though I was sure Nate and his people
were involved somehow.
“What about
Nate?” I asked, regarding him coldly.
It was a
simple question, and yet the very mention of his brother’s name was enough to
change Jett’s determined expression to something I had never seen in his face.
Disgust.
Contempt.
Pure
hatred.
And then in
a split second it was gone—as if it had been a figment of my imagination.
Jett
shrugged and buried his hands in his pockets. “What about him?”
“It could
be him,” I pointed out, unable to keep the angry undertones in my voice in
check. “In fact, he’s the first one I thought of. Not Thalia, nor Gina, nor my
new friends, as you so kindly suggested. If someone’s playing a game, then that
someone might as well be your brother, not people I just met.”
“Nate
wasn’t out at that time.”
“That might
be true, but I still wouldn’t rule him out, and neither should you,” I repeated
his words.
Every
muscle in his face tensed. “Do I need to remind you that he’s under
surveillance? He couldn’t sneak out, even if he tried to.”
“What about
an insider, someone passing on messages, or trying to help him?” I continued,
not ready to drop the topic. “All he had to do was call in a favor from one of
his many connections.”
Jett shook
his head slowly, his expression getting stonier by the second. “No, it isn’t
him. Can’t be. My brother’s not my only enemy, Brooke. If you looked into my
past, you’d know that. A lot of people want to harm me.”
“Especially
those led by your brother,” I said dryly, relentless.
“Used to be
led, Brooke. Used to. There’s a difference.” His brusque response stopped me,
but only to let me catch my breath.
“Jett,“ I
started again, my patience waning. “While everybody was busy looking for the
remaining members, Nate had every opportunity to use a distraction to get what
he wants, and yes, I believe that includes framing you.”
Why was it
so hard for Jett to see that the man he called his brother might be the one who
was trying to destroy him? Seconds passed as I glowered at him, unable to stop
the frustration gripping me, as Jett remained silent. The whole situation was
ridiculous. To protect his brother, he was going too far. It was as though he
was in a state of denial.
Oh, my God.
Jett was in a state of denial. It was my responsibility
as his girlfriend to break down the walls that kept him trapped in blindness.
“Is it just
me, or are you trying to protect your brother?” I said casually. “Because it
sure feels like it.”
“My
broth—” He grimaced, his handsome face distorting at once, as if he
couldn’t even say the word. He exhaled sharply, hands balled into fists as he
turned his face back to me, cursing. “Fuck, you think I’m protecting this fuck?
I would never do that. I just think…” He ran a hand through his hair, leaving his
sentence unfinished.
“Think
what?”
He stayed
silent. I clasped my hands, waiting patiently for him to explain his
perspective so I could understand him. He wet his lips, leaving moisture on
them. His posture was rigid, his jaw clenched as he turned his whole body to
me, his eyes finally looking up. “I don’t think my brother would be stupid
enough to do this so soon after his arrest. Not when his trial is still
pending, and he knows he’d get life. It’d be too easy and obvious to link him
to this.”
I stared at
him, unsure if I should laugh or be mad at his absurd explanation.
Nate was
already facing life behind bars. I doubted he cared much about that little
detail.
When I
noticed Jett was serious, I shook my head.
“Jett,” I
started slowly, fighting with myself not to lose my temper. “Maybe he doesn’t
care about a few more years in prison or being caught. Maybe easy and obvious is the answer. I know you don’t want to
hear this, and I know you guys grew up together and everything, but please... please don’t tell me you don’t think
Nate
were involved somehow.
“What about
Nate?” I asked, regarding him coldly.
It was a
simple question, and yet the very mention of his brother’s name was enough to
change Jett’s determined expression to something I had never seen in his face.
Disgust.
Contempt.
Pure
hatred.
And then in
a split second it was gone—as if it had been a figment of my imagination.
Jett
shrugged and buried his hands in his pockets. “What about him?”
“It could
be him,” I pointed out, unable to keep the angry undertones in my voice in
check. “In fact, he’s the first one I thought of. Not Thalia, nor Gina, nor my
new friends, as you so kindly suggested. If someone’s playing a game, then that
someone might as well be your brother, not people I just met.”
“Nate
wasn’t out at that time.”
“That might
be true, but I still wouldn’t rule him out, and neither should you,” I repeated
his words.
Every
muscle in his face tensed. “Do I need to remind you that he’s under
surveillance? He couldn’t sneak out, even if he tried to.”
“What about
an insider, someone passing on messages, or trying to help him?” I continued,
not ready to drop the topic. “All he had to do was call in a favor from one of
his many connections.”
Jett shook
his head slowly, his expression getting stonier by the second. “No, it isn’t
him. Can’t be. My brother’s not my only enemy, Brooke. If you looked into my
past, you’d know that. A lot of people want to harm me.”
“Especially
those led by your brother,” I said dryly, relentless.
“Used to be
led, Brooke. Used to. There’s a difference.” His brusque response stopped me,
but only to let me catch my breath.
“Jett,“ I
started again, my patience waning. “While everybody was busy looking for the
remaining members, Nate had every opportunity to use a distraction to get what
he wants, and yes, I believe that includes framing you.”
Why was it
so hard for Jett to see that the man he called his brother might be the one who
was trying to destroy him? Seconds passed as I glowered at him, unable to stop
the frustration gripping me, as Jett remained silent. The whole situation was
ridiculous. To protect his brother, he was going too far. It was as though he
was in a state of denial.
Oh, my God.
Jett was in a state of denial. It was my responsibility
as his girlfriend to break down the walls that kept him trapped in blindness.
“Is it just
me, or are you trying to protect your brother?” I said casually. “Because it
sure feels like it.”
“My
broth—” He grimaced, his handsome face distorting at once, as if he
couldn’t even say the word. He exhaled sharply, hands balled into fists as he
turned his face back to me, cursing. “Fuck, you think I’m protecting this fuck?
I would never do that. I just think…” He ran a hand through his hair, leaving his
sentence unfinished.
“Think
what?”
He stayed
silent. I clasped my hands, waiting patiently for him to explain his
perspective so I could understand him. He wet his lips, leaving moisture on
them. His posture was rigid, his jaw clenched as he turned his whole body to
me, his eyes finally looking up. “I don’t think my brother would be stupid
enough to do this so soon after his arrest. Not when his trial is still
pending, and he knows he’d get life. It’d be too easy and obvious to link him
to this.”
I stared at
him, unsure if I should laugh or be mad at his absurd explanation.
Nate was
already facing life behind bars. I doubted he cared much about that little
detail.
When I
noticed Jett was serious, I shook my head.
“Jett,” I
started slowly, fighting with myself not to lose my temper. “Maybe he doesn’t
care about a few more years in prison or being caught. Maybe easy and obvious is the answer. I know you don’t want to
hear this, and I know you guys grew up together and everything, but please... please don’t tell me you don’t think
Nate
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