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Throwing my car into drive, I peel out of the O’Brien compound and head toward the water. Valentina is going to learn firsthand; I don’t play when it comes to her—I never will.
19
BRIAR
Slamming the car door, I glare at my phone again. The green dot blinks innocently, unaware of how violent my mood has turned. She hasn’t moved since I left the mansion, but I need to check. It’s a compulsion at this point.
Satisfied, I switch to another window. It’s a paused video of a woman in the middle of demonstrating something. Clicking play, I let it run through one time before I repeat her hand motion. Over and over again until I feel confident in what I’m saying.
It has to be perfect.
“What are you doing?”
I jump, glaring at the Reaper. “I don’t have time for you tonight, man.”
Putting my back to him—stupid, given it’s him—I jog across the street. Killian is right on my heels, his stride long and purposeful. This must be what it feels like to be his prey, stalked and cornered.
“Do you mind?”
He side-eyes me. “Not really.”
I stop short. “Killian.”
He copies me. “Briar.”
My aggravation skyrockets. It’s not enough I need to be somewhere else, but this unnerving, arrogant presence from my sister’s boyfriend is giving me a fucking headache.
“What?”
He picks up my wrist, the phone clutched in my fist. “Does Hayes know you’re in love with his sister?”
I admit—I react poorly.
My vision swims in a sea of red as self-preservation instincts kick into high gear. The pressure of keeping this—her, my emotions hidden—breaks. Turning, I swing my left fist, and the Reaper ducks under the hard punch. He twists like a ghoulish acrobat, avoiding the hit.
Grabbing the floating limb, he tweaks the wrist, and I groan, dropping to a knee.
That fucking smarts.
“What the fuck, Reaper?”
“You swung first.” He holds my hand, craning it at a weird angle. My shoulder throbs, and I grit my teeth. “You know, you did this a lot as a kid. I thought by now you’d remember how it plays out. Want to try again?”
“I want you to fuck off. I’m late.”
“So it’s true.” He releases me, and I jump to my feet, ready for another attack. Can never be too sure with him. “You’re the one who sent Valentina her fiancé’s fingers.”
I don’t dare say anything. I’ll incriminate myself.
Killian smirks, the ends of his lips curling like something from a cartoon. But I’ve already said everything with my silence.
“You have my respect. It sends a message to the woman you love.”
Cracking my neck, I glare across the street. The darkness is a backdrop to the neon lights further on. The Docks is ready for a fun night, and I need to be there. I have to see what Freddie is dragging my sunshine into—and stop it.
A muscle twitches by my ear. “How did you hear about it?”
He snorts. “I have my ways, kid.”
