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I could sense Steel looking for help I couldn’t do this for him He had to end it Send her away "Re that he understood I wanted him to hold her when she broke

"I can’t," he responded, shaking his head I wasn’t sure what he meant What was it that he couldn’t do? Steel couldn’t stay with her He knew that

"Dixie, you’re our sister" The words fell froister in my head exactly what he asp and as if in slow motion, I watched as confusion filled her eyes when Dixie turned and looked back at me I had to fix this He couldn’t do it this way Not to Dixie She’d never recover He was going to ruin her too She’d be as empty as I’d becoelse Why had I trusted hiiven him the power to hurt my Dixie "Don’t do this," I told him, as I moved quickly toward Steel "had an affair with our dad," he finished The words were the last thing that came out of hishiainst his truck If it had been anyone other than my brother, I would’ve continued to pummel him senseless, until he blacked out, or until he couldn’t speak any up atfrom the impact noticeable

"She didn’t deserve this No one deserves this," I replied, shaking my head

"Asher?" Dixie’s soft voice ca tell her She kno Finish it," Steel said, re face

A hand touched my arm softly and I winced I didn’t want Dixie to touch rabbed entle touch was soht now I said, "Dixie, you don’t want to hear this," unable to turn around and face her

"Yes, I do," she replied

"Don’t, Dix Just leave Run like hell and don’t coain Go hoht Remind yourself you’re loved and you deserve a fairytale Not what you’ll get down here We can’t give youanything Not a fucking thing," I spoke, then backed away, not wanting to look in her eyes

"Is he telling the truth? Did youra into a whisper

"Our sister Dixie You’re our sister" Steel spoke and again I charged hishe needs to hear, Asher It’s her life too," Bray said His voice was strained as I pulled against his hold, wanting to shut Steel up "Can’t believe you kept this goddamn shit to yourself," Bray said, pain etched in his words

"Go hoed her, before Steel could say anything more

She shook her head and backed away unsteadily Her face had paled and I realized that driving probably wasn’t safe

"Wait, don’t drive Not like this I’ll drive you and I’ll walk back" I then yankedDixie anything more would only hurt her further The people who’d conceived her both then abandoned her This was all much worse for her than it could ever be for us Didn’t Steel understand that? She was losing so ive her, the one I’d planned on, where she never doubted how special or loved she was I just shook ive her any answers