Page 111 of Queen Of Clubs
“I think she is, little brother,” I sigh, perching on the arm of the chair next to him.
“I’m not your little brother.” He shoots me a glaring look.
My lip twitches. “Technically, you are.”
“Whatever. Just because your dad knocked up my mom doesn’t make us anything.”
“Why do you hate me so much?” I ask him. I’m not going to tip-toe around anything anymore. Jade wants us to work out our shit, and honestly, I think it’s about time we do it.
“Why do you hate me?” he challenges back.
“I don’t.” I blink at him, confused. When did I ever show anything that would resemble hate? Sure, we bicker and yes, I did kick his ass, but that's because he started it. I wasn’t going to be his punching bag.
“Really?” he snorts. “Fucking my girl, knowing damn well who she was and how long we had looked for her seems like something someone would do to someone they hate.”
I sigh, running a hand through my hair as I take a seat fully in the chair. Leaning forward, I brace my arms on my thighs.
“I’ll admit, that was a pretty shitty thing to do.”
“You think?” He glares at me.
“But I didn’t do it because I wanted to hurt you. What was I supposed to do in that moment? The girl who my brother’s been pining after, searching for, was right there in front of me. She was everything I ever wanted, and then I realized she was my scent match. I was selfish, okay. I guess a part of me thought if she came back into your life, I’d lose her. It’s one thing to have the alpha protectiveness over an omega, but an alpha’s scent match? It’s unlike anything. You should know that. I saw her as mine, and I didn’t want to share or let her go.”
“I do know that. Even before I knew Jade was my scent match, I was already protective over her. I loved her from the moment I laid eyes on her, before my teenage brain could even comprehend what love was,” he grits out. “And then to find out my brother knew about her for six fucking months and not only didn’t tell me, but was fucking her? That... that fucking hurt. You took her damn virginity!”
Guilt swims in my gut. “I know. And I’m sorry. I really am, Zane. I didn’t do any of that with the intention to hurt you. I was selfish, and I’m sorry. I don’t know what I can do to make you believe me or make things better. But Jade is also my scent match. I’m not going anywhere unless she asks me to, and even then, I don’t think I’d be able to.”
“What if she did tell you to leave? What would you do, lock her up in a basement?” he scoffs.
“Maybe,” I deadpan, and his eyes widen. “You do crazy things for love.”
“Fucking hell,” he groans. “Maybe we are a lot more alike than I thought.”
I chuckle, leaning back in my chair. “Maybe we are.”
We stare at each other for a moment before he sighs. “I don’t hate you,” he tells me. “I guess, I’m... jealous? Envious? I don’t know. But I don’t hate you. Sure, you're a pompous dick sometimes. You dress too nicely, like, would it kill you to wear a pair of jeans once in a while?”
“Maybe.” I grin. “I like my suits.” I shrug. “And so does Jade.”
“Oh, fuck off.”
“Why would you be jealous or envious?” I ask, circling back to that part of his admission.
“Really?” he gives me a droll look. “My mother killed herself when I was a baby. I grew up in foster care my whole life. I never had parents. You had your mother and our father. You had money and stability. You had everything most kids in my position could never dream of. Maybe it’s not right of me to be so shitty to you and write you off as my brother over something you didn’t have any control over, but I did.”
My face is somber. “Trust me, living my life wasn’t all that amazing. Yes, I had money. Yes, I was given a job that I now love. But regarding parents? Our father cheated on my mother far too many times to count. He’s not a good guy. Not someone you would have wanted to grow up with. Trust me, you’re better off not having a relationship with him. Him wanting nothing to do with you? It’s a blessing.”
“Why?” His brows furrow. “What did he do that was so bad?”
I roll my lips together, wondering how much I should tell him. Fuck it, he deserves to know the truth.
“He was involved in some pretty shady shit. Still is, I’m sure. But money buys silence, and he’s very good at silencing people.”
“What kind of shady things?”
“There’s a lot, but the biggest thing is underage girls.”
“What?” he whispers in disbelief. “What do you mean, underage? Like sixteen, seventeen?”