Warped (Dueling Devils 4)

Symone exhaled…the first link broken in the chain of the past that held her tight.

* * * *

“Your girl’s here.”

Monster glanced up at Pan and sneered. “The fuck are you talking about, brother?”

“Like you don’t know.”

Monster narrowed his eyes.

“Symone, asshole.”

Monster sat up straighter on the stool. “Where? With who?”

“Chase, who else? Last, I heard she was talking to Gia in the poolroom. Lefty wouldn’t stop ranting about it at the bar.”

“What’s the story between

those two?” Monster asked.

“No one knows.” Pan shook his head. “They’re tight-lipped about it and Lefty is like a rabid dog. You look too hard at Gia and he’s in your face.”

Monster laughed. “It’s a one-sixty.”

“Weird as shit is what it is,” Pan mumbled. “That brother would be in here running through girls like a one man pollination program. Now, he’s glued to her side and making fucking cow eyes.”

“Not a bad thing to find something that makes you happy.” Monster shrugged.

“You on the hunt for an old lady?” Pan tilted his head.

“You worried about it?”

“Maybe I don’t want to be odd man out,” Pan answered.

“Come on, we’ve been walking down two separate streets when it comes to women for a long ass time.”

“That was your choice,” Pan retorted.

He heard the accusation in his brother’s voice. “How?”

“You pulled away and started changing things.”

“No, I admitted what you’re still in denial about.”

“What are you talking about?” Pan said. His eyes were wide and dilated.

“Everything changed after the fire. I couldn’t live the same life. You think those girls we shared wanted both of us? No, they wanted you.”

“Bullshit.” Pan growled.

Monster sighed. Being realistic wasn’t the same as admitting defeat. Pan didn’t get that.

“I don’t want to be responsible for this half-ass living you’re doing.”

“That’s what you’re worried about? No one is blaming you—”

“No.” Pan slammed his palm down on the bar. “We’re not doing this.” He stalked away.