, when we were younger, made a pact to keep her at a distance from our dicks and firmly keep her locked within the forbidden friend zone.

So, we took it one step further and pulled away from her, completely freezing her out. Problem with that? She’d grown up. And goddamn, her beauty shone brightly. Then she was gone, so we no longer had to deal with the issue… until now where it had come barrelling back tenfold.

My phone pinged; I read the message and relayed it to my brothers. “Daniel just messaged. Something about Milla, but he’ll talk to us in person.”

Throwing the phone on the couch, I collapsed into it and closed my eyes as I waited.

“Don’t want to know,” Hollis grumbled. I heaved a heavy sigh, banging my head against the cushioned leather couch, wishing I was banging Hollis’ head on a hard surface instead.

Texas snorted a laugh. “Sure,” he drawled, dragging the word out. “Because you totally haven’t been keeping tabs on her. So much so that it’s bordering on stalking territory.”

Hollis’ eyes narrowed in retaliation as he replied, “She’s an unknown entity. I need to make sure we’re protected.”

He relayed this so emotionlessly, so plainly, that I was unsure whether he was just trying to trick himself out of his own emotions or he didn’t recognise them. But that couldn’t be right as he observed everything.

So, it was ignoring his feelings.Not ideal. His protective instincts wouldn’t allow him to see her as anything more than a threat to his feelings, to his brothers. To the life we’d made and had been happy as could be within, until she ambled her way back into our reality, sending our emotions into turmoil.

“Come off it,” I groaned, not wanting to call him out on his bullshit but doing it anyway. “We all know how you feel, brother.”

What was it that people claimed? Oh yeah, that people who hide their feelings usually care the most. Everybody had a chapter in their story they didn’t read aloud, but Hollis’ was screaming to be heard.

Using a carefully controlled tone, he retorted, “You’re projecting, and I don’t care for it.” His nostrils flared, and I wanted to laugh at the obvious aversion.

Instead, I matched his tone and raised it with one of my own, laying out a few of my own truths. “Part of me has always loved that girl.” I scrubbed my hand over my face, glancing between them both. “And you’re delusional if you believe I don’t know it’s the same for the both of you, too.”Boom, mic drop. There, laid out plainly.

“Should’ve lubed up before fucking us raw,” Texas responded, standing swiftly. His bare feet hit my sneakers as he glared down at me in intimidation while throwing his toys out the pram, as per usual. I gave him a pointed look; I’d knock him flat on his ass if he threw a punch at me over this.He forgets I’ll match each hit.

Hollis yanked Texas back, sensing the brewing altercation. “Go get ready,” he ordered him. We watched him leave the room, fists clenching at his side.

Hollis faced me. “There’s no shortage of women.” His head tilted to the side with a slight sneer. “Don’t let her hook you in, there are plenty more airheads out there.”

Said the one obsessed with knowing every moment of her day. Denial wasn’t just a river in Egypt.

I hated to be told there were plenty more fish in the sea. Especially when I had my eye fixed on that specific emotionally detached salmon with clear commitment issues. That would change. I wanted her. So, I’d have her. Simple.

Staring at me in disbelief and frustration when I voiced my feelings as we left the house, they showcased their facial opinions which irritated me to the point where I wanted to punch one of them. Their looks conveyed I was dumb as fuck. Maybe I was. But as the owner of my own life, I got to choose how to dabble with it.

It was genuinely laughable that they believed they had a leg to stand on and a point to be made after the dark and dirty classroom incident which involved all of us.

Oh, that was Texas’ grand idea.And this is why he’s never the one to make major decisions for any of us. I mean, scaring her? It didn’t work when we dragged her into that classroom. Playing with her? It just backfired on us in a big way. I knew it. Hollis knew it. And Texas came to realise it too, after.

Because now a part of him craved her more. He could deny it all he wanted, but I knew him. I really didn’t know what Hollis was thinking about, letting him form his own ‘get Milla the fuck away from us’ concept, but that once again proved that Hollis was tangled up inside as much as the rest of us.

* * *

I stirred the milk in my coffee and threw the spoon in the sink. I made my way over to a seat within the social area of our headquarters and got comfortable into the single leather seated recliner. My brothers joined me a short while later, dropping into the recliners at my side.

Miles came over, taking a seat and barging right into our conversation. He momentarily silenced us with his question, “Which one of you is seeing Milla Rossi?”

“We don’tseeanyone past a few dirty fucks,” Texas stated, levelling him with a glare. “You know this, asshole.”

Jesus, he was on his time of the month today.

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