Page 147 of On the Double

He was out of my reach within seconds, storming toward the door. He nearly ripped it off the hinges in his attempt to flee and find my asshole ex.

“Wait!” I shouted, chasing after him. “Stop!”

“I’ll fucking kill him.”

“You will not,” I said, running around him and blocking the door to his vehicle. “It’s over and done with.”

“It’s not. You’re fucking crying, and no one makes my sister cry.” When I wouldn’t move out of his way, he drew back and sucked in a breath. “Harper, move out of the way.”

“So you can go beat him up? Are you crazy?”

“He insulted my sister.”

“Guess what, this isn’t the 1500s. You’re not going to duel over me.”

“You wanna bet?” he barked out a laugh.

“And you really think you would win? He’s in the military!”

“Was, not currently.”

“No, he’s in security and still lethal. I will not let you fight him over some stupid things he said.”

“No, you’re just going to take it, is that it?” he growled. “Move out of the way.”

I shook my head. “I don’t want you to do this.”

“Because you still love him?”

“Because he doesn’t fucking matter!” I shouted, garnering his silence. My lip quivered as I stared at my brother. “I knew from thestart that this would happen. I knew he wouldn’t react well. Granted, I didn’t realize he would be quite so harsh, but it happened. The only thing that matters now is taking care of my baby.”

“Then why were you packing?”

My chin quivered as I stared at my brother. It was something I had thought about on the way to his place tonight. I couldn’t actually stay in town knowing he was just down the street. I had to leave and do this on my own, away from his prying eyes. I wouldn’t be able to handle seeing him around town. It would gut me.

“No,” Oliver whispered. “No, you’re not leaving.”

“I have to. What kind of life would we have here?”

“A good one.”

“With him and all his friends down the street from me? Do you really think I can handle that?”

“You don’t have to. Fuck him!”

I shook my head. “I can’t.” I pressed my hand to my stomach, feeling like I would puke. “I just want to leave.”

“Then I’ll come with you.”

I shook my head again. “No. I need to do this on my own.”

“Why the hell would you think that?”

“Because it’s what I have to do for me. I can’t rely on you anymore.”

“Then go to Gram.”

I huffed out a laugh. “That’s the last thing I would do.”