Tommy howls in pain, but Stone isn’t finished with him yet.

He begins dragging him by his hair toward the front door. “We’re fucking done. I’m tired of defending you. Tired of lending you money all the time. Tired of you destroying everything good in my life.” His voice cracks. “Tired of being your brother.”

Tommy tries to argue, but Stone pushes him out the door and deadbolts it.

“You can’t kick me out.” Tommy pounds on the door. “I’m your family.”

Pain illuminates Stone’s face and he closes his eyes, his body going slack against the frame. “Not anymore.” He looks at his mom who’s crying. “If you let him back in, I’m moving out.”

She nods before disappearing in a fit of sobs.

Chest heaving, his gaze slides to me. “You okay?”

“Are you?”

I can’t imagine how hard that must have been for him.

“Honestly?” He shakes his head. “Not really.”

I wrap my arms around him, hugging him tight. “I didn’t know he was on drugs.”

“I didn’t either,” he whispers. “Not until recently.”

“I’m so sorry.”

It’s all I‘ve got because I don’t know the right words to say or how to make any of this better for him.

“You have nothing to be sorry for.” He cups my cheek. “Did he hurt you?”

“No.” Not physically anyway. “I’m okay.”

Thanks to him.

“Thank you for stopping him when you did.”

For choosing me.

Wincing, he shakes out his hand. “Fucker has a hard-ass head.” He juts his chin toward the kitchen. “I’m gonna grab some ice.”

While he does that, I take out my phone and start a group message with Jace and Cole.

I need them to know Stone is nothing like his brother.

Bianca: Stone just beat the shit out of Tommy.

Cole: That’s surprising. Stone hits like a girl.

Jace: And you’re telling us this because...

Irritation lodges in my throat as I type out my next text.

Bianca: Because he did it for me. Tommy cornered me in the bathroom and tried to attack me, but Stone protected me. He beat his ass and kicked him out of the house.

And his life.

A second later my phone vibrates and Jace’s name illuminates my screen.

I swiftly pick it up.

“Hey—”

“Put Stone on the phone,” Jace grinds out. “Now.”

The lethal tone of his voice makes it clear there’s no room for argument.

On shaky legs, I walk over to Stone and hand him my cell. “Jace wants to talk to you.”

Stone pinches the bridge of his nose. “Of course he does.” He brings the phone to his ear. “Look, man. I already got into one fight today and I’m not looking for another—” His forehead creases. “Yeah, I did. What—” His jaw tics. “Because I love her.”

There’s a long pause…and then. “Okay.”

I’m on the edge of my seat when he hangs up.

“What did he say?”

“He asked me if what you said was true…and then he asked me why I beat my brother up and kicked him out.” Placing a bag of frozen peas on his wrist, he shrugs. “And then he said thank you and told me he wouldn’t kick my ass the next time I drop you off.”

Evidently, I got two miracles this Christmas.

Chapter 33

I snap my compact closed and stick it in my purse as my Uber comes to a stop in front of Cluck You.

“Thanks,” I tell the driver as I step out of the car, my red heels clacking across the pavement.

Stone should be getting out of work any minute now—but since I’m still banned for life—I’m forced to wait outside for him.

The sound of someone whistling snags my attention.

I’m about to tell the asshole off, but when I turn around, I see Cole sitting in the driver’s seat of Sawyer’s van. Presumably waiting for her to get off work, too.

“You look fancy,” he calls out.

Given I’m wearing one of old Bianca’s expensive silk minidresses and it took me nearly two hours to get ready tonight I would hope so.

I walk over to the van. “It’s my and Stone’s three-month anniversary.” I can’t help but smile. “We’re going out to dinner after his shift to celebrate.”

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about actually going out somewhere for once.

I’m also excited to tell him I was accepted into the psychology program at Duke’s Heart. My former self and I might differ, but psychology seems to be something we both love.

Whatever smart-ass retort Cole wanted to make falls by the wayside, and I’m appreciative.

Stone and my brothers aren’t exactly friends and I doubt they’ll ever be close, but at least he’s allowed inside the house now and they’ve stopped threatening to kill him whenever they cross paths.

“Well, we might as well wait for them together.” Cole gestures to the passenger seat. “Come on in.”

A smell that can only be described as heavenly hits my nostrils as I climb into the passenger seat. “God, that smells so good.”

“Dude, I know,” Cole agrees with a pout. “It seriously fucking sucks that I’m forbidden to have any.” His pout deepens. “Mr. Gonzales won’t even let Sawyer give me a doggie bag.”

I know the feeling. Stone isn’t allowed to bring home any leftovers either which sucks because I’m dying to know if it tastes even half as good as it smells.

“Tell me about it.” I give him a pointed look. “And I mean that in the literal sense because I can’t remember ever eating here.”

Humming, he rests his head against the seat. “Oh, man. Best fried chicken I’ve ever had. Moist and crispy…perfect crunch when you bite into it.”

My stomach grumbles. Damn.

“Fucking amazeballs.” Giving his head a small shake, he laughs. “Jace, Oakley, and I used to come here after we’d smoke—”

“Oakley?” I question because I don’t recall hearing the name before. “Is that a friend of yours?”

The smile wipes clean off his face. “Yeah.” A mixture of sadness and sorrow flicker in his green eyes. “Yeah…he was.”

I’m about to ask what happened, but Cole shoots his gaze out the windshield and beams. “There’s my girl.”

A bubbly, albeit visibly exhausted Sawyer walks over to Cole’s side of the van and gives him a kiss. “Your very tired girl.” She yawns. “Working back-to-back doubles kicked my butt.” She looks at me. “Stone will be out any minute. One of the dishwashers broke and he’s fixing it.”

I inwardly shiver as I imagine him crouched over, sleeves pushed up his forearms, with a tool in his hand.

There’s something so hot about a man who knows how to repair stuff.

“How was your day?” Sawyer asks my brother.

Cole starts to tell her, but Sawyer yawns again.

Eyes wide with remorse, she slams a hand over her mouth. “Lord, that was rude of me. I’m sorry.”