CHAPTER 063 ! Don’t Share
CHAPTER 063: I Don’t Share
He clears his throat and speaks first. “I am trying to think of a decent reason why you’d want to help Finn, he says, voice steady. “He broke an arm, not his spine. He has Delilah. If you think he needs help, it can be arranged–without you being there. So what’s the problem? Is there something else I should know about your incessant need to save him?”
I open my mouth to argue, but nothing comes out.
Because he’s right.
I don’t have to be there.
But I need to be. Because despite everything, I still feel guilty for cutting him off. Finn doesn’t keep friends. He has acquaintances, followers, yes–but not real people who show up. Except me. And Delilah.
And then… there’s the other reason.
“He’s calling everyone in my family,” I say quietly. “And I have to make him stop. The only way I can do that is by handling him carefully.”
“How about you just tell him to stop?”
“Do you even know your brother? You think he’s going to pause his revenge spree because I said so?”
“Revenge spree?” He lifts a brow. “What do you mean?”
Shit.
I’ve wandered into territory I didn’t want him in.
How the hell am I supposed to tell him that my entire family is on my ass to dump him and show up to some ridiculous family barbecue this weekend to get a “proper boyfriend“? That Finn is the one stirring all the trouble, whispering in ears and lighting fires I don’t have the energy to put out?
I just want peace. That’s it. A quiet, boring life where I’m not the headline of every family gathering or the topic of some frantic group chat. But with them, especially my dad, that’s impossible.
My dad still acts like I’m sixteen. Like the world is some dangerous place and I’m made of glass. When he found out a neighbor had been harassing me last year, the guy ended up in the ER with unexplainable bruises. My dad swore he had nothing to do with it, looked me dead in the eye, and lied. But when that creep came home and saw me standing outside my door, he turned pale and practically sprinted away. A week later, he moved out.
So yeah–if this thing with Knox ever reaches my father’s ears…
I just have to shut Mom and Serena up. And Knox doesn’t have to know a thing.
“Finn, uh…” I hesitate, thinking of a good way to put it, “is telling them things about me they don’t like.”
“Things like what?”
“Things.”
Knox narrows his eyes. “I can shut him up for you.”
“No!”
“Why?”
“I–uh–I have it under control.”
“Tell me exactly how you have it under control.”
I fumble. “All I need to do is go to this barbecue my mom and her husband are organizing this weekend. We’ll sort everything out.”
A weird look comes on Knox’s face. “A barbecue, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“What did Finn tell your family, Sloane?”
I swallow. I have to give him something without mentioning the entire truth.
“He told them about you,” I say.
“Okay?”
“And they have certain misconceptions I need to
“Like what?”
“Just let me handle it.”
Successfully unlocked!
He stares at me long and hard. Then reaches up and cups my jaw.
1/2
CHAPTER 063 1 Don’t Share
“Are you planning to do anything I wouldn’t like?”
“Why would you think 1-”
“You’ve had this weird look in your eyes since you mentioned the barbecue. You haven’t breathed properly once. You’re hiding something.”
“Are you a detective now?”
“I don’t need to be one to know when you’re deflecting.”
I stare at him. “I need you to trust me.”
He leans closer. “I like you, Sloane Mercer. I like you very much. If you say you need to help my brother–even if it’s the last thing I want–I’ll let you. I’ll drive you to the hospital right now.”
Relief flutters in my chest. But he’s not done.
“But I want you to keep something very clear in mind-” His thumb drags along my cheek. “I do not share. Do whatever you need to keep this peace with your family. But if anyone touches what is mine, they will find themselves needing a prosthetic limb.”
My heart kicks a little faster.
The way he says it–it feels like he knows. Knows what I’m planning. Knows I intend to flirt a little at that barbecue just to keep my mom off my back. He can’t know that. He can’t.
I’m spiraling. Overthinking. Knox is just being Knox–possessive, territorial, always a little too observant for comfort. There’s no way he knows.
It’s just my guilty conscience messing with me. That’s all.
I have to do this. I have to. The other option is standing my ground and letting my circus of a family make my life a slow- burning hellfire. No, thank you. What Knox doesn’t know won’t kill him.
I lean in and kiss him–softly at first, then deeper, longer, as if I can press the lie between our mouths and make it dissolve. ! When I finally pull back, I meet his eyes and murmur, “Are you implying I’ll cheat on you?”
“Am I?”
“I don’t know. It sounded like you’re suspecting me.”
“Should I?”
“I didn’t peg you for the jealous type.”
“If you keep deflecting, I’ll think you’re up to something.”
I reach out and stroke his hairy jaw. “You have nothing to worry about, Knox. I’m not Delilah. Whatever I had for Finn, it’s gone. I only want you.”
“You and I both know I’m not talking about Finn, Bunny.”
Before I can process what that means, he’s rising from the chair and setting me on my feet.
“Come on then,” he says. “Let’s go get your little friend out of the hospital.”
