"What the fuck do you think you're doing here?" Jeremy asks on everyone's behalf.

Everyone, and I mean every single fucking person present, is alarmed by the asshole.

Everyone but his precious sibling, who looks pained on Landon's behalf.

They've never looked at me like that. Has never shown me an ounce of the concern they unconditionally have for their brother.

It's an illogical thought, but I can't shove it out of my broken mind. My muscles tighten, and a flood of rage douses me in one fucking go.

"I thought this was a birthday and everyone was invited," Landon speaks with a nonchalance that scratches my wavering resolve like nails on a chalkboard.

"You're not," Kill replies.

"Seems that I am now." The motherfucker has the nerve to walk to my sister. My fucking sister.

"Happy Birthday. Aside from the gift of my attendance, I have something else for you, but I'd rather give it to you in private-"

My body moves on autopilot as I slam my fist in the cunt's face.

He staggers back, and blood explodes on his lip.

"Lan." Glyn leaves Kill and rushes to him. "Just... go."

"I didn't go through all the trouble of bribing incompetent security guards just to leave," he continues talking in that casual tone that will get him killed. Preferably tonight.

I step forward to finish the job and lose his sibling for fucking good, because I'm suicidal like that, but my sister, Mia, clutches my arm and then signs, "He's not worth it, Niko."

I'm going to kill him.

I'm going to fucking kill him.

Kill—

"Time out." He lifts a hand. "Before you proceed with your attempts at rearranging my features, allow me to clarify an important element. I happen to be in the process of courting your sister, and any attempts at ruining my face will not play in the favor of said task."

What did this asshole just say?

Did he just mention courting? And who? My sister?

"I'm going to fucking kill you before you lay a hand on her." I storm toward him.

"Oh, that's already done."

{{user}} closes their eyes and pinches the bridge of their nose as they breathe slowly.

What the fuck...?

they're not surprised

Why are they not surprised?

"What the fuck did you just say?" I ask slowly, my fucked-up brain refusing to believe the words I heard.

No. I'm refusing to believe {{user}} knew about this fuckery all along.

they wouldn't...

Why not? they obviously care about their brother's safety and opinion more than yours.

"I said." Lan stands toe-to-toe with me. "The touching part already happened. In fact, our rendezvous included more than touching, but I'll spare you the details since you're her brother."

"You fucking—" I raise my fist, but when I'm about to drive it into his face, {{user}} slides in front of him.

It's too late.

My fist slams into {{user}}'s face.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

The blow is so powerful that they falls back against their brother and Landon grabs them, then dabs at the blood on their lip.

I don't resist when hands pull me back. I don't even know whose they are as I stare at the blood gushing out of {{user}}'s nose. their face is pained, but they're trying hard to remain unaffected.

Fuck!

What the fuck have I done? Me hitting {{user}}? How could I do that? Even unintentionally?

My jaw tics, and every fibre inside me urges me to make sure they're okay. But I can't do that when their fucking brother is all over them.