The Fight In Us: A Brother's Best Friend College Romance (The Four Book 4) by Becca Steele (read me a book txt) 📗

“Let’s talk.”

He sighed heavily, but his arms came around my waist, and I bit my lip to hide my smile.

“Okay,” I started. “Does the name Martin Smith mean anything to you?”

“What?” His whole body stiffened beneath me.

Jackpot.

“You know him?”

“What does he mean to you?” Weston countered.

Leaning forwards, I placed a kiss to the side of his mouth before leaning back. I’d always held myself back, but now? Now this missing piece had clicked into place, I wanted him, and I didn’t want there to be any doubt about my intentions. His lips curved up again, and I drank in the sight before I turned serious.

“Do you remember that I was looking into dog fighting?”

He nodded.

“Okay, well…just watch the video.” Pulling my phone out, I held it between us, angling the screen towards him.

We both watched in silence until the video was finished, and then his eyes met mine, his gaze troubled. “I’ve been investigating Martin Smith for my dad, although my dad only knows he’s hired Kryptos, not that I’m involved. This Smith guy works at Alstone Holdings, and while I don’t have anything on him yet, I will.” He finished speaking with a confident tone, and I didn’t doubt his words.

“It seems like we’re after the same guy. Want to work together to bring him down?”

It felt like I held my breath forever, waiting for his reply. But when it came, it was worth the wait.

“Yeah.”

“Thank you.” My words were breathed into the air between us, and he inclined his head forwards, just enough that it rested against mine.

Wanting to explain further, I began, “I’ve been investigating the dog fighting with James—”

“No,” he growled, his tone hard and possessive.

“Sorry, what?” I’d never heard him speak like that before, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

“Fuck. Is this how Cade felt?” he muttered to himself, before directing his gaze at mine. “I don’t…whatever this thing is between us, we need to allow it time to…uh, develop.” His adamant tone was gone, replaced by uncertainty, and honestly? It made me melt. “I don’t want you hanging out with other guys. Alone.” His eyes narrowed, daring me to disagree, and my stomach flipped. “I…it’s not safe.”

“Okay,” I agreed easily, and he relaxed against me.

“Okay. Good.”

We stared at each other for a moment before I dropped my head to his shoulder. “This is so awkward,” I mumbled into his neck, feeling him laugh against me.

“Yeah. Let’s just take it one day at a time, okay?” His confidence had returned, and he stroked his hand up my back, making me shiver under his touch.

“That sounds good to me.” Suddenly shy, I directed my words at his jaw, unable to meet his gaze.

“Lena.” The seriousness of his tone had my eyes snapping to his. “I don’t know what I’m doing here.”

“That makes two of us.”

His hand came up to stroke my hair back from my face, and he cupped my chin. “Yeah. But I mean, I don’t want to hurt you, okay? You need to tell me if I do anything you’re uncomfortable with.”

Oh, fuck. Stupid tears filled my eyes.

“I don’t want to be broken anymore,” I choked out. “Please, West.” I couldn’t even articulate my feelings in my own head, let alone speak them out loud.

His eyes widened, filled with so much compassion that I couldn’t bear it.

“Fuck,” he breathed. “Is that really how you see yourself?” His arms tightened around me, and he pulled me into him. I let my head rest against his shoulder as he continued speaking. “You know what I see when I look at you? I see someone who’s been through unimaginable shit, come through the other side, and given it a giant fuck-you. You’re strong, Lena. So strong. Not only that, you’re a bloody genius. The shit you do as Mercury? Honestly, it leaves me in awe.” Gripping my chin again, he gently tilted my head up so I had no choice but to meet his eyes. “And on top of all that?” His gaze went soft, so soft that I melted against him as his voice dropped to a whisper. “You’re beautiful. Inside and out. So wild and untamed, so fucking far out of my league that I’m just waiting for you to come to your senses.”

My. Jaw. Dropped.

What was I supposed to say to that?

TWENTY

Her mouth opened and closed, and I barely stifled my grin. I’d made Lena Drummond speechless. I meant what I’d said, though. And I had to tread carefully. Not only had she been through shit that had clearly had a major effect on her, but she was my best mate’s sister, and I doubted he’d be very understanding if I fucked around with her. Not that I wanted to fuck around with her. No, I needed to get things straight in my head.

I knew two things, right at that moment, holding her against me. One, I didn’t care anymore about the fact that she’d hidden her identity as Mercury from me. And two? Yeah, I could admit it now—I was really attracted to her. My dick was in total agreement with my head, and it took all of my control to stay calm, to not treat her like one of my conquests. Lena was fucking special, and I wasn’t about to mess up any potential…whatever…between us.

With that in mind, I lifted her off me, setting her down next to me on the rock. She gave me a bit of a confused look but didn’t say anything.

“Tell me everything you know about the dog fighting.”

Her face cleared, and she began to speak.

As she recounted the details that had led us to this point, I began to build up a picture in my head. I wasn’t stupid—I’d heard the rumours of dog fighting being used as entertainment, and I knew that when Christine had been alive, she’d allowed the live fights to be streamed at her parties. Not out in the open of course, but there