Page 11 of My Ex's Billionaire Brothers

Calvin tries to take a step forward, but Gage blocks him smoothly, standing so near me that I can almost feel the warmth of his body radiating through his all-black attire. “Yourbusiness? She’s not your business anymore. You made that clear enough, didn’t you?”

Calvin’s face turns a dangerous shade of red. “This is absurd.”

Theo tucks his phone away and offers Calvin a cordial nod. “I believe, dear brother, that once you break an engagement andtoss someone aside, you lose the moral high ground to decide who helps her next.”

It’s a measured statement, but Calvin bristles. “This is about your stupid club, isn’t it? You’re trying to ruin my political future. You’re all?—”

Gage lifts a brow. “Calvin, what makes you think this has anything to do with you?”

“Why else would you be doing this?”

Hunter snorts a laugh. “Because it’s the right thing to do. Since you have completely lost sight of that, I’m not surprised you don’t recognize it when you see it.”

Calvin’s mouth opens, then shuts. I suspect he realizes how outmaneuvered he is. After a long moment, he waves a dismissive hand at me. “Fine. Go. But don’t come crying to me when this blows up in your face.”

Gage places a reassuring arm around my shoulders, guiding me toward the SUV. The simple gesture sends a cascade of warmth through me. “Don’t worry about Anya, Calvin. We’ll help her celebrate Independence Dayourway.”

Before I can process the underlying hint in what he said, I climb into the SUV’s back seat. My hands tremble slightly, but I manage to buckle my seat belt. I got out, and I’m not alone. For now.

We settle in with Theo driving, Hunter in the middle, and Gage joining me in the back. The door closes behind him, muffling Calvin’s final sputtering protests. The SUV pulls away from the townhouse, leaving the big brick façade in the rearview mirror.

I’m free of him. It’s really over.

“Hey,” Theo says softly, glancing at me through the mirror. “You okay back there?”

“Yeah. I’m just…processing, I guess. Thank you all. You didn’t need to do this.”

Hunter turns slightly in his seat, brow furrowing. “We’re happy to help.”

Gage nods, shifting so one broad arm rests on the seat behind me. I try not to pay too much attention to the faint brush of his shirt against my shoulder. “We have the time, and I’d rather spend the week helping someone else than nursing a party hangover. You’re doing me a favor.”

I can’t help but smile at that. “I would have driven myself if I had a car or any money for a rental…but…”

Hunter shakes his head, hazel eyes flicking to mine. “Hey, no need to explain. Let’s just focus on getting you home safe.”

Home? Where is that?

Once we merge onto the highway, Theo fiddles with the radio, finally settling on a station playing mellow rock tunes. Hunter reclines his seat a touch, occasionally checking his phone for messages. Gage angles himself so he can look at me, a curious glint in his green eyes.

“So,” Gage says, “tell us something about yourself, Anya. We only know what we’ve heard from Calvin—and I’d rather hear it from you.”

“I’m not sure there’s much to tell. I was working as an office manager before Calvin suggested I quit and plan our future. Now I have no job, no fiancé, and no immediate plan.” The bitter admission slips out, and I flush.

Hunter glances back again. “What about your life in school, or your interests? You from a big group of friends, hang out with a certain clique?”

The question dislodges a wave of memories—many of them awkward or tinged with longing. “Clique? I guess I was with the quiet kids, if that’s even a clique. I tried to get good grades and avoid trouble. Nothing too exciting.”

He hums thoughtfully, as though not entirely satisfied with that answer. “You must have had something else. Any clubs? Passions?”

My cheeks warm again. “I sang in the choir. And sometimes I wrote short stories. But I never really explored that side of myself. My parents are pretty strict, so I spent a lot of time at home or school events.”

Theo tilts his head. “Last night, you said you love Boston, correct? Because you can just be yourself without anyone’s expectations. How does that differ from Castle Beach?”

I shrug, wrapping my arms around my middle. “I do love Boston. It was freeing…for a time. It felt like a clean slate. But it also gets lonely when you don’t have close friends or family around.” I pause, biting my lip. “Truthfully, I don’t think I fit in anywhere. Castle Beach is my hometown, but I never belonged there either. Everyone is so judgmental.”

Gage’s gaze sharpens in that intense way of his. “What do you feel judged for in Castle Beach?”

I gulp hard. He asked, and he’s doing me a favor, so I dig deep to tell the truth. “I was always seen as the good girl there. And in Boston,” I say, staring at my hands in my lap.