“Ain’t on either of you,” Daimon’s voice cracks through the air. “Only person who should be getting the blame is fucking Sin.”
I shudder at his name before I lick my lips, anxiety making my body tremble.
“Right.”
Levi sighs and peers down at me, forcing me to meet his gaze. “This shit, it changes nothing, you hear me? You’re still my bratty little sister.” He throws his arm around me and drags me against his chest. I go willingly, clinging to him and soaking in the safety, the security he brings. My fingers skim over the leather of his kutte, and I have to remember Sin can no longer hurt me.
When we break apart, Levi peers down at me. “I’m fucking sorry you went through this, Brie. More sorry than I can ever fucking say. I want to kill that cunt over and over for what he did to you.” He kisses my forehead. “We get you help, you’ll talk to someone?” Levi asks.
I want to balk at the idea. The thought of spilling my darkness onto another human being makes me cold all over, the thought of them knowing exactly what he did to me, but I don’t want to disappoint Levi any more than I already have.
“Yeah.”
Relief washes over his face. “I think it’ll help.”
I doubt it, but I nod anyway.
“You want me to stay?”
I shake my head. All I want is to be alone, to process everything. He heads for the door and stops when Daimon doesn’t follow him.
“You coming?”
Daimon doesn’t move, just drops his hands to his hips. “I ain’t leaving.”
My heart skips a beat at his words. He’s not leaving?
My brother doesn’t seem happy about his words, though, and icy fingers claw up my spine as Levi’s eyes narrow. “You ain’t staying either. Ain’t leaving you with my fucking sister.”
Daimon scowls at him.
“What the fuck do you think I’m going to do to her?”
Levi’s face contorts into a mask of rage as he glares at Daimon.
“The last brother she was alone with fucking raped her.”
I see the moment Daimon’s control snaps. He pulls his fist back and slams it into Levi’s jaw with enough force to make my brother stagger back. My heart starts to race. I don’t want them hurting each other.
“Daimon, stop!”
He ignores me, growling out at Levi, “Don’t ever compare me to that motherfucker. I’m nothing like Sin. You think I’d hurt her? Ain’t ever going to touch Brie unless she fucking wants me to. Expected you to know me better than that, brother.”
The way he snarls over the word ‘brother’ has my stomach churning. Layla comes to my side, her hand slipping into mine as she pulls me out of the way of the unfolding fight. I peer at her, my mouth dry, my head throbbing. This is the last thing I want, my brother and… whatever Daimon is to me, fighting over me.
“You shouldn’t be near her full stop. She ain’t a toy for you to play with.”
Levi smashes his knuckles into Daimon’s face, making him stagger back. He swipes at the blood on his top lip, leaving a sinister red smear across his face.
“Stop it!” I cry out, but neither of them listen to me. I go to move between them, needing to do something to bring this to an end, but Layla snags my arm.
“Don’t,” she says. “You’ll get hurt.”
I’m already hurting. I don’t want to see my brother and the man I’m falling for duking it out.
The man I’m falling for?
Shit.
I’m falling for Daimon.
I am falling hard.
The realisation makes the butterflies in my belly take flight and my knees go weak. Thankfully, Layla has hold of me or I’d be on the floor. Does he feel the same? He’s only kissed me once and that was moments ago, when he found out I had been violated. Was it a pity kiss? Did it mean anything? He’s here, fighting for me against my brother. That has to mean something, right?
“If you think I see her as a toy then you need to open your fucking eyes,” Daimon growls out before he ducks to avoid getting slugged in the mouth.
“Both of you just stop it!” Layla yells out. When my brother and Daimon turn to her, both blowing air hard, she drops her hands to her hips. “Don’t you think Brie has been through enough without you two Neanderthals throwing punches?”
Levi looks contrite, but Daimon’s expression doesn’t change.
“Ain’t leaving you alone tonight, baby,” Daimon says to me and my stomach flips at his words. “Don’t care who tries to stop me being here, ain’t leaving.”
“I don’t want you to leave,” I whisper.
I don’t. Daimon has become as important to me as breathing. I need him here. Levi might not like this, but this isn’t his life, he doesn’t get to decide what I do with my time, and he doesn’t get to keep Daimon from me. The truth is, I don’t think I will get through the day without him here.
“Brie—” Levi starts, but I silence him with my hand raising.
“I want him here.”
“And me?”
My heart constricts at his words. I don’t want to hurt him, but it’s not Levi I need. It’s Daimon.
“This isn’t about you, Levi,” Daimon interrupts. “It’s about whatever Briella needs to get through this shit.”
“I’m always going to need you,” I tell him. “You’re my brother, but right now, what I need is Daimon.”
Levi’s mouth pulls into a line. I can tell he’s not happy about this shit.
“I’m not a child. Not anymore. I don’t need to be babied.”
He gives me a curt nod.
“Fine, but you need me you call. I’ll be right back here.”
My heart swells. My brother is a good man and I wish I wasn’t having to choose between him and Daimon right now.
“Thank you.”
He leans in and kisses my cheek before he shoots a glare at Daimon and heads for the door. I watch him go and feel some of the weight lift off my shoulders. Layla sighs.
“I’m going to head out for a bit too. You need me—”
“I know. Call.”
She smiles and I mirror her expression. She comes in for a hug. “Love you, bitch. I’m sorry I outed you.”
I should be angry at her for that, but I’m too tired to hold onto that emotion right now. Part of me is relieved it’s out, that I no longer have to carry this burden around, that the truth is out there.
Layla leaves and I hover awkwardly, not sure what to do or say. Daimon doesn’t offer any words and that puts me on edge.
“Daimon?”
He peers up at me, his handsome face blood smeared and already starting to bruise.
“We should clean you up,” I tell him.
He shakes his head. “Come here.”
I don’t move.
“Brie, come here.”
My feet finally start to work and I step towards him. He closes the last gap, striding into my space. He peers down at me and I don’t see pity or disgust in his eyes, but there is still anger lingering.
He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear and I shiver at the touch.
“I’m sorry that shit happened to you,” he says, his voice soft.