Violence (Antihero Inferno #3) - Lily White Page 0,121
can expect people to act normal and not be caught in some emotional tantrum like I constantly am with Damon and Emily.
My shoulders relax at the familiar scent of gas, oil and sweat, the tension bleeding away to hear the squeal of a wrench or the hiss of a hydraulic lift.
Across the garage, Shane is making some last-minute adjustments on my bike, and I weave through the different cars to get to him.
“It looks great,” I say as I approach him. “Good as new.”
“Better than new.” His eyes tip up to me. “And I’d appreciate it if it stays that way.”
With a roll of my eyes, I grin. “Yes, sir. I’ll be sure not to kick it again.”
“You sure about that?” he asks, pushing to his feet. “Tanner told me you and Damon are having some issues.”
Fuck. At what point did our group turn into a bunch of gossiping hens? If it keeps going like this, we’ll end up with a weekly newsletter detailing all the bullshit going on with each person and a toll-free number to call to talk about our feelings or report suspicious behavior.
“You too? I came here to get away from that crap.”
“You came here to pick up your bike,” he counters as he wipes the grease from his hands on a mechanic’s rag. “And I’m taking the opportunity to corner your ass and ask what’s going on with Emily.”
Shane’s eyes lock to mine, his brow arching in question.
“Nothing anymore. Damon and I both agreed it’s done, so you can save whatever it is you were planning to say.”
Laughing at that, he shakes his head and tips his chin as Priest comes ambling over.
Slapping his hand down on my shoulder, Priest gives me a crooked smile, his hair tied back at the nape of his neck and his blue coveralls smeared with fuck knows what.
Priest glances between us after asking his question, but something in our expressions must answer it before we say the first word.
“Oh, that crap with you and your brother over the same girl? It’s about time you ended it.”
“He hasn’t ended it,” Shane says.
My head snaps his direction.
“What the fuck? Are you Miss Cleo now? Where’s your crystal ball, jackass? Would you like to read my palm next?”
“I’m just stating the obvious.”
Like hell he is.
“Damon and I just had this conversation before I came over here.”
“So what did you do to them at the cabin? Because from what I heard, you’re acting like a complete dick lately.”
Son of a bitch. I’m going to lose my patience with this entire situation soon.
I spend the next fifteen minutes explaining what happened at the cabin, the fight I had with Emily and the fight I had with Damon.
By the time I’m done, both of them are leaning against a wall facing me, their mouths quirked as if something is funny.
“What?” I ask.
Priest just shakes his head and chuckles, while Shane stares at me like I’m an idiot.
“Nothing,” Priest answers, “it’s just that if anybody deserves an award for protecting the girl, it’s your brother. Normally, you’re not this dense, Ezra. So that woman must have you seriously fucked up in the head.”
“What did I miss?”
Priest laughs again and glances at Shane. “Do you want to tell him?”
“Tell me what?”
I’m about to pop both of them in the jaw for the looks on their faces. Just two quick jabs to get my point across. No, it wouldn’t make this conversation move along faster, but it’ll make me feel better.
Shane pinches the skin between his eyes then rubs his hand over his head.
“Damon didn’t say that to agree with you about ending things. He said it to keep you away from Emily.”
I laugh at that.
“For what?”
“So you stop treating her like shit, apparently,” Priest answers. “Damn, man, you have it bad if that’s the shit you’re pulling.”
I still in place, mostly ignoring Priest’s outburst to lock eyes with Shane. He simply nods and lifts his brows in agreement.
“I’m not the problem-“
“Yeah, you are,” Shane argues. “Hate to break it to you, but Damon’s right to keep you away from her.”
He says that like he knows everything. And since I’m tired of being smacked down for all of this crap, I blow out a breath and think fuck it.
“You wouldn’t be saying that if you knew the truth of what’s going on.”
“Then tell me what’s going on.”
Damn it.
“Only if you promise to keep it to yourself until I figure it