Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 41

(Hendrix's POV)

Music blasted through the speaker and shook the walls of our dorm. It was the kind of beat meant to drown out thoughts and block out the mess in my head. But it wasn't working. I just lay there and stared up at the ceiling as my legs shook, trying to keep my mind from spiraling.

Bundah's voice cut through the music, loud and animated as always. He sat at the edge of Eddie's bed and waved his arms around, talking about his latest experience with the doctors.

"I'm telling you, man," Bundah said and his voice rose over the music. "She was hot, like stupidly hot. But the way she kept talking? Weird as hell. Kept mentioning how I had 'perfect symmetry' and 'ideal bone structure."" Eddie laughed and nearly spilled his drink. "Dude, she's probably hitting on you."

Bundah grinned, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes. "Nah, man. It wasn't that kind of weird. It was like... clinical, you know? Almost like she was sizing me up for something."

I rolled my eyes and kept staring at the ceiling, trying not to care. My mind was too full, too tangled to even engage with their nonsense. But Bundah noticed.

"What's up with you, Hendrix?" he asked and his voice cut through the fog in my head.

I didn't answer and kept staring at the ceiling, hoping they'd drop it.

But of course, they didn't.

Thomas, ever the observant one, got up from his bed and walked over to me. He sat on the edge of mine and the weight made the mattress dip slightly. "Something on your mind?" Thomas asked and his voice was softer but probing.

I shook my head. "Nothing. I'm good."

But Thomas wasn't buying it. I felt his eyes on me as he studied me and tried to piece together whatever mess I was drowning in. He had always been like that, always watching. "Is it Angel?" he finally asked.

That got me, and I turned my head to look at him. His face was unreadable and calm as always. He was too good at keeping his emotions in check, which made it hard to tell what he was really thinking. "What do you mean?" I asked carefully as I sat up. My chest tightened just hearing her name.

Thomas sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Look, man... whatever's going on between you two... just stop it. It's only gonna hurt her."

I blinked at him, caught off guard. "What the hell are you talking about?"

He leaned forward and lowered his voice. "You know what I'm talking about. Angel's your stepsister. You need to stop before things get worse, before it messes her up."

I stiffened. "What's wrong with having feelings for someone close?"

Thomas looked at me like I'd just grown a second head. "Incest, dude. It's not right. Even if you're only step-siblings, it's still messed up, and it'll hurt her in the end. You've gotta think about her." He stood up and brushed off his jeans. "I'm gonna make us some smoothies."

I called after him, my voice sharper than I intended. "Why are you so interested

in the doorway and kept his back to me for a long moment. When he finally turned around, there was

but it didn't reach his eyes. "I've had my fair share of heartbreaks, Hendrix. I know how these things end. Just... don't let

no idea what was going on between me and Angel. Hell, I

...

(Angel's POV)

time since we got here, I

heavy like I'd been carrying a weight I couldn't shake off. The dream I had

stopped him. I could've stopped myself. But now, things were going to be so... weird. Everything was going to change. How

just slept with my

gag. I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on my face, trying to wash away the memory, but it was burned into

under my breath and gripped

deep in my head that I didn't even hear Cylan until she spoke and scared the hell out of me. "You

jumped, my heart racing as I turned to see her standing in the doorway and giving me

and forced a smile. "I'm

but thankfully something else came to take my mind off

...

pounded in my chest. I didn't know what to expect but I

behind her desk and her face was unreadable as her fingers tapped rhythmically against the wood. When she looked up at me, there was a flicker of something in

wanted to speak with me?" I asked and tried to sound confident but my voice came out

expression hardened. "Yes, Angel.

my palms

and just stared at me as if she was debating whether to trust me with

and her voice was low. "It's not what it

way, I wanted to say sarcastically but I

a front for a much larger operation. An organ harvesting operation. Patients like Hendrix... they're being

her confirm what I had already found

toward the door as if she was afraid someone might be listening. "I didn't know at first," she whispered. "But over time, I started to piece it together. Dr. Joe... he's in charge of it all. The treatments, the fake illnesses, it's

mind spun. "And you're just... letting this

something I couldn't get out of. But... I want to

tell anyone else what I just told you. If Dr.

sentence but I didn't need her to. I knew what she was

I said firmly. "Hendrix deserves

it'll take time. I can arrange for certain treatments to be delayed and maybe even fake some paperwork to buy you