Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 69

(Hendrix's POV)

I've tried to be patient and understanding but Thomas made it impossible. During that stupid pool exercise, I told myself to stay calm. I watched as he hovered around Angel like she was his personal oxygen supply and I kept my cool. But now, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was losing her, that every second Thomas spent with her was another second she slipped further away from me. Today, it ends.

I found him alone by the side of the basketball court as he leaned against the fence and stared at the sky like he didn't have a care in the world. He didn't even flinch when I approached him and acted like he knew I was there all along. It pissed me off even more.

"Thomas," I called out firmly.

He glanced over and barely acknowledged me. "Hendrix. What's up?"

"I'm going to make this clear," I said and stepped closer. "Stay away from Angel."

A flicker of amusement crossed his eyes. "You know you've been saying that for a while now. I'm starting to think you don't mean it."

I clenched my fists and resisted the urge to swing. "I mean it."

Thomas sighed and scratched the back of his head. "You don't get it, do you? Angel's not your property. She's her own person and she can choose who she wants to spend her time with."

"Is that so?" I took another step forward and closed the gap between us. "And you think she wants to spend it with you?"

His jaw twitched but he kept that damn nonchalant look. "Maybe. Maybe not. But that's for her to decide, not you." "Back off," I warned, "Or I'll make you."

Thomas's eyes darkened as he leaned in closer. "You know what's funny, Hendrix? You talk a big game about protecting her but all you're doing is trapping her. Maybe she deserves better than a sick freak who can't keep his hands off his own sister."

That was it.

I shoved him hard and he stumbled back and caught himself against the fence. "What the fuck did you just say?"

Thomas straightened and brushed off his shirt. "You heard me. Maybe you should ask Angel what she really thinks about me. About us. How many times we've done more than kiss."

My vision went red. Before I knew it, I threw a punch at his jaw and he staggered back with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. But he didn't back down. Instead, he smirked and spat out the blood onto the ground. "Is that all you got?"

I felt every punch and every hit. But I didn't care. I couldn't care. All I could see was his smug face taunting me and reminding me that maybe he was right. Maybe Angel did deserve better than this, better

until our bodies gave out, both of us collapsing to the ground bruised, bleeding, and exhausted. But I wasn't done. I'd never be

•

(Angel's POV)

I turned to Cylan who stood beside me in the lounge. "Do you

nodded and pulled out her earbuds. "Yeah,

watching or if I'd get in trouble for running. I just knew I had to get

reached the basketball court, I saw them. Thomas and Hendrix lay on the ground bloodied and beaten, with a

to the other but neither of them answered me. They both breathed heavily and glared at each other with anger and something else something I didn't want to name. I turned to Hendrix

stared at me with those stormy eyes, the ones that always made me feel like I was

looked away and winced as

face set in pure annoyance. "Alright,

whispers and murmurs trailing behind them as they left. I stayed behind, still kneeling between Thomas and Hendrix and trying to figure out what had just happened. The staff member gave me a pointed look. "You too, miss. Back to your

"Can't we just-”

nowhere. I gave one last glance at Thomas and Hendrix

though I wasn't sure who I was saying it to. Maybe both of them. Maybe just

fully well the

•

<<

(Hendrix's POV)

knife. He stood at the entrance of the study hall and his gaze stayed fixed on

quick glance as the tension from yesterday's fight still hung between us. She turned away first and

an important task and I expect you both to give it your all. You'll need to review the archives, interview staff, and create

it either, but we nodded in unison and didn't dare protest.

his eyes narrowed. "You'll be working from the old library. The

library for hours. I clenched my jaw and forced a smile.

I made our way to the library without a word. It wasn't until we were deep in the dimly lit stacks

a deep breath and glanced over at her while she leafed through a stack of papers and pretended I wasn't there. "Did

her eyes snapped

I said and crossed my arms. "Did