Chapter 71 A Territory Marked by Jealousy
POV Noah:
I’m not okay. In fact, ever since I heard Scarlett’s words, I’ve been having all kinds of conflicting thoughts. She wants to see her ex, who was her best friend, which will inevitably make her see all of them, since they are brothers. Scarlett lying to us about her memories was a blow I didn’t expect. I understand her, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. Ever since Scarlett entered our lives, we did everything to make her feel good with us—we respected her time, accepted her choices, took care of her while she was in a coma, did everything within our power to make her happy, whether she was with us or not. So why am I feeling betrayed? Betrayed because she lied, and mainly because she wants to see her ex. I’m dying of jealousy just imagining this shit.
Still, seeing her so fragile, blaming herself over something she did to one of them, made me want to take her guilt away and put it on myself. Scarlett has been through too much; I can’t just watch and do nothing. If she wants to see him, I’ll support her. I’ll go with her if she wants. I just want her to know that I’ll be by her side for anything.
“She’s not going!” Damian roared, his jealousy showing.
“Damian, we need to be understanding…” I try, uselessly, but my brother doesn’t let me.
“Understanding my ass.” Damian stands up, pacing back and forth. He looks like a caged animal.
After Scarlett’s whole confession, we let her rest and came to the office to talk about what we heard—or try to, because it isn’t easy to digest. Damian wants to kill that Asher guy, Liam wants to beat Scarlett’s ass before she goes, I still don’t know how I feel, and Ethan…
“We’re taking her,” Ethan says, making Liam’s eyes widen.
“You’ve got to be kidding me, damn it.” Liam says, pouring himself a glass of whiskey and filling another for Damian.
“Liam, you and Damian are about to piss on Scarlett to mark your territory. You need to put yourselves in her place, for fuck’s sake.” I swallow my jealousy, understanding what my brother means. “We need to trust what she feels for us. We need to trust that in the end she’ll choose us…”
“You can’t be serious.” Liam slams his glass hard onto the coffee table.
“I am, and whatever Scarlett’s decision is, we’ll stay by her side.”
Ethan looks at me, asking for support, and I couldn’t deny standing by Scarlett, even with jealousy eating me alive.
“Ethan is right, we need to take her, and besides…” I take a deep breath—I’m dying of jealousy; I respect Scarlett’s choices, but I’m not naïve enough to make anything fucking easy. “She still can’t walk. Do you want a better opportunity?” I say, not feeling as guilty as I thought I would.
“Noah, what the hell are you talking about?” Liam asks, and Damian comes closer, interested in what I have to say.
“Since Scarlett can’t walk, we can throw her over our shoulders and take her back… if things don’t go right.” Damian smiles, Liam nods, and Ethan…
“You’ve lost your minds, that’s the only explanation!” He looks up at the ceiling, takes a deep breath, then nods. “That’ll be plan B, you hear me? We’ll go with Scarlett to see the ex, and if she…”
“We throw her over our shoulders and bring her back home. Perfect. I loved plan B.” Damian cuts in, sounding like a crazed maniac, and I can’t even blame him—I think we all are.
...
“So you’re telling me you want to go with me to Texas?” Scarlett narrows her eyes suspiciously. “Why?”
She crosses her arms, wearing the most suspicious look of all—but honestly, could Damian be smiling like a psychopath? I give a roguish smile, the kind I know she likes, putting on my innocent face. Scarlett can’t dream that we’re seriously thinking about fucking her until all of Texas hears who she belongs to.
“We want to support you. We want to be there for you. That’s all,” Damian says, his smile growing even creepier.
Scarlett spends long seconds weighing our words; I’m breaking into a cold sweat, afraid she will discover the scheme behind the good intention. As soon as she woke up, we invaded her room to tell her our decision to support her. Damian keeps the sinister smile on his face; he can’t hide how uncomfortable jealousy is making him. Liam looks calm—he doesn’t even seem like the same guy who went down to the gym yesterday and punched the punching bag for hours. I can’t blame my brothers; I’m seriously thinking about marking my territory by coming all over Scarlett’s body. I wouldn’t care if she looked like a melting candle as long as it proved to everyone that she is mine.
“Okay, let’s say we all go to Texas…”
“All of us, no. We’re not taking our daughter to meet your exes,” Liam cuts her off, and she rolls her eyes.
“Just answer me one thing: you’re not going to start a fight with the Hawthornes, are you?” I look at my brothers, and then we all look at Scarlett and answer in unison.
“No, of course not.”
...
Texas — Hawthorne Ranch
Almost three hours on a plane, plus another hour in a rental car, and we’re finally at the damn ranch. I glance to my side, and the smile spreading on Scarlett’s lips annoys me like hell. Why is she smiling? I thought we were doing the right thing, but now that we’re here, I don’t know anymore. Damian grips the steering wheel tightly, Liam rubs his temples again, Ethan holds the back of Scarlett’s neck and kisses her mouth, while I notice, from afar, three shirtless men coming toward us.
“This shit just keeps getting better,” Damian curses, pulling the car up near the big house.
We get out and help Scarlett settle into her wheelchair. The men are closer now, and when they recognize Scarlett, their expressions shift from shock to rage in a matter of seconds. I clench my fists—jealousy has already seeped into my veins like a drug. Coming to this ranch was a mistake. A damn mistake. Why did I even agree to this shit? Scarlett’s face lights up like the damn sun. I take three deep breaths so this visit doesn’t end before it even begins.
“Scarlett?” A man’s voice coming from elsewhere draws our attention. He takes quick steps toward us and soon he’s on his knees in front of Scarlett. “Scarlett, what happened?” He looks at her in the wheelchair, and putting aside the ridiculous nickname, his concern for her condition is obvious.
Can we use plan B already? Fucking jealousy!