it wasn’t my thing. I had enough permanent marks forever etched in my skin
that I had never asked for and I couldn’t imagine voluntarily adding any more. In fact I wasn’t thrilled
about the new addition on my head, considering that since I wore my hair so short, the bald spot from the
scar was bound to show.
Cora was different. She didn’t come across as delicate even though she probably only reached my chest
when we stood toe-to-toe. Her eyes were outstanding. I had never seen anything like them; the dual colors
were unique in themselves, but the fact that whatever she was feeling literally ran from one color to the next
was fascinating. I had never met a woman that transparent or that open with her emotions before. It was
like she had zero artifice in her. She was also damn cute. Not beautiful or stunningly pretty, but she was
cuter than any girl with that much attitude had a right to be, and somehow the bouquet of flowers that
colored her skin in every shape and variety seemed like it belonged there. Even the pink eyebrow ring and
the little gauges in her ears didn’t distract from the fact that she was pretty much a hot little number all
around.
I had to drag my attention to my brother when I could feel the heat of his anger blazing off the distance
separating us. His icy eyes were hard and I knew simply throwing out a generic apology wasn’t going to cut
it.
“Rule, I’m sorry.” I took my hat off and rubbed the back of my neck. “I’m sort of spiraling out of
control right now and I don’t want you to get caught up in it.”
“Well, I am, and more importantly Shaw is, and I’m not down with that at all.”
I cringed. “I’m sorry.”
“For what? For ruining my barbecue? For making Shaw cry for no reason? For calling my relationship
a mistake? For getting wasted and acting stupid all the time? For ignoring Mom and Dad? For getting your
ass kicked by a bunch of bikers and calling Nash and not me? Narrow it the fuck down, Rome. What
exactly are you sorry for?”
Damn, this wasn’t my carefree and I don’t give a shit about anyone brother. This was a serious-as-all-
get-out young man who was rightfully pissed, and it was all directed at me. I sighed and I hung my head.
Ever since the twins could walk, I had felt like they were mine to protect, mine to guide in the right
direction, and mine to help groom into the men they were supposed to become. I didn’t know if it was
because Rule was such a troublemaker and always flitting from one catastrophe to the next, or because
Remy was so coddled, so babied and in real danger of becoming a pansy, that I was so invested in their
care, but whatever the reason, their well-being had always been my top priority and I felt now like I had let
both of them down.
“All of it. I’m sorry for all of it. It’s been rough trying to settle back into civilian life and I’m sucking at
it. I shouldn’t be taking it out on you guys. I know it, but I can’t seem to stop it.”
“We love you, dude, but I swear to God, if you put me in a position where I have to pick between you
and Shaw, she is going to win every single time, hands down. Know it.”
That took me aback for a second. After Remy died, it had just been me and Rule against the world. He
wasn’t only my little brother, he was also my best friend, and I had never been able to picture a scenario
where someone would mean more to him than me. I sort of loved and hated that Shaw was that person. It
also galled me to admit that I was damn proud of Rule for standing that particular ground with me.
“It won’t come to that. I can’t lose another brother. I’ll make it right with Shaw. Mom and Dad might
take some more time, but I’ll get it together, swear it.” I wasn’t even ready to admit to myself the underlying
reasons—beyond their dishonesty—that made dealing with my parents impossible for me at this juncture.
He looked skeptical, so I shoved my hands in my
that I had never asked for and I couldn’t imagine voluntarily adding any more. In fact I wasn’t thrilled
about the new addition on my head, considering that since I wore my hair so short, the bald spot from the
scar was bound to show.
Cora was different. She didn’t come across as delicate even though she probably only reached my chest
when we stood toe-to-toe. Her eyes were outstanding. I had never seen anything like them; the dual colors
were unique in themselves, but the fact that whatever she was feeling literally ran from one color to the next
was fascinating. I had never met a woman that transparent or that open with her emotions before. It was
like she had zero artifice in her. She was also damn cute. Not beautiful or stunningly pretty, but she was
cuter than any girl with that much attitude had a right to be, and somehow the bouquet of flowers that
colored her skin in every shape and variety seemed like it belonged there. Even the pink eyebrow ring and
the little gauges in her ears didn’t distract from the fact that she was pretty much a hot little number all
around.
I had to drag my attention to my brother when I could feel the heat of his anger blazing off the distance
separating us. His icy eyes were hard and I knew simply throwing out a generic apology wasn’t going to cut
it.
“Rule, I’m sorry.” I took my hat off and rubbed the back of my neck. “I’m sort of spiraling out of
control right now and I don’t want you to get caught up in it.”
“Well, I am, and more importantly Shaw is, and I’m not down with that at all.”
I cringed. “I’m sorry.”
“For what? For ruining my barbecue? For making Shaw cry for no reason? For calling my relationship
a mistake? For getting wasted and acting stupid all the time? For ignoring Mom and Dad? For getting your
ass kicked by a bunch of bikers and calling Nash and not me? Narrow it the fuck down, Rome. What
exactly are you sorry for?”
Damn, this wasn’t my carefree and I don’t give a shit about anyone brother. This was a serious-as-all-
get-out young man who was rightfully pissed, and it was all directed at me. I sighed and I hung my head.
Ever since the twins could walk, I had felt like they were mine to protect, mine to guide in the right
direction, and mine to help groom into the men they were supposed to become. I didn’t know if it was
because Rule was such a troublemaker and always flitting from one catastrophe to the next, or because
Remy was so coddled, so babied and in real danger of becoming a pansy, that I was so invested in their
care, but whatever the reason, their well-being had always been my top priority and I felt now like I had let
both of them down.
“All of it. I’m sorry for all of it. It’s been rough trying to settle back into civilian life and I’m sucking at
it. I shouldn’t be taking it out on you guys. I know it, but I can’t seem to stop it.”
“We love you, dude, but I swear to God, if you put me in a position where I have to pick between you
and Shaw, she is going to win every single time, hands down. Know it.”
That took me aback for a second. After Remy died, it had just been me and Rule against the world. He
wasn’t only my little brother, he was also my best friend, and I had never been able to picture a scenario
where someone would mean more to him than me. I sort of loved and hated that Shaw was that person. It
also galled me to admit that I was damn proud of Rule for standing that particular ground with me.
“It won’t come to that. I can’t lose another brother. I’ll make it right with Shaw. Mom and Dad might
take some more time, but I’ll get it together, swear it.” I wasn’t even ready to admit to myself the underlying
reasons—beyond their dishonesty—that made dealing with my parents impossible for me at this juncture.
He looked skeptical, so I shoved my hands in my
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