Glass Heart Hero: A Dark High School Romance by Lindsey Iler (free ebook reader for iphone .TXT) 📕

stopped being my brother a long time ago.” Madison glances away, catching me spying. “You can come in, Breaker. No need to linger in the hallway.”

I open the door, and Delaney’s eyes light up like someone’s given her a plate of her favorite dessert. The girls notice her change in mood and leave us alone. Madison flashes me a quick wink as she passes.

“You’re home,” she says, picking at the remnants of her nail polish.

“I am.” I move one foot forward. She mirrors me. We continue this until she’s in my arms.

“I already know what happened, Breaker. You don’t need to handle me like a delicate flower. I won’t wilt from being handled by you.” She picks at the collar of my shirt, trying to appear unphased.

“I’ve killed two people,” I whisper the truth that can sometimes be hard to face. “And I don’t feel guilty. What does that say about me? How am I going to look in our kids eyes one day and be worthy of that kind of love when I’ve taken two woman’s sons out of this life?”

She cradles my face in her hands and kisses me quickly. When she pulls away, there’s nothing but love in her eyes. “I promise to make sure they know what kind of man you are. The kind that protects those closest to him.”

How can she look at me and not see a monster after everything she’s witnessed? Where does that strength come from?

“Someone once told me that you looked at me like you needed a hero. I knew they were wrong because a girl like you doesn’t need someone to save her. You’re more than capable of doing that for yourself. You’ve proved it, time and time again.”

“I didn’t follow you into those woods that first night to find a hero, Breaker. I wanted to feel alive, to feel something other than adequate.” She grabs my hands, entwining our fingers. “And for the record, some may think you’re a monster, but you’re the exact hero I’ve always needed. Cracked knuckles, bloody shirt, and all.”

Epilogue

Delaney

One Month Later

This year has brought a lot of things into my life.

Three of which are staring at me across the breakfast table.

“What do you all want from me?” I drop my spoon into my bowl of cereal. The milk moves like a wave, sloshing close to the edge.

“Just spill it,” Byron demands.

“There’s nothing to spill.”

“You were the last one to see them both,” Dixon adds. He leans back, crossing his strong arms over his chest. His leg bounces, sending quakes through his body.

“And why do you even care?” I look at Marek, unsure what his motives are.

“I’m not going to lie. It’s getting a little boring around here.” He smirks.

Boring? The last six months have been a literal hell. How we’ve survived is astonishing and a true testament to our resolve and mental stability. I can only speak for myself, but I’m certain I was a few events away from a complete breakdown. Besides, the physical toll my body has endured is ridiculous.

“Well, your boys’ idea of exciting is dangerous, not to mention reckless,” I say. “I’d prefer if the remaining months of high school weren’t spent this way.”

“You’re no fun, Delaney.” Marek stands. “You better tell these boys where those girls are, or else you’ll have them out there, in the wild, trying to navigate the situation on their own.”

“Lord knows we can’t have that.” Palmer peeks around the corner. “You ready to go?” She smiles at Marek.

“Where are you guys heading off to so early?” I ask.

“She’s making me study,” Marek explains, grabbing Palmer’s hand and dragging her across the room.

She’s happy to lean into his arms, kissing him before poking her head around his body to talk to us. “What he means to say is I’m helping him keep his grades up so Hollow Crest University doesn’t revoke his scholarship on account of him being a dumbass.”

“See you guys later. I’ll be lording over my textbooks all day.” Marek waves, dragging Palmer behind him out the door.

I finish eating and go to the sink to clean out my bowl. The heat of their stares warms my skin. “Guys, I seriously don’t know anything.”

A subtle pressure hits my back, and when I turn, both of them are nearly knocking into me. I place my hand on their chests. “Mind giving me some space, boys?”

“At least tell me if Reagan is getting my texts,” Dixon begs.

“Wait, who are you worried about?” I point to Byron, lowering my eyelids to inspect him.

“Madison never texted me back. She left that night when we . . .”

“Killed her brother.” Breaker’s voice causes my body to relax. I shift to catch him in the doorway. “You can say it.”

What happened in that abandoned, rundown house isn’t something we are proud of. I can look around this small circle we’ve created and know that for certain. If anything, this life has taught me that sometimes our actions aren’t meant to be proud of. At the end of the day, we are all trying to survive. With a flick of a matchbook and determination to set us free, someone lost their life. There’s no remorse, though. I don’t lose sleep over his lost life, just as I don’t anymore for Declan.

Living the Glass House Boys lifestyle means taking things into your own hands sometimes. Our moral compass doesn’t always point North. That’s something I can live with.

“Someone has a crush on Madison,” I singsong, dancing in front of Byron. He’s agitated most days, so I know my little theatrics will piss him off more.

“Hardly.” He rolls his devilish eyes. “She’s jailbait, and even if she wasn’t, she’s an impossible human being, with a tendency to get on my last fucking nerve.” He stomps to the pantry, huffing and puffing heavy breaths as he disappears inside.

“He’s screwed,” I acknowledge.

“And what about me?” Dixon says.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Who the hell could that be this early in the morning?” Breaker whispers.

Dixon walks to