Dared to Kiss His Brother, Now I'm Addicted

Chapter 6

Lately, James had been nursing a constant headache, and not just the physical kind. One by one, his tenants started moving out, and before he knew it, half his buildings were empty. The sudden exodus plunged him into a financial crisis. The truth was, James didn't have many skills beyond collecting rent. Unless he wanted to bust his back at a construction site, he was out of options.

He felt miserable. His ex wouldn't return his texts, and the loneliness was eating him alive. In a moment of weakness, he turned to the one person he hoped might listen.

"Well, well, if it isn't my old buddy James," Victor said, voice thick with mock sympathy. "What's the matter? Landlord empire crumbling?"

James narrowed his eyes. Something about Victor's smug tone felt off.

"You wouldn't have anything to do with this… would you?" James asked, suspicion sharpening his voice.

Victor didn't even flinch. He grinned.

"You're damn right I do. Wanna know why?" He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "The first time I saw Ashley, I couldn't believe someone like you ended up with a woman like her. I've been dying to steal her from you ever since. Lucky me, you practically handed her over."

The words landed like punches to James's gut. His face turned red with fury, and without thinking, he lunged at Victor.

Victor didn't back down. He swung back, and soon fists were flying. People screamed, trying to break them up, but neither man held back. It wasn't long before the cops showed up and hauled both of them off.

That night, my phone buzzed with a call from the police station.

"We've got two men here, James and Victor. They said you might be able to bail them out."

I hesitated. Then I grabbed my keys.

When I got to the station, I saw them behind the holding bars, bloodied, bruised, and glaring at each other like mortal enemies. James's eyes lit up when he saw me, a flicker of desperate hope flashing across his face.

"Ashley, I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I know I messed up. Can we just start over?"

I looked at him for a long moment. Then I shook my head.

"It's too late, James. We're done."

Victor, standing beside him with a cut on his cheek and a split lip, chimed in. "Ashley, you see? I'd do anything for you."

I turned coldly to him. "Both of you have let me down."

As I walked out, their bickering voices echoed behind me. I quickened my pace, needing distance from all of it.

Outside, the officers were releasing them. Victor came out limping, his face swollen and bruised. The second he saw me, he gave a pitiful groan and clutched his side.

"Ashley… it hurts. Look what James did to me," he whined.

For a split second, I almost stepped forward, but James's voice cut through.

"Don't fall for it!" he barked. "He's playing you, he always does!"

I stood frozen. Victor looked at me with wet eyes, playing the victim with practiced ease. My heart twinged, but I shoved the emotion down.

"James, we need to talk," I said firmly.

His face darkened. He knew what was coming.

"Did you sleep with that woman?" I asked, my voice steady.

James looked away. The silence stretched.

"Yeah," he said finally. "I did. It was stupid. A moment of weakness, and I've regretted it ever since."

I nodded slowly.

"Then we're over," I said, calm and sure.

James looked panicked, reaching out as if to stop me, but I had already turned and walked away.

Victor hobbled after me in silence, nursing his bruises and keeping his distance. For once, he had nothing to say.