The World We Live In | 𝚃. 𝙾𝚃𝚃𝙾 ♤

Chapter 31

Jake's patience finally reached its limit. With a swift motion, he reached out and jerked the rifle from Troy's hands, the suddenness of the action catching Troy off guard. "What the hell?!" he shouted, his voice echoing across the deserted shooting range.

But Jake ignored him, his gaze steady as he held Troy's gaze. "God damn it!" He yelled. "I said enough!"

Troy's glare burned with an intensity that bordered on hate. The lines of his jaw were tight with suppressed emotion. "I don't need you to handle me like some out-of-control kid, Jake," Troy sneered, his tone sharp with frustration. "I don't need you or anyone else."

Jake clenched his teeth, his gaze equally hot as they clashed with Troy's defiant stare head-on. He knew his little brother was hurting over their father, lashing out in the only way he knew how, but he couldn't stand by and watch him self-destruct. "Yeah, you do," Jake insisted, "You do need me when you're out here punching people for just looking at you the wrong way." The following question left Jake's mouth filled with concern as he felt a nagging in his gut. "Is Cristine alright? She tried to talk to you too, didn't she?"

Troy had to process the question and the intent of why he was asking him, and when it finally did, his pupils dilated. His rage flared. Jake's nerve to insinuate that he'd hurt Cristine. The mere suggestion was an affront, though the laden feeling in Troy's body returned. He licked his lips and felt his throat tighten as he remembered himself cornering her without a second thought.

Troy was reminded of the harsh look in those dark eyes, his words sharp and cutting as he hurled accusations at Cristine. He remembered how her equally harsh insults stung yet oddly warmed his heart. Cristine didn't cower; she remained unafraid and unbowed, her controlled anger mirroring his rage-fueled tirade. The most vivid part of that situation was the sinking feeling in his gut that came after. When Cristine pushed him away, she said she was okay with them playing their old game again.

Troy's chest tightened when the same guilt and shame as the realization washed over him again. "No. No, I'm nothing like him," he thought. "I... I didn't hurt her," Troy muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. He swallowed the rest of his words, burying them deep in his soul as he looked at his brother again.

Jake knew his brother best. Troy was telling the truth, but something else had happened between his brother and friend. "Honestly, I don't know what to think lately," Jake admitted, his voice tinged with worry.

Troy's chest tightened, his anger momentarily eclipsed by a surge of defensiveness. "I didn't touch her!" He yelled. "And Cristine is none of your damn business, Jake," Troy spat defensively. "Stay out of it."

Jake's gaze bore into Troy's, searching for any sign of deception. Finding none, he let out a slow breath, the tension in his shoulders easing. "She is my business, Troy," he countered, his voice tinged with frustration. "Just like you are. Same as all the other people and the Ranch are. Our family needs to set an example, and it doesn't help if one of the Ottos goes around lashing out because he's too scared to face the truth."

Troy bristled at Jake's words, his jaw clenching tight as he fought to contain his rising anger. "Who the hell is scared?!" He growled, squaring up to face his brother head-on.

The tension between Troy and Jake reached a boiling point, their voices echoing across the deserted expanse of the Ranch. Jake's words hung heavy in the air, his gaze unwavering as he confronted his little brother. But Jake refused to back down, his stance unwavering as he met Troy's gaze with steady determination. "I'm not insinuating anything, Troy," he countered evenly. "I'm just stating the facts."

Troy clenched his fists at his sides, his chest heaving with barely contained rage. "You think you know everything that goes on around here, don't you?" Troy scoffed, his lip curling in a sneer as he shook his head. "You think you can waltz back here after all these years and decide how to run things?" He echoed, his voice pitched with bitterness.