The thought of my brother was like ice-cold water in the face and I pulled back before our bodies fully touched.

“You shouldn’t have come,” I said.

“Thanks for missing me too.” Tex pouted.

Had I missed him? I knew he took up every thought in my head. Tex was a constant even in my dreams. I woke up wanting to touch him. Gin had called it; my obsession was dangerous.

I said nothing as I patted him down and took his phone and keys.

“Hey.”

“Don’t,” I ground out.

I tossed everything on the marble countertops. The keys slid into the sink, and I didn’t bother picking them up. I was too focused on Tex.

I took another step back as I tried to think of what to do. Asking him what he’d heard weighed heavy on my tongue, but the answer might result in me having to kill him. I pressed my lips together, refusing to ask the questions I needed to.

Tex fidgeted under my stare. “So that was your brother. I can kind of see the resemblance.” His gaze flickered over to the keys and phone before landing on me once more.

Don’t try it.

“We have different mothers.” I pinched the bridge of my nose as something close to irritation and confusion banged in my head.

Giancarlo had been seconds away from seeing Tex. If my brother had caught sight of him? I doubted I could have kept him from killing Tex. He would have known Tex had broken into my place, which meant we were compromised. There was only one course of action; kill the threat. Family first.

“I can just go. You said you wanted to be al—”

My hand shot out and wrapped around Tex’s throat once more and I tightened it.

“Or I can stay for a bit.”

My hand instinctively relaxed, and the tightness in my stomach eased. He’d stay. Tex wouldn’t end up causing a disaster, and my hand wouldn’t be forced. I met his big blue eyes and there was fear there but unlike before there was no arousal accompanying it.

I pulled my hand back and stepped away from him.

“Go sit down,'' I ordered, pointing to the living room.

Tex moved around me, each step cautious.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Tex.”

I moved over to the fridge and pulled out the pitcher of water. I poured both of us a glass and carried it into the living room just as Tex sat down. His back was ramrod straight, and his gaze kept moving toward the exit. I sighed as I sat the glasses on the coasters resting on the coffee table.

“Water.”

Text stared at it, and I sat down next to him. There was space left between us. “I told you already I prefer you to be aware.”

He nodded and reached for the glass. We sat there in silence, the tension rising with every second. My fingers tapped along the glass, and my toes wiggled in my socks. Everything felt off, and my world was upside down. Each breath felt like it was grating against my throat and I had the dangerous urge to scratch at the flesh on my neck. Maybe then the weird sensation every time I breathed would stop.