Brother’s Best Friends Are My Mates novel Chapter 168

Jesse

The two of them were up to something. Rain was someone who wasn’t able to keep a secret if his life depended on it. You could tell him that it was life and death, but he would still insist on telling the secret.

Sometimes it was amusing, but other times it was annoying because I didn’t understand why Rain couldn’t keep a secret. But the point was, I know he and Matt were up to something.

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms as I leaned back in the chair. “Rain, don’t try to pull that crap. You’re acting all guilty. What are you hiding?”

He wiped his forehead, eyes darting around like he was looking for an escape route. “It’s nothing, okay? Just… don’t-“

“Don’t what?” I interrupted, a smirk playing on my lips. “Don’t ask questions? Don’t pry into your business? Come on, this is me we’re talking about. You can’t get away with this.”

Rain groaned, slumping down in his seat. “Okay, see-” “What are you doing?” Matt asked, appearing out of nowhere. I smirked. “Trying to get your secret out of Rain.”

“I didn’t tell him I almost died and that someone was stalking you outside for weeks now!” Rain blurted out, causing both of us to stop and stare.

“What the fuck?” I asked dangerously. “What do you mean you almost died, Rain?”

“I was struck by a poison dart that we were pretty sure was intended for Matt. Then he had to rush to get an anecdote, which he gave to me just in time. I think I may have died.”

I stared at Rain, my heart racing, and my mind trying to process what he just said. “You almost died? And you didn’t think to tell me this sooner?” I could feel my voice growing louder, my anger flaring up.

Rain looked sheepish, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t… I didn’t want to worry you, okay? It wasn’t a big deal. I was fine. Matt took care of it.” He glanced at Matt, who was standing just behind me now, looking way too calm for someone who had just learned his friend had nearly died.

“Not a big deal?” I repeated, my voice sharp. “Rain, you could’ve died. And you kept this from me?”

“I wasn’t trying to hide it, okay?” Rain protested, his voice cracking a little. “I just didn’t think it was necessary to freak you out.”

Matt sighed and stepped forward, his expression serious now. “It wasn’t a huge risk I mean, yeah, it was dangerous, but we didn’t want anyone getting caught up in the panic. You know how people react when they hear something like this.”

“Yes, because someone almost died!” I growled, glaring at them. “So tell me exactly what is going on.”

Matt explained the situation with Rain chiming in where he could. I pinched the bridge of my nose, glaring at the two of them. “You should’ve told Colby and me at least.”

Rain coughed. “Are you going to tell Lia? We don’t want to worry her.”

I didn’t want to keep something from Lia. But at the same time, I didn’t want to upset her. She was facing enough stress right now with her job in politics.

Yet, I should tell her.

Shouldn’t I?

I was torn between the two choices, glaring at the two.

“If anything else happens, then you need to tell me so we can tell Lia. This is starting to get serious.” Matt

A threatening letter was just what I wanted to read in the morning. I woke up and I happened to find it on our front steps. Someone innocently put it there, but then I opened it up and read the contents, realizing that it was less than friendly.

Matt,

“Yes. And honestly, I’m not surprised. This was bound to happen after a while. You remember how they used to treat you.” I tried not to think of how they treated me. They were terrible. It was a miracle I didn’t try to runaway when I was young.

What helped was that I spent time with my friends and was at their houses a lot of the time. Being able to stay at their houses enabled me to get away from people I would rather not spend time with.

But Lia was going to have to know now. I didn’t want to upset her, but with this note, it was clear this wasn’t going to go away.

“Can we wait until we tell her?” I asked. “She has a big meeting at the council tomorrow, so after the council meeting, we’ll tell her.”

Jesse was giving me a look “IF you don’t tell her tomorrow, then I’m telling her myself, Matt.”

“Fine, fine. Besides, I don’t think Rain can keep a secret for much longer. He is going to burst if we don’t tell her and Colby.”

He smirked. “See if I didn’t tell them I was hoping Rain was going to burst. He can never keep a secret. Remember all the surprises he ended up spilling over the years?”

“True, true,” I chuckled, thinking back to all the times Rain had ruined surprises. “But this one’s different. This is bigger. I can’t have him blurting it out before we’re ready.”

Jesse raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And how exactly are you planning to stop him from running his mouth?”

I shrugged, glancing over at the clock “I don’t know yet, but I’m sure I can find a way. He’ll listen to me-eventually.” Jesse snorted. “Yeah, if you threaten to lock him in the cellar again.”

I groaned. “Don’t remind me of that time. I’m still getting flak for that.”

Eventually, I was going to tell Lia. It was going to take some time, but I would tell her after that meeting. Unless Rain ended up telling her before I had a chance. If he did, then I was just going to have to deal with it.