LOGINSebastian's POV I've been watching my stepbrother since the wedding. He doesn't know. He thinks I'm cold. Distant. A rich asshole who doesn't care. He's right about the cold part. My father made sure of that. But when I see his manager grab him by the collar, when he accidentally sends me a shirtless photo meant for the girl who's been laughing at him behind his back — something in me cracks. I protect him because I have to. I want him because I'm weak. And when my father starts circling Jae like prey, when I find out someone wants him dead and others just want him broken, I have to choose. My family. Or the first person who ever made me understand what love means. Touching him would be a sin. Letting him die would be worse. Jae's POV In my world, you either survive alone or you don't survive at all. My manager beats me. My girlfriend laughs at me online. My stepfather wants me on a stripper pole. Then my stepbrother — cold, gorgeous, untouchable Sebastian — tells me he wants to protect me. He says he'll make me forget everything she did. But his father is obsessed with me. Someone is trying to kill me. And three years ago, my own father died in a bar that belongs to their family. Falling for Sebastian would be dangerous. Letting him go would be suicide. But how do I trust a man who was ice yesterday and fire today? How do I know the hand pulling me out of the dark isn't the same one that buried my father?
View MoreThe courthouse downtown was a plain stone building with tall windows that let the brightmorning sun pour across the marble floor. It didn't look like a church, and it didn't look like acountry club.It was just a quiet, clean office with a small desk and a county clerk who wore a simple greydress.Marcus Vance stood by the door, wearing his usual dark blue corporate suit. He wasn't holding his legal briefcase today.He had a small camera in his hand, a real smile finally cracking his old face as he looked at us.Lucky sat right by my boots, his blue leash resting loose on the tile. He had a small black bowtie attached to his collar, his tail moving like a propeller every time Sebastian looked down at him."Alright, boys," the county clerk said, opening a large leather ledger on the desk. "Sign righthere on the line.Once you both sign, the state officially registers the marriage."Sebastian took the plastic pen first. His hand was steady now, the small white lines on hisjawline c
"You don't have to go inside alone, Jae," Sebastian said, his hands gripping the steering wheel of the truck tight.We were parked right outside the heavy iron gates of the maximum-security prison.The grey walls looked massive against the foggy morning sky, and the rolls of razor wire on top looked completely cold. "I have to, Seb," I said, turning my head to look at him. His dark eyes were wide and full of that familiar, heavy protective worry."The lawyer said only one person is allowed in the booth. If you try to force your way past theguards with that broken jaw history, they’ll just cancel the visit.""I don't like it," he muttered, his jaw tightening hard. He reached out and grabbed my hand, hisbig fingers locking tightly between mine. His skin felt burning hot."She’s still trying to get inside your head. Even from a concrete cell, she’s still playing games.""She can't play games anymore," I said, touching the simple silver band on my finger with mythumb."We have the file
"Jae, can you come into the kitchen for a second?" Sebastian called out. His voice sounded deep and heavy from the other room.I set my textbook down on the coffee table and stood up from the couch. Lucky didn't even lifthis head from his blue rug by the radiator.He just blinked his amber eyes and went right back to sleep. I walked into the kitchen, the wood floorboards cool against my bare feet.Sebastian was standing right by the stove. He had a metal frying pan out on the counter, but the burner wasn't even turned on. He was wearing his favorite grey t-shirt, his big shoulders hunched over as he stared down at the white marble."What's wrong, Seb?" I asked, leaning my shoulder against the doorframe. "Did you burn the eggs again?""No," he muttered, keeping his back turned to me."Did the lawyer call?" I asked, taking a step into the room. "Is it about the court files?" "No, Jae. It's not about the court," he said. He finally turned around to look at me, and his facewas completel
"You need to eat something real, Seb," I said, putting a cup of blended vegetable soup on thetable."You can't just drink protein powder and milk for another week. Your body needs real food toheal."Sebastian sat on the edge of the old bed, his big shoulders hunched over. His jaw was stillwrapped tight in thick white bandages that went under his chin and over his ears.His mouth was locked completely shut by those silver wires twisted tightly around his teeth.He looked down at the plastic straw in the cup and let out a rough, annoyed sigh through hisnose. He hated the liquid food, and he hated sitting still."I know it tastes bad," I said, sitting down right next to him on the mattress. Our shoulderstouched, and I could feel the heat radiating off his skin."But the doctor was very serious, Seb. He said if you try to chew anything solid right now, thebone won't heal right. You'll ruin the surgery." Sebastian grabbed his phone from the nightstand. His large thumb moved fast acro
I couldn't sleep all night.I lay on that mattress with the ceiling staring back at me, replaying every word Sebastian said.I must have checked my phone a hundred times. No texts from him. No damn explanation.By the time the sun came up, I had made two decisions.One: I was going to school. First
"I will take you home. You're badly injured."I pushed myself up from the pavement I'd been sitting on. Everywhere in my body hurt… my ribs, my elbow, my fucking soul… and I hated that Sebastian seemed to have noticed all of it."What were you doing out here?" I asked. "Following me?""I was leavin
Sebastian didn't reply.I checked my phone about 10 more times before falling asleep but there was nothing. Just that fucking read receipt glaring at me.I slept off.By morning, I'd decided it didn't matter.So what if my stepbrother saw my bare chest? It wasn't like I had anything impressive up t
"You think I'm stupid?"The words came first, and then his hand landed harshly on my cheek and my back hit the freezer door before my brain caught up… Manager Cole's fingers tight in my collar."I didn't touch the register." My voice came out steady and firm. "I promise you, I wouldn't take your mo












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