Page 97 of F*ckboys

"There's a darkness in Fallon. Has been since she was a teenager, since soon after you broke up. It only got worse in college. We've always tried to protect her, but..." Fenton trails off, brow furrowing.

"She has enemies," Bronson says bluntly. "Dangerous enemies. And if they discover how much Fallon means to you..."

I meet Fenton's gaze, jaw set. "Tell me everything."

They exchange another look, then begin.

"She didn't tell you? Yeah, she was physically hurt by some guys that attended the same school. They were never brought to justice because of some legal technicalities, and because their daddies hired a great defense lawyer who made her look like the villain. But it's her story to tell you if and when she's ready. I can't say more than that."

"They can't get away with hurting her," I frown. "Whatever it is, it happened a while ago, but they can't just wander around free for the rest of their lives."

Bronson's eyes meet mine, hard as flint. "Oh, we know. And they won't. We're just biding our time."

In this moment, I see the truth: they love Fallon as fiercely as I do. Intimidating at first, but now my allies. Our bond forged in fear for the woman who holds our hearts.

"So how do we help her to get through it in the meantime?" Bronson asks.

Fenton slams his glass on the table, amber liquid sloshing over the rim. "We have to do something. Before it's too late."

"I know." A dull ache builds behind my eyes. "But Fallon won't accept help. And if we push too hard, she'll shut us out completely. Things between her and me are still... fragile, developing."

"So we help without her knowing." Bronson cracks his knuckles, a habit when he's thinking hard. "Be there for her. Watch out for her. Make sure she's safe."

"And plot our revenge." Fenton's smile is sharp as a knife. "We destroy those guys, together. They'll never see it coming."

The ache in my head intensifies, fueled by rage. "They won't know what hit them."

Our drinks sit forgotten as we make plans. Every word, every idea, brings me closer to the vengeance I crave.

"I do know she's at least safe at work," I confess.

"How so?" Fenton looks skeptical. "Because based on what Link's private investigator found, it sounds like she's into some pretty dangerous shit."

"Well, her work associate, Grave... I kind of planted him there. I needed someone I could trust to watch over her, and I knew Grave was the best for the job."

Fenton and Bronson exchange glances, a mixture of surprise and understanding passing between them. The atmosphere is charged with unspoken questions, the weight of my confession hanging in the air.

"So…you manipulated the situation so Fallon would hire this Grave guy without knowing you knew him?" Fenton quirks a brow.

"And you did that for Fallon? You weren't doing it to like, stalk her or anything, right?" Bronson eyes me suspiciously. "You did it because you care about her safety like we do?"

"Yeah," I rake my hand through my hair. "I've been extremely concerned for Fallon's safety. I did want to keep tabs on her, but more in the sense that I just needed to know she was okay. I wasn't trying to be intrusive."

Fenton and Bronson both seem to take me at face value, and their expressions soften.

"I needed her to have the best protection, even if it meant bending the truth a bit."

Bronson nods. "We get it. We also look out for family and others who are close to us, no matter what."

Feeling touched by the camaraderie of the evening, and the unspoken pact we've made to keep Fallon safe and support her through the challenges ahead, I raise my glass. "To family, and to ensuring Fallon's safety. We're in this together."

By the time we part ways, our pact is sealed. We'll stand by Fallon's side through the darkness. And we'll make her attackers regret the day they decided to fuck with her.

The war has begun. There will be blood.

I stride into the night, purpose steeling my spine. Fallon isn't alone anymore. At least two of her brothers are with her now.

And so am I.

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