Page 27 of For One Night

“Where are you going?” Robin yells as I open the door.

“Leave. Me. Alone.” I slam it as I leave.

I look toward the elevator but decide to take the stairs. I push the door open and take the steps as fast as I can. As I reach the bottom, I unlock my car as I run to it. I struggle with the door but finally climb in.

“I don’t believe it.” I hit the steering wheel before turning on the engine. “Son of a bitch, he doesn’t even want it!”

I tear out of the lot with hellfire burning in my gut. I’m fucking pissed as hell for trusting him. “He’s held this grudge long enough!”

The closer I get to our place, my body quakes as anger takes over, and I don’t trust myself to be around him. I hit the gas as I pass the apartment, and my thoughts turn dark. “I hate him.”

I take the road out of town, driving to The Falls. “I need to calm down and think this thing through.” I crank up the music, hoping to get lost in it.

I find a place in the furthest corner and throw my car in park. I jump out with the music booming in the speakers. I don’t want to be alone with this heaviness in the pit of my belly.

I take my phone out and decide to call the guilty party. I want to hear it myself—no excuses, just truth. I find the number and hit dial, waiting until someone answers.

“Hello, my bearn.” Mother answers with her sweet term for child, and my heart aches with the thought of her betrayal.

I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Mathair, how are you?”

“I’m well, Lennox. It’s so good to hear from ye.” Her voice is soft, tearing me apart and helping to ebb my anger.

“Mathair, I need to ask you something.” I rub my eyes, banishing the wetness gathering in the corners. “Did you and Dadaidh give Lachlan the company?”

She releases a sigh, and my chest feels heavy. “We wanted to discuss this with you both, to explain what we have in mind.”

“You did it?” I fist my hair as the world drops from beneath me. “All I’ve ever wanted, that I’ve ever worked for, was this company! You promised me, but as always, Lachlan gets what he wants. To hell with me.” I end the call, not allowing her a second to say another word.

My body goes numb, and I slide down the side of my car to the ground. I rest my elbows on my knees, fighting every thought I’m having about my family. “It’s always been this way; first born, first to drive, first in class, and now, first to lead our company.”

I sit there, wallowing in fear and guilt. Anger replaces both, and I find myself back where I started. Day has turned to night, my anger into bitterness. “Let’s go break up a party and then, I’ll find Robin and blow my inheritance exactly the way I want.”

I jump up, dusting myself off before driving back. The party’s in full swing when I turn the corner to our street. I roll my shoulders, expelling the tension in them. Filled with resentment, I park and take the steps two at a time.

I push my way into the living room, scanning it for him. I hurry through to the kitchen, still nothing. I even search the backyard, where I find One. Irritated, I fight my way through the crowded space to his room.

I open the door to find it empty. For a split second, there’s a thought he may actually be looking for me, but as I turn around, I see a light on in my room. “For fuck’s sake people, is nothing off limits?”

I stomp over to my door, shoving it open. The pounding in my ears is louder than anything I ever experienced. Time stops as everything around me moves in slow motion. My feet feel like lead, and I’m confined to this spot.

Robin is in my bed, straddling some guy. A man who looks like … me.

“Lachlan?” I hear the primal growl as it escapes my mouth.

The room goes black, and all hell breaks loose. Robin’s by the door, screaming for someone to stop us. I feel the pain as his fist land against my ribs. My hand aches as it hits his jaw.

We’ve never had an actual fight, not even in high school when all that bad shit went down. We’re brothers, we’ve always fought for each other. I find myself hitting him over and over. Reliving the times in my life I wasn’t enough.

Lachlan gives as good as he gets, cutting my eye and busting my lip. One, somehow, manages to get between us with the help of a few others. I break free, rushing past the onlookers.

I leap from the porch, trying to get to my car before someone gets the stupid idea to come after me. I start the car and put it in gear as I close the door. My tires hit the pavement as I punch the gas, leaving nothing but smoke and empty tracks behind.