Dylan (Inked Brotherhood 4)

“Did she say that?” My chest tightens, like I can’t draw enough air. Not see Tessa again? Not sure I can survive that. “Did she say she wants me to stay away from her?”

He shrugs, sucks on the barbell in his tongue. “Not in so many words.”

“Look, Z-man… She’s only helping me out with my brothers.”

“You slept with her.”

“Christ, Zane. It’s not like I forced her.” I rub my aching forehead. My whole body is a giant throb. “She wanted it, too.”

Dakota turns her head and shoots me a look that could cut through glass.

Ow.

“That’s beside the point,” Zane mutters, running his hands over the shaved sides of his head. “Don’t you fucking get it?” He sits on the chair across from me and waves a hand in the air. “After the way her parents behaved, and that motherfucker of an ex… She needs space. She needs calm. She doesn’t need you fucking with her head to scratch an itch. Plenty of chicks who can do that for you, fucker, and Tessa is my friend.”

Bitterness wells inside me. I thought I was his friend, too. I know it’s childish, but it stings. “I wouldn’t hurt Tessa.”

“Guess what, genius? Too late for that.”

Fuck.

“Keep away from her, Dylan.”

“Yeah? And what will you do if I don’t? Disown me?”

“Seriously, fucker?” Zane sits up, scowling. “You wanna fuck with me? I’m gonna punch the living daylights out of you.”

“You can try

,” I mutter. “Asshole.”

“Hey, hey.” Dakota scoots over to us and sits between Zane’s legs. Her plaid skirt rides up over her high black stockings and military boots. “Enough. Now make up.”

I sigh and lean back, raking my hands through my short hair. I don’t want to fight with Zane, or think about what I should and shouldn’t do with Tessa. My body is heavy, my thoughts sluggish, and darkness waits to draw me under. I fall through emptiness, spiraling down, images from the past flashing around me. I see Mom holding Teo. I see Dad reading his newspaper at the kitchen table.

I see Tessa’s eyes, her smile. She’s holding me and telling me everything’s gonna be okay. She’s here, with me.

“Dylan.” A woman’s voice, a hand shaking me.

“Tess?” I slur. Why is she shaking me?

“Dammit, Dylan,” Zane’s voice rumbles from a few feet away. “What’s up with you, man?”

Wait—Zane?

I blink my gummy eyes and focus on him. A glance to the side confirms it’s not Tessa who’s by my side. It’s Dakota, her large eyes wide.

We’re in my living room, and last I remember, Zane was chewing me out over Tessa. “Shit. Sorry.”

“You okay, Dylan?” Dakota releases my arm and sits back. “You drifted off for a second.”

“I’m fine.” My standard response in the past months. Everything’s fine, nothing to see here, move along.

Dakota gets up, smoothing her hands over her short skirt. “I’ll go make some coffee.”

I watch her go, trying to gather my scrambled thoughts. I’d really thought Tessa was here, with me, and it had felt so damn good.

So right.