Page 183 of Merciless

“I fucking told him that she’d be the death of him,” he seethes. “He’s throwing everything away because of her.”

“He loves her, Dev. Always has.”

“It’s fucking bullshit, that’s what it is.” He scoffs. “Most of what Victor spits is shit, but the stuff about pussy ruining your life. That’s fucking true. We’re literally witnessing it.”

“You’re wrong,” I state, resting my ass against the counter.

“Kane’s starting a new life. He’s got the world at his feet. There’s nothing wrong with having his girl beside him while he does it.”

“He just got shot, JD. Because of her.”

“No,” I argue, refusing to believe this is Letty’s fault. “He embarked on all of this long before they got together. He couldn’t have known.”

“It’s always been fucking her. She’s always been in the background slowly poisoning him.”

“You really have a poor opinion of women, huh? Thank fuck I don’t have any sisters.”

“Women are fucking great. I love women. I just don’t appreciate them trying to fuck with my brothers’ lives.”

I keep my mouth shut. What else is there to say? Not long ago, I possibly would have agreed with him. But even in my short time with Alana downstairs, I’m starting to understand the other side of the argument.

Finding someone you can’t stop thinking about and having them agree to stand by your side, no matter what life throws at you? Yeah… the prospect of that doesn’t sound as scary as it has previously.

“Letty wants a coffee,” he says, stealing the one I made for Reid for himself. “White, one sugar.”

“Aw, look at you trying to make friends,” I tease.

All I get in response is a glare.

“How’s the new inmate?” he asks, changing the subject as the machine works its magic.

“She’s…”

“You fucked her,” he blurts.

“The fuck, Dev?”

“Well, that explains a lot.”

“The fuck are you talking about?”

Lifting his free hand, he points at my face and circles his finger. “You’ve got a post-sex high going on. Plus, there are hickeys. Those bad boys give themselves away, while my big brother is walking around like a bear with a pair of sore testicles.

“So you got in there first and he’s pissed, huh?”

My lips open and close like a fish. How has he spoken to me for all of ten minutes and have all this figured out.

“Well, it looks good on you, man. Just a shame it’s a vindictive, toxic bitch like her who’s done it.”

Before I get to argue his statement, he’s abandoned his empty mug and taken the one I made for Letty.

With the weight of everything that’s going on around us right now, I pull the refrigerator open and search for something to make for Alana.

I promised I’d return with food, but I wasn’t lying when I told her I couldn’t cook, so my options are limited.

I’m still staring aimlessly when footsteps approach again, only this time, it’s someone who can help.

“Step away from the fridge, J,” Reid instructs. “I don’t have the energy to deal with a house fire right now.”

---