I flinch. Even Cohen misses a step at the vehemence in her tone. Jasper just grins and pulls her into a quick hug. He turns and strides from the room. All that said, that’s less interesting to me than Winry and Cohen. They circle each other widely, her going so far as to round the couch on her way to the door. She doesn’t so much as glance at him. But he watches her like he wants to pounce.

I’ve never seen my brother look at someone like that before.

It’s disconcerting in the extreme.

He barely waits for Winry to shut the door behind her before he turns on me and Monroe. “What the fuck was that about?”

Monroe lifts her brows. “Are you sure you want me here for this? Seems like a family affair.”

He gives me a look and turns to her. “I don’t give a shit what your plans are or what you’re trying to accomplish. You fuck over Shiloh, I’m going to fuck you up.”

I expect her to do what anyone else when faced with a threat like that from Cohen would do—back up, flinch, show some kind of fear. I really should know better by now.

Monroe laughs in his face. “You Paine boys. You’re so predictable. It’s honestly pathetic.”

“Monroe,” I caution. Abel’s warning is still ringing in my ears. The directive to take care of my Monroe problem before someone else does it for me. Provoking Cohen is a really fucked up way to commit suicide. No matter how fierce she is, she can’t take my brother.

“Do not say my name in that tone of voice.” The look she gives me is pure venom. “Have either of you assholes asked Shiloh what she wants? Have you considered that she’s an adult who’s more than capable of making her own decisions?” She switches her attention to Cohen. “No. You haven’t. You’re too busy threatening little old me, trying to protect someone who doesn’t need your protection.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. You haven’t seen—”

“The scars on her legs.” She says it flatly, for once not seeming to enjoy that she’s shocked me. “I’ve seen them.”

Cohen crosses his arms over his chest. “She tell you how she got them?” Like me, my brother knows the basics of what Shiloh survived as a child. We’ve taken in all kinds of people over the years, but Cohen vets each one of them to ensure they’re not adding to our already plentiful roster of enemies.

“Yes.” The word is still too flat. Too…angry.