“Stop it!”
My blood roars in my ears at the sound of her voice. Glyndon.
From my blurry vision, I can make out her silhouette getting in Landon’s face.
“I told him to stay away, he didn’t listen, so I’m just teaching him a valuable lesson here, little princess.”
“And who the hell are you to teach people lessons? Do you really consider yourself a god? News flash, you’re not.”
“He’s manipulating you and will eventually hurt you.”
“That’s still nothing for you to concern yourself with.”
“You don’t know what’s good for you, Glyn.”
“I’m old enough to make my own life choices and I’m choosing this, Lan. I’m finally choosing someone myself, without them having to go through your approval process. Can’t you let me have that?”
Can I kiss her and not die? Actually, I’m fine with dying for this kiss.
“No,” Landon says dismissively. “Now, take Bran and leave.”
“No.”
“What the fuck did you just say?”
“I said no, Lan. Fucking no. I’m sick and tired of your controlling ways and tiptoeing around you and avoiding you. I’m so damn tired. Just stop. Stop being so out of line, stop making us scared of you. We aren’t supposed to be scared of our own brother.”
“Glyn…” Bran comes to her side, trying to pull her back, but my fucking girl slips away from his hold.
“No, we’re doing this, Bran.”
“That’s my ticket out.” Eli waves. “Happy family meeting, Kings.”
Bran softens his voice. “Glyn, this isn’t the right time.”
“And when is the right time? For how long are we supposed to take this from him? This is about as right a time as any to tell him we’re through pretending to like him in front of Mum and Dad. We’re through covering his actions and making him appear to be a perfect genius when he’s nothing more than an unfeeling person. You’re supposed to be on our side, not against us, Lan. We’re family, not enemies. Bran is your twin brother, not your competition. I’m your sister, not your damn property.”
“Is the word vomit done?” Landon’s expression doesn’t change, but he sounds edgy.
That’s right. I pushed straight where it hurts.
I told him his siblings don’t like him and he’s now seeing the proof.
“No,” Glyndon says. “You’ll let Killian go and stop meddling in my business.”
“And if I say no?”
“I’ll tell Grandpa, Papa, and Uncle. When they find out about all your actions, they’ll put you on a leash.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Just like you threatened us all our lives. Tastes bitter coming from your family, doesn’t it?” Then she runs toward me and I think I let go then.
She’s here.
It’s all good now.
“Killian! Kill! Open your eyes…” She lifts my head on her lap, fawning over me with worry dripping from her every word and touch.
She’s really my custom-made angel, my Glyndon.
As she holds me, I meet Landon’s gaze and smirk.
I knew Bran would come, because Eli doesn’t like Creighton involved, and since Landon twisted his arm, he’d definitely bring in Brandon as a form of retaliation.
As soon as Creighton appeared, Eli fished out his phone and typed something—probably a text to Brandon to inform him of the current situation.
If he knew I was here, he would surely bring Glyndon.
I could’ve escaped earlier by using the Zippo in my back pocket, but I already knew Landon would get me sooner or later.
The moment I saw Eli’s discreet anger in seeing Creighton involved, I plotted this.
This scene had to happen.
If Glyndon saw her brother torture me, she’d definitely be on my side, not his. She’d sympathize with me, hate her brother, and would want to save me.
Her standing up to him and getting all that baggage off her chest was only a bonus.
Happy to serve, baby.
Landon narrows his eyes, probably having figured out my plan. But there’s nothing he can do now.
He’ll never, ever be able to get between me and Glyndon if he doesn’t want to be the one who’s hated instead.
One-nil, motherfucker.
29
GLYNDON
I pace the length of Killian’s room with rigid steps, trying and failing to calm the shaking of my fingers. “Maybe we should get the doctor again so he can make sure he’s really okay.”
“He is.” Gareth leans against the wall, arms and legs crossed. “It’d take more than waterboarding to hurt him.”
“I apologize again on behalf of my brother.” Brandon, who helped me carry and drive Killian to the Heathens’ mansion, runs a hand through his hair. “He’s just…protective.”
“Stop trying to find excuses for him, Bran.” The words sound guttural coming from my lips.
“I know you’re mad at him, and I’m not trying to defend his wrong actions, but he’s still our brother, Glyn. Yes, he’s overprotective and shows it in all the destructive ways, but it’s because he doesn’t want us to be weak or taken advantage of.”
“That doesn’t give him the right to dictate our lives. Don’t even try to stop me when I finally remove his mask in front of Mum and Dad.”
Bran grabs at the hairs on the back of his head, with enough force to make me worry that he’s hurting himself.
It reminds me of something Grandpa said about Bran and how much he’s like his first wife, Uncle Aiden’s mum.
Bran hates conflict so much that he lets his emotions devour him from the inside out. And that part of him makes me sick with worry because Uncle Aiden’s mum had a horrible ending.
It’s just unfair that Lan doesn’t feel and Bran feels too much.
My brother releases his grip on his hair, his voice coming out gentle. “We’ll talk about this when you’re more cooled down. You’ve been on a high of emotions this entire night.”
It’s then I realize that I’ve been rubbing my palm against the side of my shorts back and forth until it’s turned red.
My breathing is deeper, raw, and abnormal. I inhale deeply and let the fight leave my system. I slowly make my way to Killian’s side and flop to a sitting position on the bed where he lies.
When I reached the dorm, Bran called and told me there was an accident near campus caused by multiple cars and that he was sure Landon was behind it.
Sometime later, he screenshotted a text that included a location.
Eli: By the decree of his majesty the king (that’s your brother tonight), join us in defending Glyn’s honor, Middle Ages style.
I was skeptical at first, until Bran mentioned that Lan gave Killian seven days to leave me and today happened to be the deadline.
We didn’t have to waste time finding the location Eli sent because Bran was already familiar with the place.