Page 34 of Break Me

“You’re crying because of him?” Knox spits, voice breaking. “After what he did?”

“What I did?” I rasp, tasting copper. “I didn’t hurt her. I love her.”

That lights the fuse again. Knox lunges, but Jon slams him into the railing so hard it rattles.

“I said enough,” Jon growls into his ear. “You’re going to kill him.”

Knox shakes, vibrating with fury he can’t unleash. His eyes find me—wild, betrayed, burning.

“You were my brother,” he says, voice shredded. “Until you went behind my back and touched my baby sister?”

Raven shoves to her feet. “Knox, stop, please. Sam didn’t force⁠—”

“Get inside,” Knox snaps, pointing at her without even looking. “Now.”

“No,” she cries. “I’m not leaving him⁠—”

“Raven,” Jon barks, sharper, stronger. “Inside. That’s not a request.”

She sobs harder, torn between all of us.

My heart splinters watching her.

Her eyes lock onto mine—pleading, terrified, refusing to let go. And even though it kills me, I force myself to hold her gaze. “Please, sweetheart,” I rasp, voice shredded. “Go inside.”

She flinches like my words hit her physically.

Jon’s stare lands on me next. Cold and unforgiving. “Wolf,” he says quietly, “leave. Now. Before this becomes something none of us walk away from.”

Knox is still straining against his father's hold, murder in his eyes. Raven makes it halfway to the porch before she looks back. The fear on her face hits harder than any punch I've taken tonight.

I wipe the blood from my mouth and stand on unsteady legs. Because leaving is the only thing keeping Knox from killing me.

But as I stagger back toward my bike, one truth hits like another punch.

I’m not giving her up.

Not now.

Not ever.

Raven

Samuel’s taillight disappears down the road, swallowed by dust and distance. The kind that offers finality.

I don’t move. I can’t. My body won’t obey anything except the single, impossible truth echoing in my chest.

He left.

Because he had to. Because if he didn’t, my brother would’ve killed him.

My knees give out, dropping me onto the grass before I realize I’m falling. My palms sting. My throat closes. Everything inside me feels scraped raw. Pop is the first one to come toward me.

“Raven—” he starts, his voice gentler now, a tone I can’t stand because it means he thinks he’s right.

I hold up a hand without looking at him. “Don’t.”

He stops. Knox doesn’t.