Claimed by my Brother’s Best Friends (Alyssa) novel Chapter 77

Nikolai

"You look just like your mama," Nina says, the adoration clear in her voice as she watches Zuri sitting on the counter, happily munch on the French fries she just made.

I can't even imagine the shitshow going on upstairs right now. Knowing what Gray was about to show our sweet girl, I had to get Zuri out of there. Alyssa definitely needs some time to process her emotions.

Gray claimed he had received the videos last night from a private investigator he's had tailing Isaac for weeks. He asked while we were in his office if Alyssa could mentally handle seeing them. Of course, we told him yes. Alyssa needs to know the truth—that her pathetic-ass excuse for a husband married her, cheated on her, and abused her, all because he's ashamed of who he is.

I know I've questioned my own sexuality more times than I can count, but from what I saw in those videos, there is absolutely no fucking doubt in my mind that Isaac is gay.

"She's real attached to you, isn't she?" Nina asks, pulling me back into the moment.

I smile, glancing down at Zuri still enjoying her food. "Yeah, she is."

"I wasn't talkin' about the baby. Alyssa. You'd have to be blind not to see that there's somethin' going on between you four."

Four? I blink. Oh, she means Mason.

I don't respond, though. Nina isn't stupid, and I'm not about to give her anything to work with. She knows how to keep her mouth shut, but I refuse to say anything about our relationship here.

Suddenly, my phone buzzes—a text from Gray in the group chat: "Church. Meet in 5."

When I walk back into the meeting room, Alyssa's sitting beside Gray at the large, round table. Her face is calm, but her eyes are puffy and red. She's been crying. And I know all King could do was watch. That shit must've been torture.

Mason's sitting on her left, and King is seated across from them, leaning back with his arms folded across his chest. I pass Zuri to Alyssa, and I immediately see the tension in her body lessen a bit. I take my seat next to Gray, and as the rest of the members in the group chat file in, I catch them eyeing Alyssa—some more boldly than others.

"Wow, didn't know four years was 'significant,'" Alyssa mutters under her breath.

Gray's jaw tightens and he turns to her. "When you have a room full of men, most of them older than us both, looking at you like they want to eat you alive, it is."

Alyssa blushes, but she doesn't back down. Her gaze sweeps the table, meeting every man's stare. "Well, let me clear it up. Hi, guys. I'm Alyssa, I'm married, and this is my baby." She gestures to Zuri, who's now asleep in her arms, her pacifier snug between her lips.

The room falls silent for a moment before Dave chuckles. "Shit, I don't have a problem with that. You look like you could take care of an old man like me."

Alyssa's nose scrunches in disgust. "Um, no thank you. The heart attack you're going to have on top of me isn't worth the two minutes."