Chapter 14

"What is your fucking problem? And don't even start with me on racing. I fucking know we have to be up at the track tonight. Andre called me, and I was planning on heading back up there with Bex, I just wanted her to have the day to chill before I brought it up," I snap, leaning my back against the island in the kitchen. After the morning Bex and I had, the last thing I'm in the mood for is Talon's bullshit. This fucking game bitching and complaining about how Bexley is a distraction, a problem, is frustrating as fuck. When in the end, it's clear to everyone else, even he doesn't believe that shit.

"Why is she still here? And what do you mean you and Bex were heading back up there? You're bringing her right back to the track? To him? What is the game plan here, huh, little brother?" Talon replies defensively.

"Where else would she be, Talon? Think about it. She has nowhere else to go where he won't find her. I told her to stay, because I want her here. This is where she is the safest. So get the fuck over it," I reply, stepping toward him. "You know this bullshit about Bex being a distraction is getting really fucking old. You don't even know her. You shit talk her left and right, but then you turn around and beat the shit out of her ex and steal her away? It doesn't add up."

"Are you really that fucking oblivious to it all? She has her nails so deep in you that she consumes your every thought. When was the last time you trained? Sayshen, she's been back what, like a week, and already you've missed a race and a week's worth of training. And for what? To spend your days fucking the one chick from Palms High that wouldn't let you hit it? But I mean, now her options are pretty limited, right? So, of course, you're finally getting your chance. Finally getting your shot between her legs, huh, Baby Brother?"

Before I know it, I'm standing inches from his face. My chest rising and falling with heavy, panted breaths as I try to remain calm. "You think you have us all fooled, Big Brother? You think we don't all see the way you look at her. That I don't see you watching her every move when you're around her," I retort through a clenched jaw.

"The difference between me and you, Brother, is that I can protect her, and not stick my dick in her," Talon snaps back. "After what she went through, I feel obligated to protect her, and I will. But one thing I won't do is let it affect my racing, or my training. I will not put pussy before the Demons."

Rolling my eyes, I run my hands through my hair, "Oh stop with your fucking bullshit. Everyone fucking sees right through you. Even she fucking sees it. Feels it. Whatever the fuck this hatred you have for her is…it has nothing to do with racing or the fucking team. This is because you feel something for her, and you don't want to admit it. So go on. Tell me how she's just like every other fucking girl I've stuck my dick in because even you know she's not even close." I bump shoulders with him as I walk by, making my way back out to the deck having noticed everyone took off down to the beach.

"Oh? So you haven't fucked her then," he adds from behind me as he joins me on the deck.

"I didn't say that. I said even you fucking know she isn't just pussy. If she were, then her being here, being around me, it wouldn't bother you. That's what this is really about, right? The fact that my feelings for Bex are fucking real. That you know I'd give it all up for her in a goddamn heartbeat." I'm so fucking tired of arguing with my brother. So tired of having the same fucking arguments. It's time he accepts that Bex is staying. That my feelings for her are genuine. That they are real.

He paces back and forth on the deck.

"I'm fucking tired, Talon. I'm tired of having this argument over and over. Everyone else has accepted her, why the fuck can't you. Would it be so fucking terrible to just admit that she makes you feel something? That you were wrong about my intentions with her? Because I can't keep fucking doing this. Not with you."

He sighs. His head falls back as his eyes find their way to the clear blue sky.

"Promise me you'll get back to training. Regain your focus. The Demons need you. I need you," he admits with a calm tone.

"I promise, like I said, I planned to return to the track tonight, and I'm bringing her with me," I explain.

He laughs. "And how were you expecting Christian to react to that?"

"Like I give a fuck what he thinks about it. I'm not letting him near her," I add.

"That makes two of us," he replies as we bump knuckles. "How is she doing, anyway?" he asks, seemingly more calm now.

Cocking a brow, my lips pull into a sly grin as I eye him. "I fucking knew it," Talon punches me in the shoulder playfully, and he clicks his tongue as he smiles.

"Yeah, yeah. Don't let it go to your head. I don't even know what the fuck I'm feeling. She is something else, though, I'll give you that."

"Fucking right she is," I snicker. "And that body─"

"Do not even go there," he cuts me off, pointing his finger at me. "You should go pack your shit if you're planning on heading to the track tonight. It's supposed to rain tonight, so we'll probably head out once they've had their fun."

"You guys coming or what?" Cruz shouts from the edges of the property, where it meets the sandy beach. "Get Bex and get your asses down here, man, the water's great."

Get Bex?

"Is Bex not down there with you guys?" Talon replies, clearly sharing the same concern as me.

"Nah, she didn't come down with us. She said she had to finish her design," Cruz explains.

Looking over, I find Bexley's sketchpad and pencil on the chair where she left them. Fuck.

Feeling concerned, I head inside to find her, but Talon stops me. "I'll go find her. You head down to the beach with the team, and we'll meet you there."

"Are you sure?" I ask. I knew something was going on between them, even if neither had accepted it yet. It's obvious. There's a tension between them, one most guys in my position should be jealous of. But not me. Nah, I'm happy to share Bex with my brother. There isn't another guy on the planet I'd let near her other than him. Mostly because I trust him with her. I know he'd never hurt her.

But also because deep down, even I can see that they need each other.

And I need both of them.

The floorboards creak under my weight as I quickly head upstairs searching for Bexley. My heart is racing, and the conversation that Sayshen and I just had is still spinning around in my head. Inside, I feel a sense of pride for my little brother for standing his ground and calling me out the way he did. He's never been one to do that before, probably because if it had been about anything other than Bexley, my reaction might not have been so chill.

Reaching the landing, I head down the hall to Sayshen's room, where I know Bexley has been staying with him. She is standing at the edge of the bed, folding clothing before shoving it into her black backpack. I lean against the door frame and cross my arms over my chest while I watch her with confusion.

"What are you doing?" Bexley startles at the sound of my voice. Her cute little ass jiggling in her thong bikini bottoms as she jumps slightly.

She sighs. "What does it look like I'm doing?" Her reply is cold, but I can't say I don't deserve it. "You've made it perfectly clear numerous times that you don't want me around, Talon. I thought you'd be the one person happy to see me packing."

Pushing myself off the door frame, I cross the room's small space, pausing when I'm a few inches behind her. "So that's it. Now you're just going to give up? Just going to run to your little friend's house because you know I don't want you here?" She freezes, before whipping the clothes she was folding into the bag and turning around to face me.

"No. I'm going because I care too much about your brother to stay!" she snaps. "I'm tired of being around arguing, Talon. I don't like the negative energy or feeling guilty or like I'm constantly walking on eggshells. I just went through all that with Christian, I can't do it anymore," she adds as she releases a breath.

What could she possibly feel guilty for?

Then it hits me— my coldness, my refusal to see how sincere Sayshen's feelings for her really are, have affected more than just him. The more I push him about her, the more we fight, and Bexley blames herself for it all.When in reality, it's because of me.

Fuck.

I step closer to her—so close that she tilts her head up to look at me. Holding her stare, I soften my tone because not only do I not want to upset her, but I want her to know how genuine the next words from my lips are.

"The fighting between Sayshen and me is my fault. All of it. Not yours."

She rolls her goddamn eyes, and my cock twitches. It takes everything in me not to grab her by the throat and fuck the attitude right out of her. Even if I know I deserve every bit of it.

"How can you say that when it's always me you two seem to be fighting about? You know what kills me? I don't even know why you hate me so much," she replies.

"I don't hate you."

"Well you could have fucking fooled me," she retorts with a snarky tone.

"Because I didn't know you!" I snap and inhale deeply, calming myself before continuing, "I didn't know you, Bex. At first, I thought you were just another girl—one of the many my brother would bring home for the night and forget about. Then I realized that all of the years he told me you weren't, that you actually meant something to him. It meant that you were more dangerous to him and the team than I originally thought."

"Do you even hear yourself? How can I be dangerous to him? I'd never hurt Sayshen," she sighs and backs away from me. Without thinking, my hand grips her wrist, forcing her back to me.

"You think I don't know that? I know you wouldn't hurt him. It's never been about you, it's what he's willing to sacrifice for you. Don't you see that? When it comes to you, there is nothing my brother won't do. He will literally die for you."

"Do you think I'm blind to that? I can see how much he cares for me. But I hate the tension between the two of you. I hate that you're both hurting and arguing over me. Why do you think I'm packing my things?" she snaps, pulling her arm free of my hold. "I don't want to be the thing that causes a rift in the team. I won't be."

"You're not listening. You were never the reason. I was. Hell, I still am. I've been unwilling to consider the possibility that maybe you could be good for him. That maybe you being here would motivate him, not distract him," I add. I know it doesn't make up for my behavior, but I'm hoping it will at least convince her to stay. Gently taking her hand in mine, I pull her back to me and brush her hair off her shoulder. "You bring out a different side of him. Out of both of us, and to me, there is nothing more terrifying. Nothing more dangerous. Our whole lives have been dedicated to racing, and it's all I know. I don't know how to make room for anything else, but I want to try. I─ I need you to be patient with me." The confession slips softly from my lips as I look down at her.

With it, a weight seems to lift off my shoulders. Lifting my free hand, I trail my fingers down the exposed flesh of her arm, causing little goosebumps to prickle along her skin. Fuck she is so soft. So warm.

"Okay," she mutters, with a short breath, as her fingers intertwine with mine. Sayshen was right. I just told her how I feel, and yet there isn't a sign of surprise on her face. Instead, it's like she feels as relieved as I do. She lifts her eyes to mine and slowly steps closer toward me. So close her warm body is pressed up against my chest. Her hooded eyes search mine, and her lips begin to part, silently begging for me to press mine against them. Taking her chin in my hand, I tilt her face up before lowering my lips while my other hand presses against the small of her back. Inching her closer. I teasingly ghost my lips over hers, feeling her warm breath across my mine.

Behind us, Sayshen clears his throat. Snapping my head to the side, I find him leaning against the doorframe with a shit-eating grin across his face.

Little fucker.

"What's going on in here huh?" he adds cockily as he crosses his arms over his chest. Bexley, panicked, backs away from me almost instantly and pretends to be digging through her bag in search of something.

"Oh, I was just looking for my lotion," she answers.

"Is that right? Well, when you find it, make sure you put it back in that bag, we're heading back to the track tonight." Sayshen explains as he enters the room. He stands next to me, as we both wait to see how she'll react to the news. We both know going back and being forced to see Christian again will be hard for her.

"Back to the track?" she whispers, her eyes bouncing from his to mine.

"Bex, you don't have to worry. Nothing will happen to you. One of the Demons will be with you at all times. We'll ensure you're never alone, and that Christian is kept far away from you," I explain with a reassuring tone. I mean every word of it. There is no way in hell Christian or anyone else will ever touch Bexley again.

"Okay, if you're sure. But can we still hit the beach first?" she adds. It's clear from her expression she's skeptical but doing her best to give us the benefit of the doubt. I don't even blame her.

"Fuck yeah, we can. The team is already down there, and Lena has been waiting for you. I think she likes having another girl around, to be honest."

"Lena is pretty great. So is this all good now, then?" she adds, gesturing between Sayshen and me. "No more fighting?"

"We're all good, babe. Don't stress," Sayshen replies as he steps toward her. He presses a soft kiss to her forehead. "Let's go have some fun, I think we all deserve it."

With that, we all head out to join the team on the beach. To enjoy a bit of the sun before we drive back into the shit storm awaiting us at the track. I told Bexley nothing would happen to her, and I meant every word. There is no way in hell Christian or anyone else will ever touch Bexley again.

Now, Bexley Larson, is ours.