Semper Mine

I take a deep breath. "My family is important to me, Harris. You know this."

"And I'm not? We've been friends since we were three. You ditched me for that cripple of a brother of yours, Katya."

"Ditched you? I lose one brother and the other comes back hurt, and you're worried about me ditching you!" So much for calm. "I never want anything to do with you again, Harris. Not now, not tomorrow morning, not ever!"

"Selfish bitch! I've done so much for you, and you just -"

I whirl. I'm getting nowhere, arguing with a drunk, and I'm losing what calm I've learned to maintain over the past few weeks.

Harris snatches my arm, and I grimace. He's squeezing too hard, reminding me of the night at camp when he slapped me after we had a similar argument about Petr.

"Let go, Harris!" I snap, trying to pry my arm free.

His grip is too tight.

"Let her go, Harris, and I won't gut you the way you deserve."

Harris goes rigid then turns.

If Petr's lethal, sharp tone unnerves me, his stony expression renders him almost unrecognizable. I've never seen that look on his face. It's scary and dangerous, an indication that my brother is every bit the trained killer he jokes about being. There's no way the older brother who teases me with warmth is the same man as the one in the doorway to the deck, who looks ready to kill someone.

Riley is standing behind him, grim.

Harris gazes at him uncertainly for a moment before recovering. "I see you brought backup."

"I don't need backup with you."

Riley moves into the room.

"Let my sister go, Harris. This is between us. I warned you what'd happen if you laid a hand on my sister again." Petr is peeling off his sweater to reveal the white t-shirt beneath it. He tosses the sweater.

Again? How did he know? My thoughts fly to Sawyer. I wonder if this is the reason Harris hasn't dropped by my house in months. Petr or Sawyer - or both - scared him off.

"The cripple thinks he can still fight." Harris appears amused.

"Petr is not -" I start.

"Katya." Petr's sharp tone silences me. Riley offers a small smile and shakes his head for me to keep quiet. "Let's finish this, Harris. You and the cripple."

Harris's grip loosens, and I yank free.

"Fine," Harris says curtly.

Petr walks out of the kitchen onto the veranda. After a hesitation, Harris follows. Riley remains in the kitchen with me.

"They're not seriously gonna fight are they?" I trail, alarmed.