The front door slammed hard enough to rattle the hallway picture frames.

Rafe glanced up from the couch where he was sitting beside Topper, a beer half-balanced on his knee. “That her?” he muttered.

Topper frowned, already halfway to standing. You never slammed doors.

You stepped into the kitchen, jaw tight, eyes red. You didn’t say anything—you didn’t even look at them. Just headed for the sink like you hadn’t just walked in looking like a fucking wreck.

“Hey,” Topper said, more carefully now. “What happened?”

You shook your head, filling a glass with water. “It’s fine.”

“Bullshit,” Rafe cut in. His voice wasn’t soft. It was sharp, tense. “Look at you.”

Topper crossed his arms. “Who pissed you off?”

You swallowed hard, turning around but keeping your gaze low. “It was just this guy—at school. I thought we were cool, and then… he said some shit. Made fun of me. Called me desperate. Said I only got attention because people felt bad for me.”

Silence.

Rafe slowly set down his drink and leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Who?”

You shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”

“No,” he snapped, standing. “Nah. That’s not gonna slide.”

“Rafe—” Topper warned.

“No, Topp, fuck that,” Rafe hissed. “She comes home like this and we’re just supposed to sit here?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Rafe ran a hand through his hair, agitated. “What’s his name?” he asked again, looking right at you now.

You hesitated, voice quieter. “Why do you care so much?”

His eyes darkened. “Because you’re not just some random girl. You’re Topper’s sister. You matter. And if some prick thinks he can talk to you like that, he’s gonna find out exactly why he shouldn’t.”

There was a pause. You stared at him—his jaw clenched, eyes wild, chest rising and falling hard.

“I don’t want you getting in trouble,” you finally muttered.

Rafe stepped closer, voice low and controlled. “Then give me a reason not to find him.”

Your silence was the only answer.

Topper groaned, rubbing his face. “Jesus Christ.”

Rafe didn’t take his eyes off you. “I’m not letting it go. You deserve better than some coward running his mouth.”