Vivid Lies by Alyne Robers Page B

him. He wants to pry, I can too.  
    "No party. Just me," he says slowly as we get to his bike.
    "All that alcohol for just you?"
    "Something like that." Kane puts the helmet over my head.  
    "And my sister?"
    Our eyes connect but I can't read him.  
    "You're destructive." Kane notices my eyes fall to a bite mark on his neck.  
    "You have no idea."
    Silently, we mount his bike and start the long ride back to where I left my car. I'm slammed back into reality. Back where I'm forever tied to my twin sister, running from the man and the life that created us. Back where I no longer know what it is that I want because I am always thinking about what we need.  
    When we stop, I remove my death grip from Kane and get off the bike. I step out of reach so he won't help with the helmet again.
    "Thank you for the ride," I say, handing him the helmet.
    "Anytime."
    I start to walk away but turn before getting in. Kane is watching me, motor off, eyes covered by his sunglasses.  
    "I'm not Brooklyn."  
    "I am well aware of your differences, London."
    "She's callous and reckless. Destructive and unemotional at times. She will take everything, give nothing."
    Kane pushes his glasses up to rest on his head. He examines me like he's seeing me for the first time.
    "I want nothing from her, so you should worry about yourself for once and not her. Like I said, I am aware of your differences."
    The loud rumble of his engine cuts us off and Kane pulls away.  

T WELVE

    Brooklyn
    Our feet are hanging over the back of the couch. The bright pink nail polish on our toes is drying while we watch Teen Mom.  
    London finds the show disgusting. I think it's entertainment at its best. Never having seen my own mother struggle, I like imaging what it would have been like. I think London doesn't like to see what we might have missed.  
    Muffled voices come from the hallway.  
    "Shit. Miles," London whispers, flipping right side up. "I don't want to deal with him right now."
    She sways for a moment from the head rush and hurries to the window.  
    "Are you going to jump?" I ask.  
    "No. Fire escape."
    "Seriously?"
    Then she's gone. She actually just crawled out our sixth floor window to get away from our best friend. I didn't talk to her the other night when she got back from the gig. I could sense the anxiety rolling off of her, so I didn't pry. When Miles was scarce most of the week, I figured things didn't go well.  
    I flip off the couch and head to the door to listen. Miles isn't alone. The other voice is deep and warms my entire body like only Kane can do. I bite my lip, uneasy with the both of them together.  
    "Just leave them alone," Miles says. "And stay away from London."
    London? What does she have to do with Kane? Was he concerned for me or her? Miles has always been protective, but he's entering a new alpha territory here.  
    "I'm here for Brooklyn. Back off," Kane says. Why does he need to clarify that?
    At first I was almost touched Miles cared enough to approach Kane. Is he worried about me at all?
    "I don't care why you're here. Leave her alone. She doesn't need someone like you."
    "Someone like what exactly?"
    "Someone who will just hurt her. She's not a toy."
    I've had enough.  
    "I can hear you guys," I say as I swing the door open.  
    Both men have the decency to look embarrassed. I put a hand on my hip and glare at the both of them.  
    "I can fucking take care of myself."
    Miles looks down at the floor, knowing silence is his best defense. I may not have been able to save us from our father, but I can damn well stand up for myself against men like Kane. They are the ones who are actually transparent, no matter what lies come out of their mouths.  
    There is no confusion between Kane and me. He doesn't feed me bullshit. It's the men like my father whom I really fear. The ones you think love you, only to break you the worst way imaginable. They are the ones so manipulative and disguised that you never learn the truth,