Jordan was through in a flash, and he punched Blaise, a clear hit across the face.

“What the hell?”

Jordan stood over him, seething. “You knew that shit for twenty-four hours and didn’t tell me? Fuck. You.” With that said, he left.

Cross and I followed.

From: Tazsters

To: Cain Group, Blaise DeVroe, Aspen Monson

Subject: YOU ALL ARE ASSHOLES

Aspen called me and told me the truth. The dirtbag was never Zach, or Zeke (who I thought it was), but Tim Harper. I hate all y’all. I’m kidding. I think Tabatha told me the real name, but I kept thinking it was Zeke that we were all hating. Okay. I feel like I’m there with you guys now.

By the way, Bren texted me that you’re all going bowling. I’m sending my twin a gift.

Payback’s a twin, hmmm?

THE BEST TWIN

BREN

We went bowling.

The lanes were packed, which I noted to Brock as he checked us in. Trundle was there, but helping someone else.

He handed over our shoes, saying, “Yeah. Some pics of your group got on social media. It’s been a slow trickle since then, but you’re right. We’re doing good in the bowling business again.” He gave a short laugh. “Should probably think about fixing the sign outside and repaving the parking lot.”

I grinned, taking my shoes and handing out the rest. “I kinda like the Coug r Lanes, myself.”

He chuckled, then nodded to the guys as they moved to where we’d be bowling. “You doing okay? Your head. Ready for tomorrow?”

I was supposed to go out in the field tomorrow. I knew they were planning on tracking down two jumps.

I nodded now, everything inside of me getting tight, but solid tight. Like I was finally ready tight. “I’ll be fine. I’ve had concussions before. That guy knocked me from behind. I’ll watch my back from now on, better.”

Brock’s grin turned grim. “You and me both. We shouldn’t have left you alone. That’s half on us, too.”

The door opened, and I looked over my shoulder, then did a double take. Blaise was coming in, his arm around Aspen, and the rest of Aspen’s friends were filing in, too. Her roommate, whom I’d met a couple times now, Jade. Then the floormates: Veronica and Angeline.

Jade’s gaze went right to where Jordan was picking up a bowling ball. She swallowed, taking a tiny breath.

Blaise came over, his arm lifting from Aspen’s shoulders as she and her friends went right over to where Cross and Jordan were.

Cross saw them and looked at me. His eyebrow raised. He was noting where his brother was, and I shook my head at him. I didn’t need him at my side, not for this one.

Blaise noticed the little exchange and laughed under his breath as he moved in next to me. But he didn’t say anything.

Not me. I started right in. “Your brother punched him because he worried you were going to start in and not be able to stop. He did that for you, ya know.”

“I know.”

He sounded cool and calm now, but my pulse was spiking. “Why shove him? Why throw that in his face?”

Glancing at Brock, who was standing there, Blaise sighed and turned back to me. “My relationship with your boy is complicated. You know that.”

“I know you’re a dick. That’s what I do know.”

He shrugged, saying to Brock, “We’ll do a lane by them. Five of us, six, maybe. Maybe three games?”

“Zeke?” I asked.

He skimmed a look at me before handing over his card to pay, telling Brock the shoe sizes that were needed. “Can I ask you for a favor?”

I should’ve been surprised, but I wasn’t. Not at this point, not with this guy.

“What?”

“Aspen doesn’t know that Harper did something. I kept that under wraps from her.”

I rolled my eyes. “Aren’t you Mr. Honesty? That’s holding the truth from your girl.”

He flinched, his eyes going over my shoulder for a moment. “I know. I don’t like it, but Aspen’s been through enough shit.”

“What’s the favor you want?”

“Aspen and her girls are doing a girls’ night next weekend since this one didn’t pan out. Jade’s cool. She’s got her eye on your boy, so they might ask you to join them. I know your history with female friends is spotty, but could you join them? I have a feeling Veronica is going to take them to a party, and I’m still worried about Aspen. Harper was pushed out tonight, but I don’t know if it’ll stick. He’s got some loyal friends in the house. They might push to get him back in, and if Veronica takes the girls to one of their parties, I won’t be there. You get what I’m saying?”

Fuck. “Payback?”

He nodded, his eyes flaring for a second. “Yeah.”

I already knew what I was going to say, but sighed and nodded. I knew I’d say yes the instant he mentioned Aspen’s name. Soft spot and all. “You know I will.”

He grinned, taking his card back and gathering up the shoes. “I know, but I wanted to give you a heads-up about what you might be walking into.”

I gave him a hard look back. “Right. Thanks for that. How’d you know we were here?”

“I have my ways.” That was it.

He laughed before giving me a nod and going to join the group.

I watched, noting that Blaise sat across the two lanes from Cross. Neither looked at the other, and neither spoke to the other. Jade and Veronica, on the other hand, totally talking to Jordan.

“Do I even ask?”

I turned back to my boss and shook my head. “No. We’re kinda stuck with him.”

CROSS

The words had been rolling in my gut since my brother shoved his way through the crowd, and especially since everything that went down earlier today.

I didn’t like it. Not a bit.

And I needed to let him know, but it hadn’t been the time then.

It hadn’t been right when we got to the bowling alley, either, when Blaise showed up with his friends. Jade got Jordan’s number and asked where we were, so I knew he’d be showing up.

The girls were enjoying themselves. Jordan was enjoying them, too.

So, for them, for Jordan, I kept quiet. I waited.

But now, seeing my brother take a phone call and dart outside, I was done waiting.

Cool, calm, smooth, I took my bowling shoes off and put on my regular ones.

The only person who noticed was Bren, and when I looked up, her eyes were speculative. She looked at the door, and I gave her a small nod. She raised an eyebrow, and this time I was the one signaling to her that I didn’t need her help.

She nodded, settling farther back in the chair to keep score. Zellman wasn’t here, so she filled in. Jordan was too busy flirting. Me and Bren, though, we were good bowling, enjoying each other’s company, grazing arms and hands as we moved to go bowl and come back. Blaise noted the touches, his eyes darkening as he watched his own woman, but Aspen was having fun. She was laughing at Jordan, and her face was glowing being around her friends.

I knew it was killing him to see how I was touching my woman, and he had to refrain from touching his.

I enjoyed the torture, but it was time to stick another knife in his gut, metaphorically speaking, and I moved across the lobby, keeping to the shadows to not draw attention to me.

Jordan’s laugh cut out behind me.

I looked back. He was watching me, but Bren moved. She said a few words and he nodded to her, then to me.

I ducked out through the door.

My brother had moved out into the parking lot, but I saw his phone’s light and he was saying in a quiet voice, “Yeah, Mom. No. We’re good.” A pause. “I promise. Yeah.”

I could hear Marie saying her goodbye. Blaise reciprocated, then hung up, stuffing his phone into his pocket as he started back to the front door.

I moved back against the building, just shy of the front entryway.

He came across me, moving forward when I moved.

I grabbed his arm, throwing him back against the wall, and I shoved him the rest of the way, jamming an arm up against his neck.

My brother stilled, then snapped alive. He was fighting, trying to shove me off, but I was ready. I knew Blaise could fight, so I was prepared. He tried to kick me out away from him, but I shoved harder against his throat until he stopped, and now he was gagging.

“It’s me, asshole.”

He froze again, then sagged back. “What the fuck? This because of tonight? I’m sorry for not showing more appreciation that you punched Harper for me. So many thanks.” He was being sarcastic.

I shoved harder, enjoying hearing him choke before I relaxed my hold. “You’re dangerous.”

He snorted, half-laughing. “Right. You? You are actually saying that to me?”

I kept my tone low, calm, and cold. Two could be like that. “As of tonight, you are going to stop pulling my group into your personal vendettas. You are going to stop pushing the boundary, and…” when he tried to speak again, I spoke over him, “you know you’re doing it. You outed Tabatha, which outed Jordan, which could’ve outed Bren. Everything connects, and you know that. You knew what you were doing tonight.”

“I had to. Jessinda Hinckley’s father is a senator. She’s got family connections that out-connect Harper’s family. Harper’s a legacy. That means he’s going to be a bitch to actually get removed from the house, and no, tonight didn’t actually do it. It just put a dent in his campaign to stay and get Zeke removed instead. I’m doing this for him, too, and yeah, I’m sorry that I outed Tab and your boy since she was his girl, but I had to. It was a calculated move. Getting Harper kicked out helps you guys, too, because he’s a cancer. He’ll grow and fester and he’ll be toxic the longer we’re all here at Cain together.”