Page 99 of Twisted Heathens

Since day one I have been in charge of keeping us together, so that’s what I’m going to damn well do. She’s not the only one that can play dirty. My next moves will make or break us, but I don’t see any other options. Someone’s got to wade in and sort this mess.

I march back down the corridor and storm into her room without even knocking, thankful that she left the door unlocked. Brooklyn’s braced against the wall, head lowered and breathing heavy. Just as she looks up and begins to protest, I grab her by the shoulders and spin her around, pinning her body against the wall.

“You’ve got me and my best friends in a tailspin,” I growl at her, surprising myself with the aggression in my voice. “My family means everything to me, and I refuse to lose that because of you.”

She squeaks in surprise when I pin her against the concrete.

“It’s all or nothing, love. You don’t get to turn us against each other.”

I can’t hold back, finally doing what I’ve been dreaming about for weeks. Securing my lips to hers, I cup her cheek and pillage her mouth. She tastes so fucking sweet, her soft lips melting against mine just like they belong. I twine my fingers in her tangled hair and lose myself to the kiss, our tongues stroking, breath mingling, bodies grinding against one another.

All my instincts are telling me to keep this car crash of a person as far away from my family as possible. She’s going to be the death of us all, but as I press my painfully hard dick into her body and hear that breathy little moan, I stop caring.

Brooklyn breaks the frenzied kiss first. “Kade, I can’t…”

“Stop screwing with us. You’re playing with fire and I don’t want to see anyone get burned.” Stepping away from her needy, shivering body, I raise an eyebrow. “You’re in or you’re out. It’s that simple. Choose us or walk away and don’t look back.”

“Choose you?” she repeats.

“No, all of us. Since the day I welcomed you into this place, I’ve tried to bring you into the fold. You’ve fought me at every turn, fucking with my friends behind my back.”

Her gaze drops in something that looks like shame, but I tilt her head back up. “We aren’t a family by blood, but necessity. You don’t get to pick favourites or turn us against one another. We all care about you.”

“I don’t understand,” she mutters.

“Let me make it real simple for you then. I’m a nice guy, but when someone threatens those I care about, I can be your worst nightmare. Either pull your shit together and join the group, or get the hell away from us all. No more playing childish fucking games.”

It’s the only thing I can think to do. She can’t choose, it will kill us all with jealousy. And anyway, the truth is, I don’t want her to choose. We all need her, in different ways. She’s the missing piece of the puzzle.

Brooklyn’s steely grey eyes pierce mine, all the bullshit stripped away, leaving her open and vulnerable. She licks her lips, carefully selecting her next words. “What if I don’t deserve you guys? What if you’d all be better off without me here?”

“Bullshit,” I call her out. “Every single one of us has issues in some way. Why the hell do you think we’re here?” My knee slides between her legs, spreading them wide. I trail my lips over her soft skin, my heart skittering.

“Phoenix is an addict turned dealer that sold his soul to provide for his family. You haven’t seen him in a manic episode yet, but trust me it ain’t pretty. Then there’s Hudson, the hot-headed asshole that can’t go a single day without beating on someone or fucking to deal with his guilt. Eli’s a silent, tortured soul so traumatised by his past that he can’t look at a match without breaking down and cutting himself. He hasn’t spoken since he was a kid.”

I brush my lips over hers, gentler this time, coaxing her compliance.

“You know how far back my demons reach. I’m a control freak that can’t help but pick up lost causes to try and fix, no matter how pathetic and desperate for love that makes me. So, you see…” I press my forehead to hers, chest tight with emotion. “None of us are perfect, but you don’t have to be to take up space in the world. Besides, none of us are getting out if we don’t have each other’s backs. I’m offering you the chance to belong.”

I step back, letting Brooklyn’s body sag against the wall. Her cheeks are wet as she glances up at me, face broken and troubled in a way I can never truly fix. But I’ll damn well try my best, because she’s like me. Frantically treading water in the hope that someone will rock up and pull her out of hell.

I’ll save this stubborn bitch even if it’s the last thing I do. I wait. Watch. Hope and pray. When she raises her chin with determination, hope blossoms in my chest. Brooklyn nods once. It’s tight and forced, but a fucking nod in agreement.

“Get dressed,” I order immediately, without betraying my relief. “Get your ass down to breakfast, then we’re going to the library to study. You’re passing that exam next week. Come on, move it. You’ve got five minutes.”

I leave her room, slamming the door behind me as I make my way to the others, intending to drag their sorry asses downstairs too. I will keep this family together, one way or another. If Brooklyn wants to screw with my guys, then there isn’t going to be any special treatment.

We’re a fucking family, and families share.

Thirty-Three

Brooklyn

The Hills by The Weeknd

“Time’s up! Papers at the end of your desk.”

I finish scribbling my final words and stack the papers, sliding them over to Phoenix. He grins at me and places them at the edge of our table, where Crawley promptly collects them. Eli’s already long finished, arms crossed as he stares blankly out of the window, clearly lost in thought.