Violence (Antihero Inferno #3) - Lily White Page 0,120

of that can happen if we keep circling around each other.

“Then tell me what you’re thinking. Obviously, you have plenty to say.”

His eyes narrow, not much, just enough to let me know he’s holding himself back.

“Why did you do that to Red?”

My brows crash together. I know he’s mad, but I didn’t expect him to come out in defense of her. Not first thing, at least.

“I wasn’t doing anything to her. I was showing you what you’ve had a problem accepting since I told you we’re done.”

His grin matches mine.

“You’ve had it out for Red since the beginning. You’ve insulted her. Disrespected her. Used her, apparently. And still, she cares about you. She loves you. She wants you.”

He slams his palms against my shoulders, and I step back to keep my balance.

“Do you have any idea how fucking lucky you are? Can you appreciate at all what it means for a woman like her to want you?” he roars, a haze of anger painting his face red.

I lick my tongue against my top teeth, round my shoulders and say nothing. Because there is nothing to say. I do know how amazing Emily is. I’ve always known. It’s just that shit became too complicated.

Emily would never choose between us. She would never come between us. And with the way Damon feels about her, there is no easy solution.

And maybe that’s part of my problem. Yes, she technically chose me, but in the end, she never made a choice at all. She walked away instead.

Something deep inside me was diced apart by that, the wound never healing. I still haven’t moved past what felt like rejection.

Regardless of her reasons.

Regardless of the fact that I respect her even more for those reasons.

Plus, there’s still the fact that Emily refuses to tell me what’s going on with William, and although I want to scream in this asshole’s face about that, I can’t.

Secrets.

All these fucking secrets.

They’re going to destroy all of us eventually.

Damon steps back, his eyes locked to mine, his grin disbelieving.

“And you still treat her like shit. What you just did to her crossed a line. Not only did you take advantage of how she feels about you to teach me a lesson, you embarrassed her in the process. I didn’t walk away because of her, Ezra. I walked away to keep from beating the shit out of you.”

Another slam of his palms against my chest, and I tilt my head in challenge. He’s pushing me, fucking trying me now. The only reason I haven’t hit back is he’s my brother. I know he’s upset, that he needs to get this shit out, but I’ll only be pushed to a certain point before I snap.

Fuck. I can’t win for shit today. All I’m doing is fighting. That and pissing people off, apparently.

“I don’t want to fight with you about this, Damon. It’s not worth a fight.”

He laughs.

“Except it is worth it. Red is, at least. It’s a shame you don’t fucking see that. But you’re right. We shouldn’t fight. Which is why I’ll make you a deal right now.”

Damn it, here we go. This should be good.

“What’s the deal?”

“We’re done with her.”

The fuck?

“Of course we’re done with her. I already said that.”

“Entirely, Ezra. I won’t go around Emily. I’ll let her go. But you have to let her go as well. For good.”

What is this jackass smoking? He’s acting like I’m the problem. Why does everybody think I’m the problem?

“Fine,” I agree. “We’re done.”

Silently staring at me for several seconds, Damon relaxes his stance, but his stare is still hard, his jaw set. Taking a step toward me, he jabs a finger at my face.

“If you go around her again, I will fight you. And I’ll beat your ass, Ezra. I’m not playing around with this anymore.”

He spins on his heel to run upstairs, his bedroom door slamming shut like the period at the end of a sentence. Damon’s threat was made, and I’m left standing here to either accept it or make my own.

Rather than following him, I decide to let him calm down. His emotions are spiraling all over the place, and it’s never good to talk to him when he’s wired.

But I can’t stay still after that shit.

Thankfully my phone buzzes and I pull it from my pocket to see as good an excuse as any to get the hell out of here.

Twenty minutes later, I’m strolling into Priest’s shop to pick up my bike. It’s the one place I