Right Man, Worst Brother

You're Fun To Toy With

Maya

~_<

Bree.

She steps beside us, her eyes flicking between Ryder and me, a stupid smirk playing on her lips.

“Seems you're so drawn to Ryder, not even Liam can stop you from stalking him,” she muses.

I ignore her completely.

Ryder doesn't.

He chuckles, tilting his head. “Seems my little brother isn't keeping you occupied.”

She ignores him, focusing on me.

“Couldn't get one brother now you are going for the other?”

I don’t flinch. I just meet her gaze head-on. “That would make you happy, wouldn't it?”

Her smirk falters for just a second.

Then she lets out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “You really are pathetic, Maya.”

Ryder moves before I can react.

One step.

Close enough that his presence is suffocating, dangerous.

His voice drops to something almost deadly. “Sweetheart, the only pathetic one here is you.”

She stiffens.

Then she scoffs, flipping her hair before striding off.

I exhale, trying to ease the tension coiling in my muscles.

Ryder watches me, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“You’re getting better at this.”

I roll my eyes. “At what?”

“Not letting them see when they’ve rattled you.”

It feels good to hear but I don't sure it.

Before I can come up with a snarky response, Liam appears behind me, his expression dark.

“We’re leaving, now.”

I stiffen. “No, I’m not.”

Liam’s nostrils flare. “Maya.”

Ryder chuckles beside me. “Let her stay, little brother.”

Liam’s fist clenches.

Tension crackles in the air, thick and suffocating.

I don’t know if Liam’s about to punch Ryder or if he’s about to drag me out of here himself.

But I do know one thing.

For the first time in years—maybe ever—Liam doesn’t feel like the one in control.

I do.

The sound of shuffling feet and muttering in the background disappears as Liam steps closer. He’s trying to stay calm, but I can see the raw anger in his eyes. Ryder’s smirk, however, only grows.

And then it happens.

Liam lunges forward, a blur of motion, and his fist connects with Ryder’s jaw. The sickening thud of the impact vibrates through the room, and for a split second, everything is frozen. Ryder stumbles back but doesn’t fall. His eyes flash with a raging fury, and without warning, he retaliates.

A sharp, fast punch lands on Liam’s ribs, and Liam grunts, losing his footing for a moment before swinging again, more violently this time.

I shout. “Stop!”

But it’s no use.

The crowd around us starts to form, some trying to intervene, others pulling out their phones, eager for a fight to go viral.

Ryder pushes Liam back, his hand wrapping around Liam’s collar. “You really want to play, little brother?”

Liam growls, shoving him off, but Ryder is already moving, his next punch landing across Liam’s cheek. Liam staggers, his face contorting in pain, but his anger only fuels him more.

I rush toward them, my heart pounding in my chest. “What the hell is wrong with you two?” I shove Ryder back, using all my strength to get him off Liam.

Ryder stumbles slightly but stays on his feet. His eyes narrow, but his focus shifts to me.

“Stop this, Ryder,” I snap, glaring at him. “Both of you. Now.”

Liam’s breath is heavy, his face flushed with rage and pain. Blood is already dripping from his nose, but he doesn’t back down. “This isn’t over,.”

Ryder glances at me, then back at Liam. “We’ll see about that.” He steps back, straightening his shirt, and for a second, I think he’s going to walk away.

I watch him for a long moment before turning to Liam, who’s still seething with anger. His nostrils flare as he tries to steady himself.

I exhale, trying to ease the tension coiling in my muscles. The room is still thick with the aftermath of their fight, and I feel the weight of it on my shoulders.

Liam’s face is red, his breath ragged, but Ryder doesn’t seem much better. His jaw is bruised, his knuckles bloodied, and there’s a glint of something dark in his eyes as he watches me.

Liam turns, not sparing Ryder another glance. “Let’s leave now.”

I glance at Liam, torn between staying with him and making sure Ryder’s okay. But before I can respond, Ryder’s voice cuts through the tension.

“Koala,” he says, it comes out soft.

I hesitate. He's still raging with anger but there's a vulnerability now visible in him.

Ryder’s eyes don’t leave me as he winces slightly, his hand instinctively going to his side where he took a few hits.

I exhale sharply, then turn to Liam. “You go. I’ll be fine.”

Liam glares at me for a second, then shakes his head. “Don’t let him pull you into his mess, Maya.” His voice is low, full of anger, but there's a touch of worry beneath it too. I don’t say anything in response, instead, I watch him leave, his footsteps retreating into the crowd.

The room quiets once he's gone, but Ryder’s gaze stays locked on me.

I step toward him, my steps hesitant but determined. I can’t believe I’m doing this, but I am.

“You alright?” I ask, more out of instinct than genuine concern, though it comes out more stern than I expected.

Ryder’s lips curl into something like a smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. He shrugs slightly, winces again, and mutters, “I’ve been through worse.”

I roll my eyes. “Well, I don’t think you’ll be getting a medal for this one.” I look him over, trying not to focus on how close we are now. His body is still warm from the fight, his chest rising and falling with each breath. I quickly look away, trying not to think too much about his presence.

There’s an ice bucket on a nearby table, left behind from earlier. I grab it and approach him, unsure what to expect.

I start with his knuckles, placing the ice carefully, the silence between us is intense.

I can feel him watching me, but I avoid his eyes. I’m focused on wrapping his hand in a small cloth, doing my best to ignore the way my heartbeat quickens the longer I stay close to him.

“You’re too stubborn for your own good, you know that?” I mutter under my breath, more to myself than to him.

Ryder chuckles softly, his voice low and rough from the fight. “You just noticed?”

I glance up at him, meeting his eyes for a moment before quickly looking away again. There’s something there—something that makes my chest tighten.

His voice drops an octave. “You didn’t have to do this, you know.”

I work faster, trying to distract myself. “I’m not doing it for you, Ryder.”

But the words feel empty, even to me.

He doesn’t respond right away, and for a few moments, it’s just the sound of my movements and the occasional shift from Ryder as I finish treating his hands.

Then, almost as an afterthought, he says, “You really do care, Koala.”

I freeze, my fingers brushing over his hand as I finish tying the bandage. I look up at him, but he’s already staring at me, the expression unreadable.

“I don’t care about you,” I say, my voice coming out a little harsher than I intend. I pull my hands back, suddenly feeling too exposed.

Ryder’s smirk returns, though there’s something softer behind it now. “Sure, Koala. Whatever you say.”

I finish up, standing up quickly, trying to put some space between us. But I don’t move far. I stay close, just out of reach, feeling the heat of him still in the air between us.

“I’m surprised you chose to treat me and not Liam. Oh true, Liam already has a girlfriend to nurse him.” I winced at his words, he wasn't wrong but he wasn't right to.

I wasn't thinking about getting Liam when I chose to help him. I was thinking about him.

“You’re gorgeous when you’re focused, Koala.” He smirked.

I rolled my eyes. “Why do you even call me Koala?”

His smirk faded. In a flash, he grabbed me, pulling me onto his lap.

“You remind me of Koalas when I see how you cling to Liam, I yearn to be your tree.” His breath was warm against my skin, his grip firm but not painful.

I couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe.

“Do you want me to touch you?” His fingers trailed up my thigh. “To make you feel better than your sick little crush ever could?”

I swallowed. My head screamed no, but my body betrayed me.

“I…” My lips parted.

“Say it.” His voice was intoxicating. “Tell me you want me, and I’ll make you cum.”

My mind blurred with need. “I want you, Ryder.”

But the second the words left my lips, his expression shifted.

Ryder laughed coldly. “I see why Liam keeps you around. You’re fun to toy with.”

I froze. What. The. f**k.

Anger flared through me. “f**k you and your sick little brother.” I clenched my fists. “I see it know, you all take after your mother so finely.”

I slapped a hand over my mouth.

Ryder’s eyes darkened. He grabbed a fistful of my hair, pulling me closer.

“You’ll pay for that little mistake, Koala,” he whispered, his voice dripping with danger. “I promise.”

His lips capture mine as I open my mouth to apologize.