The locker room was loud—showers running, guys shouting victory chants, helmets clattering against metal benches. But none of it touched Lila.
Because as soon as she stepped out into the cool night air, she found them.
Her brothers.
All four of them.
Tyler still in uniform, helmet under his arm, jaw clenched tight. Aiden pacing like a storm about to hit. Jordan leaning against the wall, arms crossed, eyes sharp. Caleb smirking like he already knew something she didn't.
Lila stopped dead. "Oh no."
"Oh yes," Aiden snapped, pointing at her. "What the hell was that in the tunnel?"
Her stomach dropped. "It was nothing."
"Nothing?" Tyler's voice was low, dangerous. "Because it looked like Cole had his hands on you."
Lila's cheeks burned. "He didn't—"
"He did," Jordan cut in, calm but cold. "And he didn't look scared of us either. Which means he's either stupid… or reckless."
"Or both," Caleb added with a lazy grin. "Personally, I vote both."
"Shut up, Caleb," Aiden barked.
Lila rubbed her temples. "You guys are overreacting."
"Overreacting?" Tyler snapped. "I saw his face. I saw the way he looked at you. That's not a teammate, Lila. That's a problem."
Her heart thudded. Of course they'd noticed. Ethan never bothered to hide it.
"Ty—"
"No," he cut her off. "You're my sister. You're not—" He stopped himself, jaw tightening. "You're not his."
The words hit harder than she expected.
Jordan pushed off the wall, stepping closer. "If he touches you again—"
"You'll what?" Lila snapped, finally losing patience. "Beat him up? Scare him off? You can't control everything I do!"
Silence dropped like a bomb.
Her brothers froze. Tyler's eyes widened slightly, Aiden's jaw dropped, Jordan's brows furrowed, and even Caleb's smirk slipped.
Lila exhaled, forcing her voice steady. "I can handle Ethan. I don't need four bodyguards chasing me around."
"Correction," Caleb said after a beat, smirk sliding back into place. "You have four bodyguards whether you like it or not."
Aiden nodded fiercely. "Damn right. And if Cole thinks he can touch you—"
"He's dead," Jordan finished simply.
Tyler didn't speak. His stare was heavy, conflicted, protective to his core.
Lila clenched her fists, frustration boiling. She loved them—of course she did—but sometimes, being their sister felt like being in a cage.
Before she could argue again, Caleb's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and chuckled. "Speak of the devil."
Lila's heart lurched. "What?"
Caleb turned the phone to show Ethan's smug face—he'd posted a victory picture on social media. But in the corner of the frame, barely noticeable… was her.
Helmet off, flushed from the game, caught mid-smile.
The caption read: Victory looks good with the right teammate.
Aiden exploded. "I'M GOING TO KILL HIM."
Jordan grabbed his arm. "Not here."
Tyler's jaw flexed. His silence was worse than shouting.
Lila's stomach twisted. Ethan knew exactly what he was doing.
And now her brothers were officially on the warpath.