Incinerate

Letting him go, I back away just as the elevator stops on the ground floor. As soon as the doors open, I step out and he follows behind me. Not looking back, I exit the building. I’m just about to get into my car when I hear his voice.

“You were going to take over the business,” he says.

I turn around, not understanding what he means. “What the hell are you talking about?”

He’s fondling a pair of keys, watching me. Leaning against the hood of my car, I want to leave, but a part of me wants to hear what he has to say. Sighing, he places his hands in his pockets before he continues.

“Right before I started the internship at Dad’s firm, I was going through some paperwork on his desk. Long story short, I found out our parents weren’t married when I was born. He was in his last year of college when it happened, and Mom was a summer fling. He didn’t even know about me until I was born and already fucking named. Haven’t you ever wondered how you ended up Knox the Third and not me? Not the firstborn?”

Nodding, I have to agree that it’s something I’ve always wondered about but never wanted to ask. “Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything? It’s just a name, Branson. You’re still a Wellington.”

Shaking his head, he disagrees. “Maybe in the Army, but here? It’s not just a name and you know it. It’s a legacy. And Dad wanted his son, his true namesake, to be ru

“You did this because of a job? One I didn’t even know was being handed to me? You tried to ruin my fucking life because of my fucking name?” I seethe, incredulous that this is because of my name.

At this point, I’m not sure whether to be angry or feel pity for him. Shrugging, he pushes off the car. “I got the job and the girl, didn’t I?” he asks, apparently done with the explanation, the smug smile spreading over his face again.

Opening my car door, I’m about to slide in. I rest my arm on the top of my girl Evelyn. “Yeah, Branson, you did. And thank Christ for that, because my life’s infinitely better without either of them.”

Before he can answer, I get in my car, finished with this conversation. Pulling out of the spot, I don’t look back, and even though his reasons were shit, I’m actually relieved to finally know why he did what he did.

As I make the drive back to Clarksville, I can tell I’m on edge. I’d been apprehensive enough about seeing my dad, but ru

His words replay in my head, and even though I know he’s wrong, I can’t help but wonder if he might actually be onto something. I remember her dad saying that she doesn’t date soldiers, and I’m the complete opposite of the professor. What if this is just a novelty thing for her? Something that’ll wear off when she decides she wants someone with a stable, corporate career that won’t have him away for months at a time, not ever knowing when the next deployment will be. The thought of not having her in my life hurts more than any pain Megan inflicted, and while I know Charlie has feelings for me, I can’t help but hear Branson in the back of my mind. Yeah, I really need to punch something.

Checking to make sure I have a gym bag in my back seat, I decide to head to the gym to blow off some steam. I’m not exactly worked up, but I’m on edge, and a few rounds sparring will help calm me down.

When I walk into the gym, I’m more than ready for a fight. Looking around the room, I see Charlie—with Chris. Of all the people she could spar with, she chose him, the fucking guy who’d tried to worm his way in before I could.

They’re dancing around each other in the ring, and I watch as she lands a quick jab in his side before he’s able to get in a low kick on her shin. I can tell she’s taking it easy on him as she allows him to get in a sequence of punches I know she could have blocked. Finally, she lets him take her down, and he hovers over her, leaning down to whisper in her ear. When I see her laughing at whatever he said, I feel like I’m going to lose my mind as a rush of anger flows through me.

Crossing to their ring, I’m quick to slip through the ropes, pulling him off her. He stumbles backwards a few steps before he catches his ground, glaring at me.

“What the hell, man?”

“You’re too goddamn close to my woman. You need to back the fuck off,” I tell him, flexing my biceps like an arrogant asshole.

“Dude, we’re sparring. That’s it. Chill out,” he says, pissing me off even more. I know I’m taking out the aggression from my brother out on him, but at the moment, I don’t give a shit.

“Just sparring my ass. You were fucking straddling her, whispering shit so that you could be on top of her a little while longer. I know you want her, but you need to find your own damn woman.” I’m fuming, and it takes everything in me not to let him be the recipient of the punch I want to let fly right now.

Charlie stands up, getting between the two of us. Turning to him, she gives him an apologetic smile. “Apparently, my boyfriend decided to be an unbelievable asshole today. I’m sorry, Chris. You’re doing much better with your takedowns. We’ll work on your punch-kick techniques next time, okay?”

He nods, and she turns to me. I notice he’s not going anywhere, and I’m more than irritated that she just apologized to this asshole for me. The smile has fallen from her face, and she looks pissed as hell. She doesn’t say a word as she brushes past me, leaving the ring. I know I have a scowl on my face as I watch her walk back towards the locker room and I direct it at Chris.

“Are you a goddamn fucking idiot? That girl wants you more than anyone else in this gym, and if you’d pull your head out of your ass, you’d know that. She wasn’t even remotely interested in me when we went on a date, and she isn’t interested in me now.”

His words register, and fuck me, I know he’s right. I just did exactly what Branson wanted. I let my insecurities and past betrayals get the best of me, causing me to lose my shit when I saw another man’s hands on her. Damn, I just royally fucked up, and I know I need to fix it.

Charlie

LEAVING KNOX in all his testosterone glory, I’m pissed as hell, not to mention embarrassed as fuck, as I exit the ring and quickly make my way to the locker room. I know he came straight here from his dad’s, and I can only guess that something happened to set him off. Watching him take it out on Chris as he tried to claim me in a gym full of men whose respect I’m still trying to earn was humiliating, and for the first time, I’m begi

I’m trying to throw all my clothes in my bag so I can get the hell out of here when I hear the locker room door open. Looking up, I see Knox watching me, a sober look on his face. Throwing my bag over my shoulder, I go to exit the room, but he blocks me from leaving.

“Please get out of my way,” I ask as calmly as possible, not looking up at him, but he doesn’t move.