Page 128 of Fortress of the Brave

She opens her mouth to answer then closes it. Her cheeks burn a little pinker under her freckled skin.

I shake my head in dismay.

“See. Speechless,” Fynn declares, triumphant.

“Thank god you have that going for you,” she says, recovering quickly. “Hell only knows your looks wear off the minute you open your smart mouth these days.”

“But you admitted it; I have good looks.”

She meets my gaze as I mouthhe’s a loser,andshe smiles.

“So does a prized python, it doesn’t make it attractive.”

“You’re comparing me to a snake?”

“No, I was just making a point.”

I honestly have no idea why they bicker so much or what the real story is about why they broke up. She is very grateful to Angelo and Fynn after the whole Cameron situation, but she and Fynn…they just don’t see eye to eye these days.

“What about the other night?” Fynn goes on.

“What about it?”

I shift uncomfortably. I feel like I shouldn’t be here.

“I thought we were good. Friends again?”

She snorts again. “Rocco was almost blown up. I was a little preoccupied with dealing with that, even if your many female admirers never stop trying to call you. They’re relentless, poor things. But friends? Sure thing…”

He frowns. For the first time, his cleverly smug mask slips just a little. “There’s not that many…”

“Riiiiiight. Who is it this week, Fynn? Miss Venezuela? A wannabe actress who wants to be seen on the arm of the most eligible bachelor in Boston. Or some twenty-year-old Victoria's Secret model who fits every single cliche to a tee. Actually, all I have to do is Google you, and all the sordid details will be right there. It’s not like you don’t flaunt your many conquests.”

“So you’re jealous?”

I could slap him. He’s not making this easy on himself. In fact, I think he’s making things worse. Even if it is true, and I do believe she is jealous, he should be smart and keep his trap shut if he wants to have a chance with her. But these two…they both have to be right.

She starts to poke around in my shoulder with a sterilized instrument, though I don’t feel a thing.

“Umm, no, Fynn, this is a look of disdain. Something I’m sure you’re oblivious to.”

I turn to my brother. “Quit while you’re ahead. I implore you.”

He ignores me. “Let me take you out to the movies.”

“No thank you.”

“But you just said…”

“I meant Dante, he’s much nicer than you.”

“He’s spoken for.”

She gives me a side eye, getting some solution out of her bag as I shake my head at Fynn. How he gets so many chicks is beyond me. He obviously hasn’t dated anyone remotely intelligent like Sage, or anyone who will call him out on his bullshit.

Women drop at his feet, but not this girl.

“Fine. Angelo, then. Or Marco. Or Rocco. Or Enzo. Or Santino. Or Jonas. Or freaking Darko….”

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