Three

Pov

Bennet

Mason never disappoints. He slams me against the oak cabinets that Dad had custom-made with ravens engraved on the edge. Expensive and over the top, but a constant reminder.

You were born a Raven and will die a Raven. There's no escaping the Ravens of Hollow Hill.

A laugh escapes me as I think about it. I'll never get rid of this mountain, and I've made peace with that. I'll live here and die here. I'll take everything and anything I want.

"You're no better than me, Bennett. You and I are the same. You just dress your madness in fantasies to hide. I wear mine out in the open, proudly. Go fuck yourself," spit flies in my face from the way he speaks with anger, and I let a smile spread.

I reach out, grabbing each side of his head, and then jerk mine forward until it connects with his nose. I feel the cartilage give a little, and the grunt that comes out of his body tells me I landed a solid shot.

We brawl with each other, grabbing anything and everything we can. The rain falls around us, but no words are spoken.

None are needed.

We always communicate better this way.

I slam my brother hard into the granite of the island, sending cups and bottles flying everywhere. I feel my boots crunching on the broken glass, and the slippery feel of alcohol makes me lose my balance for a moment.

The cut on his lip from minutes ago is once again bleeding, and I feel the telltale sign of blood trickling from a cut on my face. If I had to guess, he opened my eyebrow with one of his elbows.

Equally matched, but neither of us will surrender.

He gets up, wrapping his arms around my head, and we both tumble to the ground, landing in a pile of branches and shards.

"Get the fuck off me so we can get off the damn floor," I groan under the weight of Mason pressing against my sternum.

"Why? The gutter is where we thrive. Don't fool yourself," he huffs, as breathless as I am. He rolls off me, and we both lay there panting on the Calamander wood floor. Fancy wood imported from Sri Lanka. Don't ask me why when we're surrounded by damn trees at every corner.

"Hmm, I see we're getting along and playing nice with each other. Fuck, you two are the biggest pains in my ass. If I didn't know better, I'd think you're fucking each other. I don't give a damn if you are, but one or both of you don't know how to use your dick with how much tension is going on right now," the damn Grey Bishop. Of course, he shows up now.

There's that damn sixth sense I was talking about.

"Shut up, Grey. Don't you have a bitch or two to sink your dick into right now?" I groan in exasperation. I really don't want to deal with him right now.

"I have a flock, but here I am rounding you two up and fucking Remington. Now, why the hell are you two fighting like two bitches over who's going to get my dick first?"

"Forget it. We don't have to tell you shit, Grey," Mason snaps, letting the anger bleed into his tone.

I see Grey's left eye twitch as I look at him, and that's not a good sign.

He leans against the wall and doesn't say a word. Just looks at us. Unblinking.

He burrows under our skin until Mason and I look at each other. We communicate without speaking, both agreeing only to tell him. He's going to tear us apart for fucking his cousin.

A bitch. Which one of them got you two so confused? Jesus, just fuck her and get her out of your system. Both of you. Give her a Slade brother sandwich.

I don't respond immediately, instead opting to get up from the floor. I'm stalling because once I tell Grey, there's no telling how he'll attack. I bend down, reaching out to help pull my brother up. I can't bear to leave him on the floor without me.

"He talked shit about my mom. So I kicked his ass. You know Mase, he returned the favor, so we had a little friendly brotherly scuffle. You know how it is," I don't know why I'm trying to fuck with him. I'm not afraid to tell him, but I feel my lack of control and I'm trying to manipulate the situation to my needs.

"I'm sure he talked about your whore mom. Now tell me what really caused this. And don't lie to me again, Bennett. I'll sew your mouth shut and have Tessa feed you through a tube until you get some fucking action in your system," my anger rises again, but I force myself to control it before I jump him. I'd rather face four Masons than Grey. I value my life a little too much.

"It's Tessa."

Excuse me? I must have misheard, because it sounded like you said my cousin is the cause of this little dick-measuring contest. I know neither of you is fucking my cousin. Or I'll castrate both of you," his voice is calm, and there's no inflection in it.

"I didn't stutter. We've been at it since last weekend. I know you know we've both had our eyes on her for years. Well, last weekend she made her move... on both of us. But now she has to choose. I was just helping Mase see the reali—" I stop when Mason's fist hits my stomach, leaving me breathless.

"Fuck."

"So let me see if I got this right. I explicitly forbade her from any damn Raven, especially you two. I saw how she looked at you two, and I don't need her fucking with the vibe. And look... I was right. She's already poisoning you two. You two are going to fuck each other and then I'll have to kill you. I can't lose a Slade, let alone two. So you two need to get her out of your heads by fucking one of the bitches in the house and be done with it. I mean it, damn it," Grey finally finishes his damn speech, and I roll my eyes.

"Oh ye of little faith. Don't get all mushy, you asshole. Your dad should have drowned you two and saved me the misery of having to deal with you. "Grey mocks me, and I can't help but smile.

I look at my brother, waiting to see if he'll open his mouth and respond, but he just looks at me. Oh ok, just fuck me then. Let me deal with the grumpy man.

"We won't open our mouths anymore. See that your brother has a survival instinct. Shut up. Leave my cousin alone and don't make me have to let another hot pussy go because I need to end your shit. Clean this damn mess up or get someone to clean it up. I don't give a damn, just do it," he turns and leaves the kitchen. He fidgets with his hat, restless, and I watch him dart his eyes to Emerson before he moves completely through the room and disappears into the crowd.

"Are you planning to listen to him?" my brother finally opens his mouth to speak. What avmiracle.

"Of course not. It's my life's mission to give him a head full of gray hair by the time he hits thirty. Listen to me... I've got an idea," I sling my arm around Mase and turn us back to the counter to make another drink.

Either my plan works out as I want it to.

Or Grey really will kill me.

I guess we'll have to play and find out.