My lips part.
Kill circles his index finger near his temple. “He’s going whacko.”
“And it’ll only get worse,” Jeremy supplies.
After years of constant observation, he, of all people, recognizes Niko’s off mode more than anyone else. Usually, he’s able to put the brakes on it or propel Niko into diluting his intense mania.
It helps to present him with fights and people to punch. However, not even Jeremy’s methods work when Niko slides down into the black hole of his brain.
I don’t like it when my brother loses grip on his mind and falls into the mindless, animal instinct side of himself.
“It’s all because of that waste of space Landon.” Killian clicks his tongue again. “If that asshole is out of the picture, I’m sure Niko will return to being himself.”
He’s right. It’s all because of Landon and his stupid provocations and tendencies to cause trouble with every breath he takes.
It’s also because I chose the normal option of having dinner with my family. If I hadn’t pushed him aside, he probably wouldn’t have challenged Niko and yanked out this side of my brother.
My phone vibrates and I flinch and then cautiously check it. If it’s Landon, I’ll kill him—
My murderous thoughts pause when I see the name on the screen.
Bran: Can I see you for a minute?
I reply in the affirmative and agree to meet him at the beach. Kill goes upstairs, but Jeremy stays behind.
“What?” I sign as I slide my phone back into my pocket.
“The mission about spying on Landon is terminated. Effective immediately.”
“But—”
“Not another word, Mia. If Niko finds out about this, I’ll lose him for good and that’s not a risk I’m willing to take.” He pats my shoulder. “Landon asshole King isn’t worth it.”
I nod, for once feeling his words instead of hearing them.
Jeremy’s right. Landon isn’t worth it.
His enigmatic presence and his intense touch and safe company are not worth jeopardizing my brother’s mental state.
Metaphorical darkness lurches in my chest during the whole drive to the beach. The decision I have to make is loud and clear, but my heart still resists, floundering and twisting in its binds and refusing to submit to its fate.
When I arrive, I find Bran leaning against the hood of his car, absentmindedly looking at his phone.
I park behind him and step out of my car. Goosebumps erupt on my skin at the night beach breeze, and I taste the salt on my lips.
The waves crash against the rocky shore, creating a wild, turbulent chaos similar to the clash between my heart and mind.
Bran is scrolling through a familiar IG, but before I can figure out whose, he notices me and makes his phone screen go black.
We briefly hug in greeting before we lean against the car’s hood so that we’re both staring at the angry sea. Under the headlights, he appears pale, unsettled, even.
It’s disturbing how much he looks like Lan but doesn’t share any of his characteristics or intensity. They’re the same on the outside but completely different on the inside.
“You wanted to see me?” I type on the phone.
“I want to tell you a story,” he says with his usual calm.
I nod, even though I’m not sure where he’s going with this. Especially since he’s been avoiding me lately.
His eyes appear as bottomless as the ocean when he speaks. “When I was in secondary school, high school for you Americans, I was targeted by a group of three excruciatingly rotten guys. They made it their mission to not only ridicule me, but to also spread nasty rumors about me, including, but not limited to, my mental state and sexual life. I ignored them because they’re not worth it, and usually, these types of rumors die out when they find a fresh target.
“Landon used to hang out in their circle and actively participate in the mayhem they brought to other people’s lives. In fact, he could’ve even been their leader and the instigator of the chaos they caused. However, after I became their newest toy for the week and he found out about it, the situation quickly escalated to absolute carnage. He beat them up and broke enough bones that they had to be admitted to the hospital. But do you think he stopped there? Not even close. As soon as they started recovering, he planted drugs in their lockers, spread rumors about their sexual inadequacies, and turned them into the joke of the school.
“Just like that, they became the outcasts and the targets of bullying. Then he threatened their parents with incriminating pictures of their adulteries and tax evasion proof. He shattered their reputations, jeopardized the foundation of their families, and completely destroyed their minds. At some point, one of them lost it and attacked Landon. He stabbed him in front of the entire school and got arrested. He’s still serving time for that. The second guy had a mental breakdown and is in the psych ward as we speak. The third one hasn’t left his house in six whole years.”
I cup my mouth, unable to control the shock that rattles me to the bone. So the scar on Landon’s stomach is a result from that stabbing.
Brandon continues in the same tone, “I’ll never forget the look on his face when he was stabbed. He was smiling triumphantly for driving someone to the edge and giving them the final shove over it. He didn’t even care about the pain as long as he got what he wanted.”
He tilts his head in my direction. “Do you think Lan did that because he cares about me or my well-being? No, and no. It was for himself. Due to my being his identical twin, Lan has always seen me as his property and an extension of his being. He considers any disrespect toward me a direct attack on his person. Which is why he likes to keep me on a leash. He did the same to Glyn, which is why he hates Killian with a passion. Not only was he not intimidated by Lan’s antisocial tendencies, but he was also the first boyfriend that she chose on her own. All her exes were personally picked by Lan and threatened with bodily harm if they touched her inappropriately.”
“What are you saying?” I sign, not sure if he understands it.
Apparently, he does, because he releases a sigh. “Landon suffers from an antisocial and narcissistic personality disorder. Like Killian. The only difference is that Killian makes an effort to care and I have no doubt that he treats my sister right. Lan would never care or try to. He sees everyone as pawns or possessions. It doesn’t matter what effort he puts into a relationship, he only makes it for egotistical reasons to benefit himself. I like you, Mia, and I don’t want you to be one of the people he destroys.”
I stare at my boots that are covered by the sand, then type on my phone, “How did you know?”
“He likes announcing his possessions. Besides, you’re a bit obvious when he’s around.”
“And here I thought I was discreet.”
He smiles a little. “If it’s any consolation, I’m probably the only one who could pick up on it.”
I smile back. “You’re right. Tonight, I had two wake-up calls. The first was him hurting my brother and the second is this.”
Bran straightens. “Is your brother okay?”
I shake my head.
“Was…he badly hurt?”
“Physically? No. Mentally, however, it’s highly debatable.”
“And it’s because of Lan?”
“The one and only devil lord.” I smile sarcastically as I type, “I almost forgot that he nearly killed my brother with his shenanigans. And now, he’s done this. I should really stay away from him, shouldn’t I?”
“You should.” His brows dip. “I don’t even know what you see in him.”
Danger.
Thrill.
Illusion.
The monster who can fight the other monster.
“I know, right? You’re a good guy, Bran. I should’ve totally fallen for you.”
“But you didn’t.”
“Unfortunately.”
He smiles. “You have terrible taste, but if it’s of any consolation, I understand why girls flock to him. They’re attracted to his charm and, most importantly, to the prospect of being the chosen one who can fix him.”