Chapter 8 OFFICIALLY SCREWED

OWAIN LUTHER

I didn't plan for Malcom to show up early, but it wasn't exactly shocking either. The guy had a sixth sense for walking in at the worst possible moment... And we weren't even doing anything illegal, just her in my arms, that's all, but...

When his eyes locked on us-Karima in my arms, her lips parted like she'd just caught herself wanting something she shouldn't. For a second, he froze. Then his brain finally registered the scene.

Before I could blink, he was moving. I could swear he wanted to murder me, with that fury in his eyes... Karima broke out of my hold as if he hadn't seen everything-stepping between us just as he closed the distance.

"We... Owain was just comforting me. That's all. It's been a rough day," she rushed out.

I didn't say a word. There was really no point. The lie was weak, but she tried. Which meant something. She wasn't really the hard girl she pretended to be.

Exactly why she needed someone like me to bring out that wild in her and maybe with a little bit of learning and Devil's spice, she'd catch up quick.

Malcom's eyes narrowed. "Are you serious? That's supposed to mean anything to me?"

Karima's tough-girl act slipped. Her body edged slightly back like his voice alone could break her. She swallowed hard.

"I swear, Malcom. You can ask Owain... I just found out Nathan and Ellie were dating behind my back," she said, her voice softer now, but a little cracked. "I lost it, okay? Owain stopped me before I did something stupid."

Malcom turned to me, that unspoken you'd-better-confirm-this-look in his eyes. I gave him a calm shrug. Nothing else.

She covered for me. I could return the favor. She was already playing well, though.

He sighed, his jaw tight. Then, his anger shifted but still a little protective, but less ready to kill like before.

The only thing holding Malcom back was Karima standing there, and that hurt in her eyes, he couldn't bring himself to add more weight to it.

"You could've called me," he muttered to her, his voice thick with guilt. "I'd have shown up and handled that *ssh*l* myself."

"You wouldn't have made it in time, bro," I said under my breath.

He didn't look at me. He just placed a hand on her shoulder, the other brushing over her cheek with that quiet big-brother tenderness.

"Go fix us something to eat, alright? We'll be out in a minute."

She nodded, her eyes lowering to the ground, before she walked out without another word.

The door clicked shut.

And just like that, Malcom's eyes cut straight to me.

"Stay away from my little sister, Owain. That's not a suggestion, it's a warning."

I almost laughed. Seriously? Calling her little. Was that supposed to be a joke?"

"You sure she's still little?" I muttered with a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.

His jaw tightened. "Don't push me. She's not one of your girls you can play games with."

"Relax, man," I held my hands up in mock surrender. "She told you I was just comforting her. Why are you still wound up? Don't you trust her?"

His eyes narrowed, his fists clenched at his side. "I trust her. It's you I don't."

He stepped closer, invading my space, his voice lower but sharper this time. "So just do what I said. Stay. Away."

I chuckled. "Alright, fine. I'll stay off her lane... but you better pray she doesn't come back to mine. I'm not the one chasing her."

He shot me a death glare. "I'm watching you, Owain."

I leaned my head back, letting the silence sit between us before meeting his gaze dead-on. His forehead was pulsing with veins bulging like they were about to explode. That's how you know Malcom's boiling.

I gave a low whistle. "You're acting like she's your girlfriend, not your sister. Might want to tone down that possessiveness a little."

That was it.

His fist slammed into my jaw.

My head jerked sideways, but I didn't stagger. Nah, I'd been expecting it. He needed to blow off steam, and I gave him the spark.

"You don't f*cking tell me how to protect my own blood!" he growled. "Especially not from a s*x-crazed freaks like you."

I rubbed my jaw with a laugh, with a slow and sharp move. "Okay. As you wish. Just try not to make it so obvious you're in love with her. I've done my part keeping your little secret... I'm done now."

That hit home. Exactly, how I imagined it.

He charged forward, and this time I didn't play nice. I caught him mid-swing, twisted him around and drove my fist across his face once, then another shot to his ribs. That first punch was payback, the second was just for fun.

He tackled me again, and we rolled hard across the floor, knocking over a chair and slamming into the side table. He wasn't bad, but he wasn't better than me. Not in a fight.

He obviously did some work out, he'd improved a little but he was still behind me.

Right in the middle of the chaos, there was a knock. It came sharp and fast.

We froze, both of us breathing hard as if we just ran a marathon.

The door creaked open slowly.

And there she was. Karima Heart.

And behind her was... Yasmin.

My d*mm girlfriend.

Sh*t!

My jaw locked immediately.

Yasmin's eyes darted between our blood-flushed faces, the mess on the floor, and our stiff bodies. She blinked.

"Were you guys... fighting?" she asked, her voice low and confused.

Karima said nothing.

And me?

I knew right there, I was officially screwed.