Page 163 of The Otherworld

“What are you talking about?”

I don’t answer that one. I’m too angry. I head for the front door, shoving the journal into my jacket pocket.

“Jack, don’t go down there! They’ll be gone by now.”

Too late. I’m already out the door.

I get back in my car and stab the key into the ignition, my hands shaking. I’m breathing fire the whole drive to the port. Knuckles white as I hold the steering wheel in a death grip.

I spot his truck the second I pull into the parking lot. Then I see his plane—docked right where it usually is.

They haven’t left yet.

I swing my car to a stop and get out, my head on a swivel. I don’t see them anywhere. The docks are empty and so is the cockpit of Adam’s plane. I stride up to his hangar, my heart racing in my chest.

Liar, cheater, dirtbag…

All those words are ready to burst out of my mouth as I reach for the doorknob—

I stop dead in my tracks when I see them through the window.

My stomach drops.

Time slows to a crawl.

It’s my worst nightmare.

She’s sitting on his workbench, and he’s kissing her like I’ve never seen him kiss any woman before. Her legs are wrapped around him, and her fingers are moving through his hair, and she’s devouring his lips like she wants to rip his clothes off right here and now.

For a moment, I am frozen in place—jealousy tearing through my chest as I finally see my brother for what he really is:

My rival.

My enemy.

The ropes snap—three, two, one. Suddenly I’m not a man, I’m a monster. Something primal, wild, savage. Anger takes over my whole body in seconds, swallows me up like quicksand, like fire, like the end of the world.

I kick open the door.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

Adam and Orca break apart, whirling to face me. Orca’s eyes widen with shock.

Adam takes a step forward, bracing himself like he’s about to get hit by a bulldozer. “Jack, listen. It’s not what you—”

“So this is what you’ve been doing behind my back?” I rage, my blood boiling as I storm across the hangar. “I can’t believe you—”

Orca jumps off the workbench, throwing herself between us. “Jack! Jack, stop! Don’t be angry with him.”

“I’m angry with both of you,” I seethe, my fingers curling into fists. “What the hell kind of game have you been playing with me, Orca?”

“I haven’t been playing any game—”

“Don’t give me that shit! You may be naive, Orca, but you’re not stupid. You made me think you were into me, you let me think I had a chance, and all along, you’re screwing around with my brother when I’m not looking? You know, there’s a name for girls like you—”

Adam lunges forward, grabbing me by the shirt and shoving me backward. His voice comes out as a throaty growl. “Don’t you talk to her like that.”

“Oh, look at you, the big hero,” I fire back. “Always swooping in to rescue Orca from danger. Is that how you made her fall for you? Well, she wouldn’t want you if she knew what a coward you really are.”

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