Chapter 3

My phone buzzed.

A message from Finn popped up with a photo.

[Don't think this little act will make Evelyn go soft on you. You'll never matter to her as much as I do.]

[And you seriously think she punished those thirteen guys for you?]

My chest tightened, panic choking me.

But I forced myself to calm down.

Evelyn had never broken a promise to me. Not once since we were kids.

Finn had always been good at driving a wedge between us, making us doubt each other until everything fell apart.

I took a breath and opened the photo.

My whole world crashed.

The thirteen men Evelyn swore she'd make pay were living better than ever.

Luxury cars. Women on their arms. Not a care in the world.

Their lives were even better than they'd been three years ago.

My phone slipped from my hand.

It hit the floor with a crack.

But I couldn't hear anything anymore.

Only one thought kept pounding through my head.

'If they were never punished, then what the hell were those three years in prison for?!'

Back then, Evelyn was convinced I'd hired those guys to hurt Finn. To protect the Andersen family name, she refused to go after them unless I apologized to him.

So I sank to the floor in front of her and slapped myself again and again until my face swelled.

"But I'm scared every time I see Asher now. What am I supposed to do?" Finn moved closer to Evelyn.

She looked down at me. "Asher, you're going to prison for three years. You can come back when Finn isn't scared of you anymore."

"Then swear you'll make those thirteen men pay."

My swollen face throbbed.

I'd traded three years of my life for Evelyn's promise.

And now?

I spun around, grabbed her by the collar, and snapped, "Why the hell are those thirteen guys still out there living like nothing happened?"

Only then did I realize how badly my voice was shaking.

Evelyn's eyes widened. Then she shoved my hands off.

"Finn was the victim, and even he forgave them. Why can't you just let it go?"

"He was the victim?" I grabbed her collar again, my hands straining. "Then what the hell was I?!"

Evelyn frowned, already annoyed. "You hired them to hurt Finn. What happened to you was punishment for starting it. Besides, I already made them apologize to him."

Apologize?

That one word made my ears ring.

The memories of that night slammed back into me.

Dim lights. Thirteen men hurting and humiliating me for hours. The pain got so bad, I blacked out.

By the time I reached the hospital the next day, I had severe internal injuries.

I used to think that night was the worst thing I'd ever survive.

Compared to this?

It was nothing.

I stared at Evelyn—the sister I'd once trusted more than anyone.

I forced the words through clenched teeth. "They did that to me, and you promised. How could you break your word? I'm your own brother—"

Finn cut me off. "Asher, my parents always said sometimes you just have to let things go. Even I forgave you. Stop making this such a big deal."

Evelyn gave him an approving look. "See? Finn lost his parents, and even he knows how to be reasonable. You could learn from him."

Finn smiled, then leaned in and dropped his voice. "They wanted me to give you a message. They haven't seen you in three years. They miss you.

"They said they didn't have enough fun with you last time. Next time, they'll make sure you're satisfied."

The last thread holding me together snapped.

I punched Finn as hard as I could.

"It was you!" I screamed, completely losing it. "Why?! No matter how much I hated you, I never tried to hurt you. Why did you—"

Slap!

A harder slap cracked across my face.

I slammed to the floor. My ears rang. My vision went black.

Evelyn stood over me, her face cold. "Those hundred slaps still didn't teach you anything?"

Her voice turned icy. "You bully Finn right in front of me, and you wonder why I think you're capable of something that sick? Your own plan backfired on you. You deserved it.

"Otherwise, even dying wouldn't have been enough to make up for what you did to Finn."

I clutched my face, my eyes burning with rage. Hatred nearly wiped out the last of my sanity.

"I hate you! If I could, I'd kill you both!"

Evelyn went quiet for a few seconds, like she'd finally made up her mind.

"Guess I spoiled you too much. You spent three cushy years in prison and still learned nothing."

She pulled out her phone and tapped the screen.

Her voice went cold. "This is the last lesson I'm teaching you. When you screw up, you pay for it."