“No,” he scoffed. “Kane’s a lying asshole.”
“Asshole I’ll own, but I’m not a liar,” Kane growled.
I grabbed my brother’s arm and looked into his eyes. “Don’t lie to me. Why are you such a mess? Are you on drugs or not.”
“I told you, no.”
“You’re so lit right now,” Kane said, shaking his head in disgust.
“You’d know, wouldn’t you?” Grayson shot back.
Kane shrugged. “I would, yeah.” He turned to me. “Don’t give him any money.”
“You need to mind your own fuckin’ business,” Grayson said, his expression so desperate and angry I didn’t even recognize him.
The tic of a muscle in Kane’s jaw gave away the fury behind his cool expression. “You’d better get the fuck out of here, man. Consider yourself lucky.”
“I need the money.” Grayson turned to me, his plea nearly a whine. “I owe some people money, Viv. Please.”
I looked at Kane, who just shook his head.
“I don’t have any money to give you,” I said to Grayson. “But you need to stay. We’ll figure this out. Maybe Mom and Dad can help you repay this debt.”
Grayson pulled his arm back and punched the wood frame of my front door. I jumped with surprise and Kane stepped in between me and my brother.
“I can’t ask them,” Grayson said, hanging his head.
“You’ve got two seconds to get the fuck out of here,” Kane said. “You’re scaring her.”
“But I don’t want him getting hurt,” I said. “If he owes bad people money, maybe he needs to stay here.”
“No.” Grayson reached for the door handle and opened it, his shoulders sagging with defeat. “I have to go.”
And without another word, he did. I looked up at Kane helplessly. When I moved to follow my brother, he grabbed my forearm.
“Don’t,” he said softly. “He’s not himself right now.”
“No, he’s not. But I have to help him.”
“You can’t, Viv. All he wants is money for another hit.”
I swallowed against the lump in my throat, my eyes burning with tears. “You really think he’s using drugs?”
Kane closed the door and looked down at me. “I know he is. I’d bet my bank account on it. He can’t think about anything but getting high right now. His body won’t let him.”
I walked over to my couch and sat down, putting my head in my hands. “I don’t even know what to say. I never would’ve suspected.”
With a heavy sigh, Kane came and sat next to me.
“It’ll get worse,” he said. “He’ll get desperate enough to steal from you. You can’t let him in your apartment anymore. Keep the doors locked at all times.”
“But he’s my brother.”
“He would’ve taken whatever cash you’ve got in your purse if I wasn’t here. You saw him.”
The tears finally spilled over. I wiped them away quickly, embarrassed by the turn of events.
“Well, our date’s going great, isn’t it?”
He put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me against him. “Sure it is, Viv. I’m glad I was here when he came.”
“He owes you six thousand dollars?” I asked, feeling sick.
“Yeah.”
“What’s going to happen? I’ll get it from my parents somehow if something bad’s going to happen to him.”
I felt Kane’s deep sigh. “I’m not gonna kill him or anything if that’s what you mean. I ‘ve got no idea how deep he’s in with dealers, though.”
I squeezed my eyes shut against the new tears threatening to spill. The thought of Grayson on drugs and in debt to bad people made me feel physically ill.
“Hey,” Kane said, wrapping his other arm around me. “It’s okay. I’ll write off his debt to the club. And I’ll keep my ear to the ground about who else he owes.”
I hugged him around his chest, his solid presence the only thing keeping me grounded right now.
“I’m scared for him,” I said.