“How?”
“Dad’s parents,” he says with a shrug. “I was struggling. I found out pretty quick that there wasn’t going to be much after the house was sold and I was working plus trying to keep you out of trouble. There was just a lot to handle with custody and getting an apartment, so I called and asked for help. They told me you weren’t their kin and said they’d take me in if I needed a place. I never spoke to them again.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Goddamnit, Lincoln,” Rage’s voice sounds as devastated as he looks right now, and I get that, considering how tight these two are.
“I didn’t know how. I was doing everything I could to keep you with me and out of all the fucking people who attended their funeral and told me to call if I needed anything—yeah, none of them ever looked back after that day,” his voice cracks, relieving what was probably the worst time of his life. “It never made any difference to me. You’re my brother.”
I have to say, this is the first time I’ve stood around with a couple of other guys, the three of us all on the verge of tears.
“Thunder, why don’t you brief Jessup on the plan? I’ll go make sure the other are all ready,” I say after clearing my throat a time or two and heading back inside the house.
“Bull,” Rage calls after me and I turn to see them both wearing the same shit-eating grin. “Welcome to the family.”
I laugh and shake my head. Then I pause, those two are infamous for the pranks they pull on each other.
That wasn’t a welcome. It was a warning.
Chapter 8
Rage
“You’re sure about this?” Thunder asks, coming up behind me. “You’re not exactly full strength right now, brother.”
I start to turn my head but, almost as if to prove his point, that hurts too damn much, so I half-turn in his direction, not saying a word as I study his face in the moonlight. Everly administered the shot she had promised me before we rode off to the meet up with Frost, Gravedigger, and the prospects.
“About time they learn what a man can do when he hasn’t been knocked over the head first,” I tell him reaching my hand out for the leather roll he’s carrying.
“You know, it’s not actually considered a lesson if they don’t survive it,” he says, chuckling.
“You advocating for their lives?” I ask even though I know better.
“Fuck no. Just bummed to miss out on the best part of the fight, is all.”
“If I don’t come back—”
“You will.” There’s no hesitation in his voice and I’d like to think his confidence is well placed, even in my current condition.
“I want you to make sure Everly is alright.”
“Oh,Iwill.” That old dirty dog grin that lights up his face almost has me smiling.
“No fucking her, asshole.” Normally, I’d throw a punch at him, but I need to save my energy. “She deserves better than either of us, but if—”
“When,” he corrects me again.
“…I come back from this, I’m going to do everything in my power to make her my Ol’ Lady.”
He lets out a low whistle before reaching his finger up to make a cross mark over his heart, just like our mother used to do.
“It’s no Harley, but the electric ATV is all charged up for you,” he says and we exchange a glance filled with humor.
“I never thought I’d be caught dead riding an electric vehicle,” I crack.
“Now who’s the asshole?”
*
The low hum of the electric engine infuriated me almost as much as the pain I felt with every bump the shocks didn’t absorb. Doing my best to ignore the ache in my ribs, the pull of all the stitches, and hoping the painkiller would kick in soon, I hope that I’ve stayed on course.
