Fractured Minds (Rebels of Sandland 3)

“I’ll do it.” I snapped my head back to look at Brandon as he spoke, feeling like I’d just been smacked in the face. “Well, maybe not the whole fight, but you can use my name if it’ll help to get you out of whatever hole you’re in. Personally, I’d rather leave here and tear down Brinton looking for those fuckers, then rip their throats out for ever talking to you, but I guess that’ll be bad for Harper’s stress levels too.” He huffed out a laugh but neither one of us found this situation funny.

“I wouldn’t want that either,” I said, looking up at him from my place on the floor. I knew it went against every fibre of Brandon’s being to give in to blackmail and play their game, but the rules changed when you were a family man, and he had other priorities now.

“Give me a few hours to talk to Harper, then I’ll announce it myself on social media and you can send the screenshots to whoever needs to see it. Is that okay? Will that be enough?”

I nodded and he walked over to me, putting his arm out to help me stand up.

“Looks like we have a winner, lads,” Ryan shouted, coming back into the hall and bristling with excitement.

“Certainly does.” Brandon glanced to the side and gave me a wink. “Think I might even come out of retirement to fight here myself. It’ll kill me to sit on the side-lines and watch.”

Ryan’s eyes went wide and he shook his head disapprovingly.

“You’re a glutton for punishment,” Zak said, appearing from behind Ryan and smirking. “Harper will never forgive you.”

Ryan narrowed his gaze at Brandon but didn’t question him. My guess was Ryan knew something wasn’t right too, but like Brandon, he wasn’t ready to tackle us about it.

“She loves me,” Brandon replied, giving his signature grin. “Besides, I’ll tell her it’s my final curtain call before the babies come.” I had to admit, he was putting on a very convincing performance.

“Yeah, she’s gonna love you having two black eyes in the delivery ward. Or better yet, lying in a bed next to her as she gives birth,” Ryan snapped.

“Two for one.” Zak laughed.

“We don’t do things by halves.” Brandon smiled and rubbed his hands together like he was relishing the thought.

“Mathers, you’re gonna be the death of me,” Ryan chastised him as he headed towards us. “I’d better warn Em. She likes watching you fight about as much as Harper does.”

“Better get that ring on her finger then. She can spend the night looking at that instead.” Brandon bumped his shoulder into Ryan’s as he walked past and made his way back into the main hall.

“Already in hand, my friend. Just watch this space.”

Ryan dropped us all back home, and within the hour, Brandon had posted online that he was fighting at the next event. Sure enough, his socials blew up, everyone believed it. He sent me a text to let me know that he’d told Harper everything. They didn’t keep secrets and he needed her to understand that it was all fake. I messaged back asking him how we were going to get out of this once the

date for the fight drew closer, but he told me we’d cross that bridge when we came to it. I had to hand it to him. He’d always come through for me. Always.

That night, I turned up at Effy’s door wearing my smartest jeans and white shirt under my leather jacket. It was our first official date and I felt slightly guilty about that. She’d agreed to be my girlfriend, given herself to me, and I hadn’t even bought her a drink. It was official; I was a sucky boyfriend.

The door opened and I braced myself, wearing my cheeky grin to start this date off on the right foot. When I saw her dad standing on the other side, my face grew hot, and I knew I was blushing and probably looked like a grade A loser.

He stuck his hand out to shake mine and I took it, shaking it back with a tight grip. I had to redeem my credibility in some way.

“It’s good to see you, Finn. Come on in.” He held the door open and stepped back to let me past. “Effy’s still upstairs getting ready but we’re just having a glass of wine. Come and join us.”

I stuttered over my words as I walked into the foyer and glanced around, begging Effy to suddenly emerge and save me from my awkwardness.

“I don’t drink wine,” I said by way of an answer.

Her dad laughed. “You don’t have to drink wine, we have beer too.”

“I don’t really drink beer either.” He raised his eyebrows at me. “Okay, maybe I do drink beer, but I’m taking your daughter out tonight. I should really keep a clear head.”

He slapped me on the back, still laughing.

“That’s exactly the reason you should have a drink. Are you driving?”

“No.”

“Then have one. It might help you lighten up. You seem nervous.”