A Cut so Deep - Dani Rene Page 0,49

the moment I appear, he shoves it into his pocket and looks up at me. “Hey, little sis,” he grins, with a playful expression making him look younger than his twenty-four years.

“What are you up to?” I ask, allowing my gaze to sweep across the garden, then I bring it back to Finn.

“Not much, just getting high and enjoying the sunshine before tonight.”

I settle across from him before asking, “What’s happening tonight?”

“Bonfire,” he tells me. “The Black Knights and the Thornes always have a bonfire before the big dance in a week.”

“The big dance?”

“You’re going with me,” Damien says, appearing at the door. “Finn, don’t you have something to do?” He asks his brother, his eyes glowering down at the youngest Thorne.

“Nah,” Finn winks at him, and I can feel the animosity in the air. I’m not sure what they’re hiding, but I’ll find out. “I’ve just been chatting to Gen.”

“Leave her the fuck alone. She’s bad news. You know she runs with the Havens.” There’s poison in Damien’s words when he spits the last word. He told me briefly about them, but I don’t know the full story. And I have a feeling it’s quite a story.

“Are you going to the bonfire tonight?” I ask Damien, trying to calm the brothers down and to eliminate some of the animosity that seems to be brewing between them.

“No. And neither are you.”

I shoot to my feet, crossing my arms over my chest, and question him, “What? Why?”

One thing I’ve come to learn about Damien Thorne over the past week, he doesn’t say something because he wants a reaction. He tells me, Cass, and Finn something, so we can obey, but this time, I’m fighting back.

“Because I fucking said so,” he tells me, with those flame-blue eyes boring through me. I expect him to close the distance between us, but I can also feel Finn’s intrigued stare on me. Damien shakes his head before turning to leave. I’m starting to get used to watching Damien walk away from me.

“Just ignore him, he’ll get over himself,” Finn tells me. “Damien is the eldest, so he takes it upon himself to exert his power, but Cass will talk to him and get him to back down. You have to be at the bonfire, it’s one of the most epic events, besides the actual dance.”

“I’m not great in crowds,” I tell Finn honestly. “I have anxiety. It starts slowly, taking hold of my muscles and twists in my stomach.”

“You’ll be fine. You’ll have me, Cass, and the asshole to look after you. And if Damien tells you he’s your date, I know he won’t leave your side.”

My heart stutters at Finn’s words, but I don’t reply, because I don’t know how to tell him that I’ve done things with his brother. Granted, it was just intense making out, but I’m meant to be their family now. Even if we’re not related.

“And I know my big brother wants to see if those petals of yours will wilt under his thorny exterior,” Finn whispers when he walks away, chuckling at his unamusing comment.

Time to talk to Damien.

I may be young, but I’m not his property. He can’t just tell me what to do and expect me to obey.

22

Damien

Finn is pissing me off. The fact that he’s got Gen on his radar has me extra cautious. She’s trying to wiggle her way into our lives again. She’s one mistake I’m not making again, and my brothers should steer clear as well.

Nesrin’s face was a picture when I told her she’s not going to the bonfire tonight. I knew she’d have something to say about it, especially with my brother acting like a teenager vying for attention.

I know she’s angry. And I don’t blame her, she should be. I’m an asshole who’s not worthy of her, and my father’s suggestion that she travels to England with me is preposterous.

She should be running away from me, not away with me. But I’ve not been forthcoming with her. I’ve only offered her the bare minimum, and she deserves more than that. I don’t know why I give a shit, but I do.

Shaking my head, I run my fingers through my hair. Bradford is going to return in a couple of weeks, and he will more than likely find me balls deep in my stepsister because, each time I’m near her, I can’t fight this need to have her.

Chuckling, I picture his face at the sight.

My father’s been absent more times than