Page 20 of Break Me

I watch him over the rim of my cup, pretending not to. “You were out late last night.”

“Club stuff.” He takes a drink, jaw tight.

That tone tells me everything and nothing.

“Is everyone okay?” I ask carefully, stirring my coffee even though I didn’t add anything to it.

Knox’s eyes flick to mine. “Yeah. Why?”

My throat goes dry. Because Samuel didn’t answer, and a knot of dread has settled in my stomach.

Instead, I shrug. “I heard some of the guys talking at dinner. Things sounded intense.”

“When are things never not intense?” He moves to grab his keys, but every instinct I have screams to try again before he walks out that door.

So, I force steadiness into my voice. “Was Samuel with you last night?”

“Wolf?” Knox’s brows lift as if the question surprises him. “Why do you ask?”

I try to smile. Fail. Try again. “I was just wondering. He seemed off at dinner.”

Knox pauses, keys dangling from his fingertips. “Yeah,” he says slowly. “I noticed that, too.”

“What happened?” I ask, trying to keep it breezy, like I’m just making conversation and not interrogating my own brother about the man I’ve been secretly sleeping with for months.

Knox leans a shoulder against the counter. “He’s probably distracted by whatever flavor-of-the-week he’s tangled up with.”

A sharp, cold sting hits the center of my chest.

I keep my face neutral, at least, I hope I do, because if I react even a little, Knox will see it. “Oh,” I say, aiming for casual. “I didn’t realize he was seeing someone.”

Knox rolls his eyes. “Wolf isn’t exactly the relationship type. He fucks, he leaves. End of story.”

The words land like a punch I didn’t see coming, and my heartbeat stumbles. I grip my coffee mug too hard, knuckles whitening against the ceramic. Heat crawls up my neck, blooming beneath my skin, but I force my expression to stay neutral.

Knox studies me for a beat too long. Finally, he shakes his head. “Nothing you need to worry about, baby bird.”

The endearment softens the blow, but not the fear. I force a small smile and take another sip of coffee, pretending his answer settles something inside me. It doesn't.

Knox sets his mug down and steps toward me, brushing a kiss to the top of my head. “Be good today,” he says gruffly.

“I’m always good,” I murmur.

He huffs a laugh and leaves, the front door closing with a low thud.

As soon as his bike pulls away, I swipe out of social media and pull up my messages. Samuel's name sits at the top of the screen—still nothing.

My stomach knots, and I stare at our conversation for a second before typing another message.

ME: Are you seriously going to ignore me?

I hit send. Then I toss the phone onto the counter and force myself to finish making a second cup of coffee. The second it buzzes, I nearly spill the creamer.

SAMUEL: You make that impossible.

A stupid grin tugs at my mouth before I can stop it.

SAMUEL: Can you meet me?