Chapter 141 Pinky Promise

Chapter 141 Pinky Promise
Lana’s Point of View

“Liam!” Leon practically jumped off the bed, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Clearly, you weren’t expecting me, were you?” Liam asked, his tone edged with amusement. He shut the door behind him a little harder than necessary, and the vibration rattled the bed frame.

My eyes widened.

That was when I noticed the injuries covering his face.

A swollen cheek. A cut above his eyebrow, and bruises around his lips.

Wait.

What the fuck happened to him?

“I’m not trying to convince her,” Leon said, taking a small step back. “I’m just saying that if they were truly the villains in this story, they wouldn’t have any reason to help us—or worry about her.”

“So, because they helped us once, that makes them saints?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Enough!” My voice cut through their argument.

Their bickering was already grinding against my skull, and right now, all I wanted was a little peace and quiet.

“Can we forget about the Blackwood brothers for a minute?” That was my burden to carry. I would deal with it myself. I didn't need to drag my brothers any further into it. And now, let’s move on to a much more interesting topic.

My eyes shifted toward Liam, who was still glaring at his brother.

“What the hell happened to your face?” I demanded. “You look like you got run over by a truck.”

“It’s better now,” Leon said with a small smile. “You should’ve seen him—”

Liam lunged toward him and slapped a palm over his mouth.

“It’s nothing,” Liam said quickly, and I stared at him.

Then I motioned for him to come closer.

“And the rent?” I asked. “How did you get the money?”

My gaze shifted between them.

“Leon also told me you paid the hospital bills.”

“No.” Liam's jaw tightened. “Those asshole brothers took care of the hospital bill.”

I gritted my teeth.

Of course.

I didn't want anything to do with those brothers, and somehow, they kept finding their way into my life. “How much did they pay?” Leon stepped forward, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.

He handed it to me.

I unfolded it and immediately recognized it as the hospital bill.

My eyes widened at the amount.

It was a lot.

But I should be able to pay them back as soon as I got my salary.

I let out a small, frustrated sigh.

There seemed to be a million things depending on my salary now. My fingers threaded through my hair as I tried to make sense of everything.

It didn't matter that Xavier was here now.

I wasn't going to run away.

I wasn't going to cower.

I wasn't the one who should be hiding.

My eyes shifted back to Liam.

“And you?” I continued, my voice firm. “I’m still waiting for an explanation. You might be adults now, but you’re still my little brothers. So, start talking.”

“I’m not obligated to tell you anything.”

He gritted the words out, and I hated how difficult talking to Liam had become.

He was so damn hard-headed.

But sometimes, I couldn't blame him.

After spending most of his life surviving in harsh conditions, Liam had developed thick armor around himself. He didn't trust easily. He didn't talk easily.

And every now and then we got into fights, that made me wished they hadn't grown up.

It had been so much easier when they were kids, back then, I could protect them. I could keep them close. I could make sure they were safe. Now, I couldn't even be certain they weren't getting themselves involved in something dangerous.

What if they got involved in something they couldn't escape?

“Liam went to an underground fighting ring,” Leon said, and my head snapped toward him. “What?”

“They paired him against this huge guy. That's what happened to his face.” Liam shot him a murderous glare, and I broke down crying. “You joined a gang?”

I dragged a hand through my hair, tears spilling down my cheeks.

“How could you do something like that?” My voice cracked. “What if you killed someone?”

Leon snickered under his breath. “The only person who almost got killed was him.” I heard him, but I ignored it. “Or worse…” My voice trembled. “What if you died?”

“Are you seriously crying?” Liam's angry scowl disappeared almost instantly. He rushed toward the bed, his expression changing completely when he saw my tears.

“I was desperate,” he said. “I wanted to help you, but you wouldn't let me.”

Another sob escaped me; I covered my face with my hands. I was certain my mother and Alan would be disappointed in me.

I hadn't just failed to protect my brothers, I'd pushed them toward the streets; and somehow, that felt like the greatest failure of all.

“Look at you now, Lana.” Liam's fingers slipped gently through my hair.

“You passed out. Leon and I could see you breaking down from a mile away, and still, you refused to let us help.”

“But fighting?” I protested, my gaze falling to his bruised and battered face. “Look at your face.”

The rest of my argument died in my throat.

It had come to the point where my little brother had to fight just to survive.

This was all my fault.

If only I'd been a better sister to them, if only I'd worked harder. The hours I spent sleeping—I could have used them to take another job. I could have done more. I should have done more.

Maybe if I'd never been born, none of this would have happened in the first place.

“You both know what happened to me,” I whispered, sniffing as tears continued to fall. “You know how badly I disgraced this family.”

The words felt heavy on my tongue, but I forced them out anyway.

“You can't involve yourselves in something so shameful too. Otherwise, we'll be nothing but a family of losers.”

Warm hands cupped the sides of my face, Liam was sitting beside me on the bed now, while Leon stood nearby, letting out a quiet sigh.

“Don't say that.” His voice was gentle, but firm. “You have never disgraced this family, Lana. Never.”

I shook my head, but he didn't let me look away.

“I know you don't hear it often, but we're proud of you. We're fucking proud of you.” Something about the certainty in his voice soothed something inside me, his thumbs brushed away the tears streaming down my cheeks. “And to make you feel better, I'm never going back to that ring.”

He took my hands in his and pressed a gentle kiss against the back of my fingers.

“It was one fight. That's all. We made enough money to help with Dad's medication, too. We can take care of some of the expenses so you don't have to keep burning yourself out.”

I sniffed, staring at him through watery eyes.

“You'll never fight again?”

“I won't.”

“You promise?”

“Yes. I promise.”

He held out his pinky; I stared at it for a moment before slowly hooking mine around his.

“But you have to let us help you,” he added. “We'll both get part-time jobs. We'll figure this out together.” I was about to refuse him, but then his pinky tightened around mine. “Three hands on deck are better than one.”