Broken kingdom

Morgan goes rigid. 

Confusion spreads across Oakley’s face. 

My smirk widens as I back into the bathroom and slam the door. 

Mission accomplished. 

Needless to say, things are the epitome of awkward after that. 

Well, for Oakley and Morgan. 

I’m happier than a pig in shit because I’m positive Oakley’s going to dump her ass before the night is over. 

Happy Birthday indeed. 

All smiles, I trot over to the grill and take a big bite of my veggie burger. 

I wasn’t always a vegetarian, but ten years ago Liam decided he wanted to become vegan because his bleeding heart grew tired of people killing and eating animals. 

The vegan stage didn’t last long though—the boy loved milk and cheese too much—but he pledged to stop eating meat altogether. 

Jace and Cole would rather cut off their left arms than give up steaks and burgers, but I had no problem joining him in solidarity. 

Because he was my big brother. 

My favorite person in the world. 

Given he’s dead, I suppose I could eat whatever I want, but breaking my promise to him feels wrong. 

Absentmindedly, I reach for my St. Christopher pendant and the feather I wear on a necklace, but a familiar voice zaps me out of my thoughts. 

“Happy birthday, beautiful!” Hayley cheerfully yells as she and some guy walk through the gate into my back yard. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Oakley tense up. Good. 

Hayley is Oakley’s ex-girlfriend. Only unlike Morgan who was a mega cunt to me back in the day, Hayley’s actually a sweetheart. 

Something tells me Oakley will always look at her as the proverbial one who got away. 

Which makes her an even bigger threat than Morgan, and I need to keep her far away.

It’s just one of the reasons why I’ve taken her under my wing and have her believing we’re besties. 

Besties who hook up every now and then. 

Because the more she wants me…the less she wants Oakley. 

And the more I corrupt her…the more dirt I’ll have on her. 

Dirt that will hurt him. 

I smack a quick kiss on Hayley’s cheek. “Hey.” 

My eyes flick over to the guy standing next to her. He’s average height. Medium build. Dark eyes and hair. Not bad looking by any means, but far from my type. 

However, he’ll do. 

“Who’s your friend?” 

She gives me a knowing smile. “Zack.”

“Hey,” he says. “Hayley’s told me a lot about you.” 

Has she now?

Zack holds out his hand, but I dismiss it. “Good things I hope.” 

He licks his lips, appraising me from head to toe. “Very good things.”

Yeah, the three of us are definitely going to have some fun tonight. 

I’m about to take Zack’s hand, but Jace beats me to it. 

He shakes it so hard he practically rips Zack’s limb off. “I’m her older brother.” 

As if on cue, Cole slaps Zack’s back. Hard. 

“So am I.” 

A

Wincing, Zack nods. “Hi. I’m…” His voice trails off. 

“My new boyfriend,” Hayley cuts in, coming to his rescue. 

Jace and Cole exchange a glance. 

“Then I suggest you keep those eyeballs on your girl instead of my baby sister, pal,” Jace growls before turning back to the grill. 

“Unless you want to lose said eyeballs,” Cole threatens before taking a ferocious bite of his burger. 

Poor Zack looks like he’s about to shit himself. Pussy. 

“All right, dial the testosterone down, boys,” Sawyer jokes, sidling up to her fiancé. 

“Don’t mind them,” Dylan adds as she playfully swats Jace’s behind and kisses his shoulder blade. “They’re grumpy when they’re hungry.”

The anger in Jace’s eyes is quickly replaced by lust. Gross. 

Sawyer plates two burgers and hands them to Hayley and Zack. “Here. They’re really good.” 

Cole shoots her a death glare, but she rises on her tiptoes and kisses his nose. “Relax, Colton.” 

My brother softens like butter in the midday sun. 

If either of them are expecting a thank you from me for ru

More uneasiness ensues when Morgan and Oakley walk over and load up their plates. 

“Hey,” Hayley practically squeaks to her ex. 

Oakley beams, dimples and all. “Hey. How you been?” 

What the actual fucking fuck?

I’ve done nothing wrong to him, yet he’s treated me worse than the crud on the bottom of his shoes for the last two years. 

But Hayley—his freaking ex—says hello to him and he acts like she painted a goddamn rainbow in the sky. 

It’s not fair. 

He’s the only one I want…and the only one I can’t have. 

So help me God, I might just kill the bitch tonight. 

I throw my paper plate and my half-eaten burger on the ground. 

It’s not even my actual birthday yet and it’s already one of the worst ones I’ve ever had. 

I’m so tired of not being good enough for him. 

So tired of bleeding my heart out for someone who hates me. 

All because of a kiss. 

My mom was right. 

No drug in the world screws you up more than love does. 

 “Maybe you two should give Bianca her present,” Sawyer urges my brothers, shooting me a sympathetic look. 

I don’t want her sympathy. 

I just want my family back. 

And for the guy I want to stop treating me like I’m evil incardinate. 

Jace and Cole exchange another glance before Jace wipes his hands off with a towel. 

He looks nervous. 

So does Cole. 

Which means their present must be kick-ass and something I actually want. 

Hands on my hips, I glare at them. “What is it?” 

The suspense is killing me. 

Jace blows out a heavy breath. “Well, after some consideration Cole and I decided you—”

“Have our permission to get a tattoo,” Cole finishes with a big grin. 

“A small one,” Jace grits through his teeth. 

“And nowhere skanky,” Cole adds.

Irritation races over my skin. “Are you fucking kidding me?” 

The way their faces twist in bewilderment makes it clear they’re not. 

“I’m eighteen,” I remind them, taking several steps forward. “Which means I don’t need anyone’s permission to do what I want to my body.” 

Back when I was sixteen Jace, Cole, Dylan, and Sawyer all got matching butterfly tattoos in memory of Liam.

I begged Jace to take me to get one, but he refused. 

He said I was too young. Even though he got his first tattoo when he was sixteen. 

Christ. I am so sick of them constantly treating me like I’m a baby. 

It’s like everyone has blinders on and no one can see or hear me…even though I’m standing in a room screaming my lungs out. 

“Liam would have gotten me something amazing,” I whisper. “Something I actually wanted.” 

Probably something to do with psychology—my favorite subject. 

Because Liam knew me. 

He wanted to. 

Everyone else is too scared to get inside my fucked-up head, so they don’t bother. 

Everyone else is so preoccupied with their own scars…they don’t give a fuck about mine. 

Everyone else keeps me at a distance…because they can’t handle me.