Page 16 of Between Brothers

“Get,” I warned Rigs from behind my hand, as I worked the stubble around my mouth, “and stay your thirsty ass away from me.”

The venom boiled in me, making me shake my head the entire way across the gym.

Chapter Seven

More of the Same

Kennedy

I don’t know what I expected out of the Kids Center thing. The more I thought about it, I wasn’t sure I wanted anything. It hadn’t even been my idea to go…

Sure, I wanted to make Rigs’s blood boil at the thought of me spending the afternoon with her dream boo. But when I really searched my mind, I wasn’t sure I wanted anything beyond the ability to serve her that petty insult.

King Crowe might have owned the minds and hearts of a great many local girls, but to me; he was just more of the same.

His arrogance knew no bounds. Yeah, I had tolerated him well enough today, but I had to remember that he was best served in small doses.

Still, if I knew all that, why did I get so damned irritated by Rigs’s bullshit?

Why did I care that she was probably back there squirming on him, sinking her painted claws into whatever she could grab?

I swallowed a scream of frustration and walked a little faster toward my vehicle. The lot was empty as best I could tell, which is why that scream blasted free, when Royal Crowe placed his hand over mine, securing it to the doorhandle of my car.

“Don’t swing,” he blurted out, tipping his chin out of slapping distance.

“What is wrong with you?” I squinted at him, and huffed as I tried for the door handle once again.

“Nothing, I just don’t like seeing her get the best of you.” He sighed, lending his weight to the rear door.

I froze, my cheeks flooding with anger and embarrassment. Was I really that easy to read? God, I hoped not. I didn’t want anyone to know I’d wasted more than a passing moment worrying about any of the sweethearts.

How pathetic was I?

By the time I got the door open I was mad at the world; Rigs for being a bottom feeder, King Crowe for being an asshat capable of bringing out the worst in every woman in his vicinity…

And his brother, too, for being bastard enough to rub it all in my face.

But mostly, I was disgusted with myself.

Why the hell had I let an insect like Kate goad me into wasting my day alongside the abscess she called a son anyhow?

I reached for the door, intent on slamming it in Royal’s face. He wrapped his fingers around the frame, jerking it back before I could manage.

“I’m sorry,” he blurted out, leaning in close.

“Don’t need your apology,” I mumbled, giving a nod toward the door he was gripping and veering my head back to keep him out of my personal space.

“I know it’s scary, stepping out from behind those bullet-proof, ten-foot walls you’ve established and all, but shit… You can’t stay there behind them forever, you know. Shit ain’t healthy.”

My knuckles tightened around the steering wheel, and I anchored my gaze on his blubbering lips.

“Ya done?” I clipped, my tone suddenly carrying a bit of bite to it.

He’d gone too far. It was bad enough he was bragging about being able to see what no one else could in me. Did he really have to go all psychobabble and try to mind fuck me while he was at it?

“I– No. Kennedy, I just want to–” He instantly leaned back, though he didn’t let go of the doorframe, or move from between the car and the door.

“She don’t give a fuck what you want. Piss off,” King sang from behind him.