There was movement, then more movement. I heard clothes being ruffled and a low, almost panting hoarse sound from Zeke, “You know who I’m talking about. Me or your brother.”

“Don’t.”

I held still.

The argument turned serious in the other room.

My brother continued in the same tense voice, “You put that shit on me. Fuck you. You’re choosing him over me. That’s the real fight here. You knew. You knew, Zeke! I told you this night would come. You asked me about it.”

“That was a month ago.”

“Tough shit. Who cares? This guy is bad for your entire house.”

“He’s a legacy. His dad. His grandfather. His uncles. Some cousins. I can’t kick him out.”

“Then you’re choosing. Me, I have no problem doing this alone. Look the other way, Zeke. Better yet, take off. Spend the night with some chick. She can vouch for you, say you were there all night.”

I waited.

There was no response.

A floor creaked.

The door opened silently, and in the dark, I could just make out my brother’s eyes.

Zeke was behind him, his head down, his hands on his hips.

He looked up, saw me, and cursed. His entire face twisted. “Fine. Fuck. Fuuuck, man.” He was cursing, but he was being quiet about it.

“Go. I know what room he’s in.”

Another glare at me, then Zeke grabbed his keys, wallet, phone, and he shouldered past me. He slipped out exactly how we’d come in. Blaise nodded toward the door. “We need to wait a little. You think Bren can hold off the other two while we’re in here?”

Of course, he heard me.

I wasn’t even pretending otherwise by now. I nodded. “Yeah. She’ll hold them off.” I eyed him. “You’ve done this before?”

I caught a flash of his teeth in the room. “Let’s just say I really hate this guy. And I’m hoping this permanently scars him.”

Another alarm sounded through me.

My brother was one scary guy. I was starting to wonder if I was better off as his brother, or worse off? Time would tell.

“Come on.” He started for the door, but it swung open.

“Zeke? You said—” A guy walked in.

He took two steps inside, his entire face squished up in annoyance, saw Blaise, saw me, and he visibly jerked to a halt. He went white as a ghost at the same time he turned to yell, but my brother was on him. He grabbed the guy’s shoulder, thrust the meaty side of his arm into his mouth, and moved, catching the door with his foot so it wouldn’t slam shut.

That all happened in two seconds.

It took me a second to realize this was Harper.