She looks like my sister, okay?

***

How did we end up in the fucking holding cell?

MY MIND WENT back constantly to Brooklyn. I couldn't contact anyone other than our lawyer, but I did not regret even a little bit for punching the fuck out of that asshole.

How could he hurt someone like Caitriona? He was ten years older than her, yet he acted like a fucking teenager. He did this kinky stuff to her, and when she refused, he beat her.

"You okay? You've been extremely silent." Kian nudged me.

"I was just worried about her." I needed to speak out. It had been difficult these past hours to keep this all to myself.

Kian grinned at me, eyes glinted with mischief. "So, there's someone, huh? How could you keep her from your best buddy?"

I shook my head. "She's not my girlfriend. She had corneal transplant this morning. I kinda know her back in high school." I stood up from the concrete bench and sauntered to the bars to check if our lawyer had already arrived. To my dismay, there was no sign of him.

"Then what happened?"

"She and her family left town. I've not seen her since then. Then suddenly, she went to the hospital where Imogen works. Her left eye is damaged in an accident."

"Then? You are not telling me the entire story, man. I can feel it."

"She looks like my sister, okay."

His eyes were wide in shock. I was expecting his reaction knowing about my father's reputation. He was a motherfucker whore, had mistresses, and I wasn't surprised that one day he would never come back. Brooklyn could be my sister because my sister was a copy cat of my father.

"Does she know?"

I shook my head. "What's the point?"

"You're worried about her surgery or are you worried about other things?"

"I have these intense feelings towards her since high school." I hung my arms against the bars.

Kian laughed his ass out. "Unrequited love, I see."

I narrowed my eyes into slits. "I don't think there's love in there."

"What do you call of these feelings for years, Arrow? You found it incest because you thought she's your father's daughter, or you seemed to think that every time you thought about her, your lusting over your sister."

I cringed at his words.

"You're such a saint." He had no idea I kissed Brooklyn, and it was the best memory I had, and I had no plan on forgetting it, incest or not, I was hoping we didn't share the same DNA.

***

"WHERE THE fuck have you been?" Imogen startled me as soon as I got inside the apartment. She was scowling and looked frustrated.

"What's wrong?" I let my eyes to scan around, and I couldn't find Brooklyn. I was sure she was already here probably resting. "Where's Brooklyn?"

Instead of answering me, she slumped down to my couch. "She left, and left you with this." She pointed to the piece of paper on the table with some bills.

"Fuck!" I ran my fingers through my hair and shook my head in disbelief, though it was not a surprise because after the surgery she had to leave, but not like this. Without talking to me. This is unacceptable!

"What happened to your face and knuckles, Arrow?" She inspected me.

"The asshole used my student as his fucking toy. We went to his apartment and punched him until I was satisfied, so I and Kian were locked up in the police station while Brooklyn was in the surgery, but Caitriona is safe now."

Imogen sighed and looked up at the ceiling. I walked closer to her and sat beside her, feeling lost and unable to form words.

***

I'm gonna kill that woman!

AFTER SHE called this morning to meet me here in the bar, she didn't show up. After a shot of whiskey, I paid and stood up, ignoring women showing some interests. Maybe this was what Imogen tried to set me up—to have fun and get laid. Unfortunate to these women, I was not interested.

I went out, drove away, and dialed Imogen.

"Hey, having fun?" She sounded amused.

"Fun my ass. If I knew you would just ditch me, I shouldn't have shown up, you, bigfoot!" I pressed my lips tight, wanting to spill my anger out. "Where the hell are you? You're driving beyond the speed limit, emoji." I could clearly hear the alarm of her car.

"I'm going somewhere, but I'll be back in the morning. Don't worry tough guy, I'll be fine."

"Drive safely, okay. Call me tomorrow."

"Sure. Have work?"

"Yep, that's why I'm going back now—to get some sleep."

"Great. Take care. And Arrow?"

"Yeah?"

"You're gonna be okay. Bye, brother." Her words cut through me. I was trying to stay sane since Brooklyn left. When she shut me out after my call, I didn't call her back. She only said thank you. That's it! Just fucking thank you.

I lied down to my bed as soon as I get back to my apartment. My mind lingered back to Brooklyn, the way she touched me, the way we kissed. I thought I had to let her go. The word let go sucked the painful breath right out of my lungs, but I had to relinquish this emotional turmoil caved in my chest.

I needed a life more than just obsessing a woman who didn't like me back. It'd been years. I needed to get rid of these feelings, but it fucking hurt.

Shit. I fucked up!