Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 111

KATY’S POV

“He’s back,” Allie says, already on her feet the second Braydon walks in.

“How did it go?” Justin asks, as everyone’s attention focuses on the door.

Braydon doesn’t answer. He looks exhausted with his shoulders slumped, his hair messier than usual like he’s run his hands through it one too many times. The evening light from the window catches the dark circles under his eyes as he crosses the room and drops onto the edge of my bed.

He leans in, cups my face gently, and presses a kiss to my forehead. “How are you?”

“I’m better,” I say, nodding. “I actually want to leave this place. It’s way too hot, and they’re acting like I shattered every bone in my body.” I roll my eyes at Allie and Justin before looking back at Braydon. “What happened? I heard you called the police. Why do you look like this?”

He nods, his jaw tightening slightly. “I figured I’d need backup.” After a few seconds, he adds, “Turns out, I was right.”

My eyes dart over him, panic setting in, and that’s when I notice his knuckles are red, and scraped.

“Are you okay?” I ask quickly. “Did Bryan try to hurt you?”

I reach for him, but he catches my hand and gently presses it against his chest.

“I’m fine,” he says. “It was just a small fight.”

“I don’t mean to interrupt this whole… moment,” Allie cuts in, forcing an awkward smile, “but we’ve been waiting for an update. Where’s Bryan? And the pen? What happened?”

Braydon bites his lip and exhales. “He broke the pen.”

My heart drops and my fingers instinctively curl into the sheets.

“He crushed it into pieces,” he continues. “The police have what’s left and they’re trying to see if they can recover anything for the case.”

“Goddamn it,” Allie snaps. “We lost it?” She drags a hand through her hair. “We went through all that trouble just for that asshole to ruin everything?”

“How did he even know about it?” I ask, my jaw tightening with anger.

Braydon traces a slow line along my finger. “He had a recorder in your purse.”

My eyes widen. “What?”

“When he searched your bag yesterday, he slipped a recorder inside,” he explains and every word feels like it’s scraping against my skin.

So, It was me. I was the weak link. And we didn’t even make copies. I’d just ruined everything.

I exhale sharply and bury my face in my hands. “I’m sorry,” I say, my voice barely there. “I’m sorry I ruined everything.”

Braydon hushes me, trying to pull my hands away. “You didn’t ruin anything, baby. It’s not like you handed him the pen. If anything, I should’ve taken better precautions and made copies of the audio at least.”

I shake my head. “I should’ve checked my bag. I should’ve thought about it.”

“And you didn’t because you’re human,” Allie cuts in. “You’re not a robot. How were you supposed to know?” She softens. “Stop blaming yourself. We’ll figure out another way.”

“How?” I ask.

She gives me an unsure look and shrugs. “I don’t know,” she whispers.

The room goes quiet. I drop my gaze to my lap, my shoulders folding in. I can’t even look at Braydon because that audio was everything to his plan, his one shot at cutting his dad out

and now it was gone.

Then I hear Justin clear his throat. I’d almost forgotten he was still in the room.

“If it helps,” he says, “I made a copy of the audio.”

My head snaps up at the exact same time as Allie’s and Braydon’s.

“You did what?” I ask.

“A copy,” he repeats flatly. “We need one, don’t we?”

“J,” Braydon say slowly, “are you messing with me?”

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