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"You mind?" I motion to the clothes on my bed

He turns, so his back is to me

Whatever I don't give a shit what he sees I slip into clean clothes Easy clothes Jeans and a t-shirt Not his stuck-up suit and his designer tie

He waits until I stop , then he says, "Did you read it?"

"Not yet"

He turns and looks me in the eyes "What's it say?"

"I didn't read it yet How the fuck should I know?"

"Who did you ask?"

"What's the difference?"

He stands and turns the folder over "You could have asked"

"I tried"

"Did you? Did you ever sitsecrets I want to knohat happened I want to knohy you're hiding things"

"I'ument"

"Are you clai Preston's condition a secret?"

"He asked"

Si

"Who asked you to hide things from me?"

"I' to protect you"

"That's bullshit You're not wiser You're not special You're notburdens"

"I'm your older brother"

"Fuck you You think I can't carry ed it off when Bash died? When Adarief And that was fine He almost died He was closer to Bash than anyone He needed the space He never claimed superiority for it But you—you act like you're the only person who cares about this family"

"Liam"

"Whatever it is, I don't care Fuck you for shieldingtime"

"You're right"

"What?"

"You're right I'm sorry"

As? There's no wayand apologizing

What

The

Actual

Fuck

"I won't shield you anymore If you want to know, it's here" He taps the folder No longer sealed Now, seen by his eyes "It's your decision, not mine"

"What's in there?"

"Secrets I've kept to shield you"

"And Adam?"

"He did his own research"

Like brother, like brother "He knows everything?"

"No There are things his PI didn't find Things I had to dig to find" His eyes flit to the paper "Things not in this report"

"Are you going to tell me?"