Olivia - Daddy, don't save me. Break me

Olivia - Daddy, don't save me. Break me
"This is my favorite song," I said, breaking the silence, exhilarated by getting to see it performed live.

"Is that still the case? Was this a bad idea after how things went down with Yamazaki?" Harmon asked, frowning like this had only just occurred to him.

"Yes, it's still the case," I decided, determined to preserve the good memories we made attached to The Broken Antennas. "Dance with me like it's karaoke night."

Harmon slid his hand down my arm. Both of my hands now in his, he spun me around to face him. We blasted each other's faces with lyrics while jumping up and down like complete goof balls in a karaoke bar. My Japanese sucked. I had no idea what I was saying. His was perfect. He knew exactly what the words meant.

"A bit much, no?" I asked with a raised eye brow when he asked the band to perform the song for me a third time.

"Says the freak who listens to this shit on repeat for hours. What good is a private if you can't get what you want?" he said, throwing me a knowing look and a carefree smile.

"Fair enough," I said with a guilty giggle, headbanging to the familiar tune of my favorite song.

He joined in, letting loose in ways Mr. Inconsequential rarely did. A chaotic mash up of jumping up and down in time with the music and headbanging followed. When the beat dropped, we went back to singing along to the chorus like punk stars in the making.

He was so invested in channeling his inner punk head right alongside me. His movements were filled with swagger and rhythm. I couldn't help but laugh at the unburdened version of him he so rarely showed me anymore.

Mr. Inconsequential, how many women's heads do you linger in? Effortlessly bussin' no matter what you do. How many women pine after you long after that last touch? Kiss. Smile. It couldn't just be me. I couldn't be the only one caught up in your perfections and imperfections alike. Lover. Killer. Alpha male. Cutthroat. Man of my dreams. Man of my saddest nights.

I'm going to break you, Olive he said and in many ways, he did.

There's no escaping us. No one can save you from me.

Daddy, don't save me. Break me. Keep me captive by your side. Make our love my cage. Ruin me.

"You're embarrassing me," Billy's teasing voice called out, abruptly making me let go of Harmon's hands.

Harmon gave me a sharp glare before immediately correcting himself and forcing a smile onto his face.

"If anyone should be embarrassed, it is us. You sing our songs better than us," the lead singer of The Broken Antennas mused, his English flawless despite his Japanese accent.

Harmon slid one of his hands back into mine, linking our fingers. The punk music faded into the background as my heartbeat picked up. I gulped, sighting the engorged vein on the side of his forehead.

"It's okay, Olive," said Billy, claiming my other hand. "Harmon doesn't say it, but he does loves you. He'd never deliberately endanger you. Especially not after seeing how his friends used you to get to us. He knows he'd be putting a target on your back for life if the mafia thought you were more than friends. Of course he's not fucking you."

How wasted was my brother? How long had we spent away from him? I thought Harmon came up to me only minutes ago, but Billy's gait was unstable. Dilated pupils. Flushed face. No slurred speech because he was still Will Hunter, former playboy billionaire.

How many songs had Harmon and I sung along to as we danced the night away? We looked at each other at the same time. The last three days had been a fever dream of pleasure and happiness. Hearing Billy speak was like waking up.

I clung to the dumb contract so hard. Wanted to hear Harmon say I love you so badly. I didn't have the nerve to put the I love you clause into the new contract. It hardly mattered. I love you wouldn't change Billy's mind. Harmon's past, Chance's past, would remain unaltered.

Harmon's dick was wet every time he promised himself to me. When he inevitably had to leave me behind to deal with Marino and his people, would he look back? Or would my protector just keep going? Not because he didn't love me but because he did.

"Olivia," Harmon said with a sigh, a pained look on his face as tears I didn't know had formed flowed down my cheeks.

Harmon's hold on my hand tightened. He gestured for the band to kill the music.

"You're drunk, Will. Let's go back to the hotel," said Harmon, watching me intently from behind those stoic eyes.

"In a minute. I need to tell her," Billy said, wiping my tears away with his thumbs. I'm in awe of you, kiddo. You're unstoppable. Alive. Unapologetically you. Even after dad bailed," Will declared, patting my hand gently, making the tears flow even harder.

"I'm doing my best, Billy. I don't want to fail you. The way mom and dad failed us," I said, pouting at my big brother as I acknowledged my many fuck ups, including the other man next to me.

I had no business placing myself in between them. Harmon and Billy were unbreakable. Always had been. Watching them be at each other's throats because of me hurt.

"You're afraid of failing me? Kiddo, I became a billionaire so I wouldn't fail you. That spark in your eyes kept me going more times than you know. Fuck who you want. Do what you want. Live like a fucking princess, damn it. You're a billionaire's sister but you push yourself so fucking hard. No matter how much you fuck up, you never stop trying. Of course I'm proud. I'm stupid proud, Olive," Billy persisted, rambling on until he had me sobbing.

Reluctantly, Harmon let go of my hand and stepped back while Billy took me into his arms.

"You can ease up now, Olive. You don't have shit to prove. Certainly not to me," Billy persisted, rubbing my back as I sobbed in his arms.

I just stood there, ruining my makeup and staining a designer kimono with waterworks. When the worst of it cleared, I risked a look at Harmon.

He looked at me lovingly and mouthed, "Told you so."

And he did tell me so, many times, when I was burning the midnight oil at the office instead of hitting the books or at a party.

I couldn't stop myself from giggling. Harmon just stood back and watched, eyes brimming with affection.

Daddy, what will I do if you decide to leave and not look back? I can't stand the thought of you not being there.

I had been waiting years for my brother to say things like that. Hunters don't do sappy emotions. So drunk or not, I knew he meant the words. Still, the moment wouldn't have been complete without Harmon there.

Harmon disappeared for a little while, making the hairs on the back of my neck rise. I couldn't go after him. Billy and I needed a minute.

Sometime later, Harmon returned to us, drinks in hand. I sighed, more than a little relieved that he came back.

"Sake for the lady and for me," Harmon said, handing me a cup, his fingertips deliberately brushing mine as a gesture of reassurance. Then he turned to scowl at his best friend. "Your wasted ass gets coffee," he deadpanned, handing Billy a mug.