Chapter 14
At midnight, the private room reeked of liquor. Cole and Carter kept throwing back shots, and empty bottles lined the table like casualties.
The same guys who used to help them scheme sat in a loose circle, but the room that was always lively
now felt dead.
“Cole, knock it off,” Zach Morgan said as he yanked the glass from Cole’s hand, then reached for Carter’s. ”
What’s the point? This won’t fix anything.”
“Yeah,” another friend added. “What are you really drinking for? The right of succession? Valerie? Or
Maya? Say it out loud and let us talk you off the ledge.”
When they heard Maya’s name, the brothers finally reacted.
“Maya…” Cole muttered. He reached for another glass, let the liquor swirl, then threw it down his throat.
Before Valerie returned, he had told himself all he felt for Maya was part of the act. He had sworn he
didn’t have any real feelings.
Even after Carter and Maya slept together, he refused to admit the jealousy knotting inside him.
Now that Valerie’s facade was broken, guilt over Maya came flooding in, accompanied by a sharp anger
at Carter.
If Carter hadn’t touched Maya, perhaps she might still forgive him.
Cole slammed the glass down, grabbed Carter by the collar, and drove a fist into his face. “You idiot! Who told you to touch her? Who said you could sleep with her? She’s mine!”
The liquor gave his jealousy a voice he couldn’t smother.
Did he love Maya? He had no answer.
He only knew that once the truth came out, Maya looked more perfect and worthy than he had ever let
himself admit.
He hated Carter for touching her. He wanted to find her and apologize to her.
As the memories of the last three years came surging back, his chest ached all the more.
He hit Carter again and again, forgetting that this was his brother.
Carter didn’t hold back, either. He threw a hard punch, his eyes burning with fury.
“She’s yours? You told me you only loved Valerie! You handed Maya to me! For three years, she was with
me! Who do you think you are?
“She wouldn’t be gone if you hadn’t hurt her! Everything started with you! You were the one lying to her!
Chapter 14
You’re the one she hates the most!”
Carter was beyond reason. Every time he recalled Maya’s disappointed face as she walked out of the bathroom that night, his ribs felt bound tight.
2/2
Back in the private room last week, he had lied. He never faced his own feelings and instead convinced himself that she was rotten, just so he could go on hurting her.
He had been wrong about everything.
Maya had every reason to despise them. After what they did, why would she ever forgive either of them?
Carter and Cole fought like they meant to tear each other to pieces. Their friends couldn’t pull them apart.
“Carter, Maya loves me! She was going to marry me! Who the hell do you think you are?” Cole snarled, snatching up a bottle and smashing it onto Carter’s head.
The glass shattered against his head, and Carter retaliated by seizing another bottle and doing the same
to Cole’s skull.
Silence enveloped the room.
Blood trickled down their hairlines as both of them sagged and finally crumpled to the floor.
