Claimed by my Brother’s Best Friends (Alyssa) novel Chapter 57

King

Alyssa laughs loudly at her brother's words, and I have to fight the twitch at the corners of my lips. "Is this seriously your version of an apology, Gray? I told you I didn't want to see you until you said sorry for the things you said, but instead, you made them bring me here so you can still force me to stay?"

I lean against the walls, arms crossed, watching my kitten with her claws out. Hell, I'm impressed. My cock is already straining against my zipper, and I have to fight the urge to adjust myself. If Gray notices I have a raging boner for his little sister, he'll lose his shit. I could take him, but like I told Alyssa, the girls don't need to see that kind of violence today.

When he called both Niko and me this morning, demanding we bring Alyssa and Zuri by, I knew he was up to something. He thinks he's going to be able to convince her to stay. But one look in her eyes tells me all I need to know—she doesn't want to be here, and if she could, she'd walk out right now and never look back. He'd be blind or in denial if he couldn't see that too.

Gray's lips twist into a sneer. "What exactly are you getting out of this? Hiding out with them? Have you convinced yourself that they actually give a damn about you because I can assure you, they're just following orders."

Yeah, he doesn't know shit.

And I wish he wouldn't try to convince her that we don't care about her.

His eyes snap to Niko, then to me. I can see the accusation there, the tension building, the moment shit might hit the fan.

He turns his glare on me, but I remain cool, calm, and collected as he stares me down. "Are you fucking her?" he growls.

I could admit it. I won't lie and say watching his face turn purple with rage wouldn't be the highlight of my day. But my eyes flicker to Alyssa and Zuri. Not yet.

So, deflecting, it is.

"Of course not," she spits back, disgust edged into every syllable. "I can't believe you'd even ask me that. You know I've always hated them, and King's the biggest A-hole alive. I wouldn't touch any of them with a ten-foot pole."

I can't help but smirk. She's a good liar—too good, but I've learned her body language in a short amount of time. Even if she hates my guts, her body craves me. I'm the asshole she loves to hate.

"Then why would you prefer to stay with King than come home if you hate him so much?" Gray asks.

Alyssa's eyes flash with anger. "Maybe because they leave me alone. They let me make my own decisions without breathing down my goddamn neck. After three years of being on lockdown, I'd like to live my life without you hovering over me like I'm some fragile doll that needs to be kept in a glass case."

He shakes his head, exasperated. "I know you've been through a lot, Alyssa, but you need to think clearly. You're vulnerable, and you need to be around family, the only family you have left. You think mom would be okay with you making a decision like this?"