ci

always someone around always an audience. Exhausting, isn't it? That's exact

al, the house was packed. Music, laughter, the clink of glasses it was all just noise to me. I stood in a corner, feigning interest i

the hell

isten to one of my cousins boast about his latest business vent

a punch before thinking. And that's why I've spent half our lives figuring out ways to clean up his messes

t or break a kneecap? That's Braton. It's a system everyone in our world understands. Just lik

e. We like to watch, take turns, indulge-but ne

an worth bringing home, we were back in sync. My mother hated our unpredictable living situation-especially the lack of stability, marriage, a

us. It used to be flatte

o find my cousin staring at me

you think?" h

ide my way through any conversation with ease. But before I could

ing backward...

me to avoid soaking her dress, but the dr

on flaring. I looked down, prepared t

he'd been made just for me. Just for us. Her raven-black hair fell in curls ov

Absolutel

, dropping to her knees to

he se

ed her arm, feeling the softness

aid, my voice f

ike this. Not here. She was too beautiful for something so degrading. S

s," I said with a smile that seemed to stun her

." I offered my hand, but the moment I said

who I am. B

said, barel

Fuck, she's nerv

are?" I

" Her voice shook, her ey

one. My gaze followed hers

was going," she said softly, and something

lking backward," I teased, giving he

breathed, and then she was

Women didn't

to her like a fucking magnet. I watched until she disappeared from view, just as B

ation, but I wasn't in the mood. I had to

I came up behind the bar a

r going to b

napped, not eve

line of sight-straight to the same wo

to talk to you about," I mu

e locked on her,

e asked, his brea

her. Name'

e?" he muttered, pr

ght her. We only spoke for a few

d, still

d you m

nto me. Spill

ed for

her knees and tried

eath, gripping the bar t

rowled, his voice

to her," I

nvince her,

something

tching us

rows

d the wall. She wasn't looking at us directl

th a slow grin, "g

, sending her a wink through the

behind the woman who had just turned our