Whispered Promises

Chapter 24 - Tightrope of Brotherhood

Levi's POV

The familiar rumble of my motorcycle echoed through the garage as I pulled in and killed the engine. The hum of it lingered in the air, fading into the silence of dusk. I pulled off my helmet and hung it on the handlebar, trying to shake off the fatigue that clung to me after a long day of family obligations. But no matter how hard I tried, my mind kept circling back to one thing—Alex.

Specifically, Alex with Lucien.

The thought made my stomach twist uncomfortably. I loved my brother—I really did—but Lucien and Alex? That didn't sit right with me. It wasn't jealousy, not exactly. I wasn't the kind of guy to compete with my own blood over a girl. Not after what had happened with Xavier.

I gritted my teeth as I swung my leg over the bike and dismounted, tossing my helmet onto the workbench a little harder than I needed to. Maybe it was the fact that Lucien didn't belong in that world. He wasn't into bikes, wasn't into anything that made your heart race and your blood pump harder in your veins. Yet there he was—at a motorcycle competition—with Alex.

It shouldn't have bothered me. But it did.

I knew my brother well enough to see that he didn't understand what he was getting into with Alex. And that was what gnawed at me the most. She wasn't just another girl to play nice with. Alex had edges. Sharp ones. She'd burn you if you weren't careful—and Lucien? Lucien wasn't built for that kind of heat.

As I reached for a wrench to fidget with, a figure emerged from the shadows of the house. Lucien. He was standing by the door, his hands shoved into his pockets, his usual easy smile replaced with a look of hesitation. My mood darkened a bit more. The last thing I wanted right now was a conversation I wasn't ready to have.

"Hey," Lucien greeted cautiously, trying to sound casual as he approached. "How was your day?"

I grunted in response. "Busy," I replied, my voice curt as I focused on tightening a bolt that didn't need any more tightening.

Lucien shifted his weight awkwardly. He wasn't stupid. He could feel the tension as much as I could. And in typical Lucien fashion, he wasn't about to let it linger without addressing it.

"I, uh, went to that motorcycle competition with Alex today," he said, trying to gauge my reaction.

My jaw tightened, but I forced my voice to stay steady. "Yeah, I know. She mentioned it."

There was a pause, the air between us thick with something unsaid. Lucien lingered, like he was waiting for me to explode, waiting for the jealousy he assumed was bubbling under my skin to come spilling out. But I wasn't that guy. Not anymore. I wasn't about to let some girl—or my own feelings—come between me and my brother. Not after what had happened with Xavier.

"I just..." Lucien hesitated, scratching the back of his head. "I know it's not really my scene, but Alex asked me to go. I didn't want to let her down."

I could hear the apology in his voice, but it only made my chest tighten more. I glanced up, meeting his gaze. "Look, man, I get it. She asked, you went. But let's not pretend you're into that stuff. We both know you're not."

Lucien winced, his eyes dropping to the floor as he shuffled his feet. "I know. But I like spending time with her, and... well, I like her, Levi. I really do."

The words hit me like a sucker punch to the gut, leaving me momentarily breathless. I blinked, trying to clear my head. I cared about Lucien. I'd take a bullet for him without a second thought. But hearing him say he liked Alex—really likedher—made my stomach twist in knots I didn't know how to untangle.

"Lucien..." I started, my voice low. I was struggling to find the right words, words that wouldn't tear something apart, but wouldn't bury the truth either. "You sure about that? I mean, Alex isn't the easiest girl to be with. She's tough, rough around the edges. You sure she's what you want?"

Lucien's expression softened as his eyes met mine again, but there was a flicker of doubt there. A flicker he couldn't quite hide. "I... I think so. But sometimes it feels like she's holding back, like she's not sure about me."

But I couldn't say that. Not to Lucien. Not after what had happened with Xavier.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to speak carefully. "She's... complicated, man. Don't read too much into that. She's not the type to make it easy."

Lucien nodded slowly, his expression turning thoughtful. "Yeah, I know. But I'm willing to try. I just hope she feels the same way."

He wasn't the only one with doubts. I could see it in the way he shifted, the way he looked at me like he was waiting for approval or some kind of reassurance. But I didn't have the answers he was looking for. Not when I didn't even have them for myself.

As Lucien turned to walk away, a knot of guilt formed in my chest. I watched his retreating figure, his shoulders tense, his steps slow, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of everything unsaid between us. He deserved better—better than what I could give him. But I wasn't about to be like Xavier. I wasn't going to tear him apart over something as messy as love.

I leaned against my bike, letting out a long breath, my mind spinning. The memories of Xavier crashed into me, as they always did when things got complicated. I remembered the way he had stormed into my life, full of charisma and charm, sweeping up everything and everyone in his path. He had always been the star—until he wasn't. Until he burned too bright and too fast, leaving a trail of wreckage behind him. Including me and Lucien.

I wasn't going to let history repeat itself. I wasn't going to be the one to tear my brother apart. Not again.

But as much as I wanted to protect Lucien, the truth was becoming harder to ignore. No matter how hard I tried to push it away, no matter how hard I tried to keep things simple, the pull I felt toward Alex was like a riptide—something I couldn't swim away from, no matter how hard I kicked.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, breaking me from my thoughts. I pulled it out, and sure enough, it was a message from Alex.

Alex: How's the family thing?

I stared at the message for a moment, my thumb hovering over the screen. I wanted to respond, to ask her how things had gone with Lucien, to see if she felt the same pull that I did. But instead, I typed a simple reply.

Levi: Fine. Just got home.

The dots appeared, indicating she was typing back. For a moment, I held my breath.

Alex: Wish you had been there. Wasn't the same without you.

The knot in my chest tightened, and I leaned my head back against the cool metal of the bike. Her words hit me like a wave, and for a moment, all I could think about was how easy it would be to cross that line, to give in to the pull and let everything else fall away. But I couldn't. I wouldn't.

Not again.

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