But she's always been better at surviving than I have. She never needed me, Tye, or Briggs to fight her battles. She only ever needed us to remind her that she was strong enough to do it.
Maybe that's what Sophie needs from me, too—a soft place, where she can let her guard down and justbe. I don't think she's ever really had that, at least not outside of her own family. The world refuses to let her have it.
"I'll remember, Hat," I promise, my voice gruff.
"You better," she whispers.
A throat clears behind me. I release Hattie, turning to find Sophie's oldest brother, Austin, watching me, his jaw clenched.
Fuck.
"Got a minute?" he asks.
"Yeah," I sigh, clocking the look in his eye.
Apparently, Hattie clocks it, too. She pats me on the chest like she's wishing me luck and then scurries off like she doesn't want to be anywhere near this conversation.
I'm not sure I want to be either, but I'm not a motherfucker who runs, especially not when it matters. This matters.
"What's up, man?" I ask Austin.
He jerks his chin toward the windows, so I follow him outside, both of us squinting against the sun glare on the snow. The wind whips hard enough to sting, but we both ignore it.
He doesn't waste time. As soon as the door closes behind us, he whirls to face me. "What are your intentions with my sister?"
Fuck me. This is actually happening. "You want the real answer or the one that'll keep you from punching me right now?" I ask, my tone frank.
His mouth twitches. "Try me."
I scrub a hand over my jaw. "I'm not looking for a fuck and run, if that's what you're worried about. I'm into her. Really into her."I can't fucking sleep because I'm so into her.But I leave that part out. She should hear it, not him.
He stares at me like he's trying to decide if I'm bullshitting him or not. "You know she's not an easy person, right?"
"You say that like it's a problem," I mutter, even though I know he doesn't believe that. He'd kill for his sister, the same way I would for mine. "There's nothing wrong with the way she is."
"You're right," he says. "But she hasn't exactly had an easy run. If you think we worked hard to get where we are, you're wrong. She worked three times harder, through five times as much shit. Guys see her and think she's going to be needy, or fragile, or some shit because of everything she's been through, but she's not. She'll make your life hell if you fuck it up."
"Wasn't planning on fucking it up." I level him with a look. "But I appreciate the warning."
"Good," he says, then grins. "Because if you do fuck up, I don't even have to kick your ass. She will. I'll just finish off whatever miserable pieces of you that she leaves behind."
I'm not insulted by the threat. I'd expect nothing less if our roles were reversed. Hell, I gave a similar speech to his brother over Hattie not too long ago.
"Sophie is safe with me," I murmur, meaning it. "The last thing I want to do is hurt her."
He studies me for a long second, then huffs out a breath. "She acts like she doesn't need anyone, but it's a lie. Her world is a vicious cesspool. She doesn't trust anyone because she can't. Not even her own goddamn partner."
I'd kill for two minutes alone with that little prick. I really would. I bet he'd think twice about dropping her again if I tossed his sorry ass across the stage a few times.
"I won't make it worse."
Austin regards me with a kind of grim amusement, like he knows what's coming and is only here for the pain. "I hope to fuck you're right, Harlan. She deserves someone willing to fight for her, even if it means fighting her."
"That's the plan."
He cocks his head to the side. "If you think you're going to put a ring on her finger and a kid in her belly, think again. She may let you put a ring on her, but don't be a selfish prick and ruin her career by getting her pregnant."
"Noted," I growl.