Edward pulled his car into Jack’s driveway, shutting the lights off before rounding the drive toward the house. He rolled his windows down and crept closer, his eyes and ears peeled for any activity. Lights shone from a few select windows. He was angry at Mia for putting him in this situation, but at the same time, he admired her bravery and persistence. He shut the car off and walked closer, peering in windows when he had the chance. Walking to the front door, he didn’t see anyone inside. He held his breath, putting his hand on the door handle and pressing the large brass latch, praying for entry.

When the door opened with a quiet click, he took his next breath. He pushed the door open and peeked inside as he pushed the door open. Voices carried down from the staircase, so he followed them, walking through the foyer and into the dining area. He looked up as the voices grew louder. Why were they upstairs? He clenched his jaw and tightened his fists at the thought of Jack’s hands on her.

She only wanted to talk to him, didn’t she? He tried recalling what she wanted to do, but only remembered how upset he was at her for even thinking up such a fucked-up plan. He thought he had talked her out of it.

Think! What did she say? Something about getting him to think she was giving up. She wanted to talk to him to find out if he filed the documents. He approached the bottom of the stairs and listened intently.

Jack’s voice carried down the stairs. “How long has it been? Nine years?”

Edward couldn’t remember anything in Mia’s plan about sex. It would be just like his sick and twisted brother to use sex to seal the deal. He always pushed for more.

Flashes of his childhood flooded his mind. Times when Jack would bully him, leaving him feeling worthless and bruised. His father telling him he to be a man and stand up for himself. His only memory of feeling wanted was from his mother, and she was driven out of his life at a young age. He was ridiculed for being too rich or too well dressed as if that was supposed to make up for the abuse he took.

He shook the thoughts from his mind and grabbed the banister. He wanted to run up the stairs and drive his fist through all of the memories Jack forced on him. He wanted to end whatever was going on up in his bedroom with the woman he adored. Was this all worth it? He gripped the banister to keep himself from wrecking Mia’s plan.

What if he stopped it? Could he force Jack to tell the truth? Blackmail. He tried fabricating a story in his head. What could he use against Jack? What if it didn’t work? Would Mia hate him for botching her plan? Would she actually sleep with him? He felt like he was going mad.

“Take off your clothes. Let me see what I’ve been missing.”

Everything Edward had swirling around in his head disappeared, and he reached over the banister, grabbing a lamp from a small wall table. He ripped the cord from the wall and heaved it across the room, slamming it into the wall. He wanted to rip Jack apart. He started running up the stairs when Jack and Mia ran to the top.

“Hey! Little brother! Fancy seeing you here.” He looked at Mia, and his facial expression changed.

Mia looked at Edward like she wanted to kill him.

He didn’t care. He couldn’t imagine the unimaginable. He couldn’t let it happen. There was a better way. There had to be. “You son-of-a-bitch.”

“You should probably leave. We have some, business, to attend to.”

“I’m going to kill you!” He started up the stairs toward them, with every intention of pummeling Jack to the ground. Jack seemed to have the same thought. He met Edward halfway, grabbing onto him and catching him off guard.

Together, they rolled down the stairs, as Mia squealed and screamed for them to stop. He felt Jack’s left hook on the side of his chin before he could get a hold of him again. His jaw slammed sideways, pain shooting through his head. He stopped the second punch and rolled him until he was over Jack. He showed Jack how that felt by laying in with his own fists.

He got three more in when he felt Mia pulling at him. “Get off him, Edward! What are you doing?”

He climbed off and stood up, his fists still clenched and ready for action. Jack stood up, wavered to the right and shook it off before looking at Edward, laughing as he rubbed his chin. “That was good. You’re finally learning, little brother. I’m impressed.”

“What are you doing here?” Mia widened her eyes at him.

Okay, he thought. This is part of the plan. I’ll play along, as long as you don’t go back upstairs. “Trying to keep you from making a mistake.”

“I’ve made my decision. I tried it your way. It didn’t work. This is the only thing I have left. Jack said he’d work with me.”

“He’s lying, Mia. You don’t have to do this. Leave with me, now.”

Edward felt a hole in his stomach when she fed her arm around Jack’s and leaned into him. “I can’t. I’m sorry. Jack was right. He won, Edward. I knew this from the beginning. I don’t know who I was trying to fool. I’m sorry. The deal is off.”

Edward bore a hole through Jack with his eyes, wanting to believe this was all part of the plan but worried that it wasn’t.

“It looks like we can be that one big happy family after all, huh, Mia?” He pulled her into him and locked his lips onto hers, forcing his tongue into her mouth while pulling her hips closer. Edward felt sick.

“I know what you’re doing, Mia. Please. We can figure this out another way.” His last futile attempt failed. He knew it before he finished his plea.

“Go upstairs to my bedroom.” Jack kept her close, kissing her once more, moaning into it, before turning his attention to Edward. “I’ll be up as soon as my guest leaves.”

“Mia.” He pleaded with her not to go through with it, but she looked at the floor as she turned away and walked up the stairs.

He started after her, but Jack got in front of him, grabbing handfuls of his shirt and keeping him there. “Don’t do this, Edward. She made it perfectly clear who she chose. I’m sorry for your loss. Now get out.”

Edward watched her until she disappeared from the top of the stairs. She didn’t look back once. He tore himself away from Jack’s grip, hesitating, toying with the idea that he could easily lay him out in one rage-filled, passionate punch. When he opened the front door to leave, he fought himself with every step. It wasn’t right. She wasn’t going to be okay. She needed him to save her. He saw it in her eyes. So, why was he still walking out the door?