“Because I get it now.” He looks back at me. “Lakeyn broke all my rules. And dragging her into our family is the worst thing I could have done to her. But it didn’t matter. She’s mine, and when something is yours, you don’t let it go. No matter the price.”
Not even if it costs a brother.
He doesn’t say that, but we both know it would. Even if Rhett suspects something is happening between me and Echo, he likely doesn’t care right now because he’s distracted himself. And he thinks I’ll get tired of her soon.
If she were anyone else, I would.
“If she means something real to you, then you need to make a decision.” He opens the door to the room and pauses. “You’re good at resisting, Crew. Denying your part in this family. But have you ever stopped to think that’s also what got you in this situation? Freedom is still an option. But it might require playing a few hands to get it.”
He turns and walks away, leaving me with a pit in my stomach. Adam is suggesting I fight for something I shouldn’t, and I’m tempted to do it.
My phone buzzes, and I look down to see Paul’s name lighting up the screen. Opening the text, I can’t help but smirk at the karma.
Paul: Oakland ring is ready for your eyes boss, when do you want to head out?
Crew: Tonight
Paul: Damn, that’s fast. I’ll get my shit.
Crew: It’s fine, you stay here and take care of the weekend madness. I’ll make this trip alone
Paul: Sure thing, boss, see you when you get back
Just what I need, a few days away. A little space. And some uninterrupted time with my devious golden-eyed girl to fuck some sense into her once and for all.
23
Echo
“Heads or tails.” Crewis leaning against his car outside the shop with a quarter in his hand, smirking at me.
“What are we playing for?” I cross my arms over my chest and narrow my gaze.
“Pick one and find out.”
“Tell me, and I’ll pick one.”
He lifts off the car, stepping right in front of me. Static electricity running like a current through the air. My breath catches in my throat as he closes in. Leaning so close his lips almost graze mine.
“Crew…” I step back, glancing around, worried about who could be watching.
There are always eyes looking for a scandal. Someone hoping to catch the preacher’s daughter in her fall from grace. It’s something I wouldn’t care about if it only affected me. But Rhett… my father.
I take a step back, and Crew just smirks.
“Scared?”
“We could get caught.” I pop my gum between my teeth and look around again, knowing that’s probably why Crew is doing this, so I’m not sure why I’m trying to use it as a threat.
He shrugs one shoulder. “Heads or tails. Choose and I’ll stop.”
I narrow my gaze and pause with my gum clenched between my teeth.
“Okay—” He steps toward me again.
“Tails.” I step back, my gaze darting around again.
Crew pauses a foot away from me, and flips the coin into the air, grabbing it and flipping it on the back of his hand. “Heads.”
