Alfie stared at the house a little longer, then looked over at Malachi.
“It’s beautiful,” Alfie breathed out.
Malachi seemed to let out a sigh like he actually cared about Alfie’s opinion, as if hewantedAlfie to like his home.
“And to answer your question from earlier, no, I’m not adopted, but it’s complicated. I’ll explain everything to you once you see your brother who is about to walk out of his house.”
“Huh?” Alfie looked up, and sure enough, there was Axel coming out of the house to the right of the one they’d backed in front of. “How did you know he was?”
Before he could finish his sentence, his brother was pulling the door open for Alfie to step out.
“Alfie!” Axel threw himself against him in a tight embrace, and Alfie couldn’t stop the gasp and wince of pain at his brother’s body connecting to his bruised one.
Axel must have felt him wince because he pulled away and studied Alfie.
“Something’s wrong,” Axel said, and before Alfie knew what was happening, Axel was pulling on his hoodie and t-shirt. He was too stunned to react, and by the time he did, the bruising on his stomach had already been seen.
“Who the fuck did that to you?” Axel shot, his face set in mutinous lines.
From the driver’s side Alfie heard…Wait, was that a growl?When he turned, it was to find that Malachi had stepped out of the car and was speaking to a man who looked a lot like he did, but he must have turned at Axel’s words because his gaze was fixed on the strip of skin Alfie’s brother had bared.
Alfie immediately pulled his hoodie down and shot Axel an annoyed glare.
“Can we talk about this in private?” He asked in a lowered voice to Axel.
Axel glanced at Malachi, then at the other man he assumed was Malek, before looking back at him.
“Yeah, come on.” Axel held his hand out for Alfie, who took it and let himself be guided out.
“Should we get your stuff from the boot?” Axel asked, glancing towards the back of the car.
“Stuff?” Alfie asked stupidly.
“Yes, Alfie, yourstuff. Likeluggage?” Axel looked at him like he was talking to a toddler.
“Oh, uh… I must have left it all when I…” he stopped short of saying ran, not wanting to spill in front of an audience. “Can we please go inside and talk in private?”
For some reason, even when he was whispering, he had a feeling that Malachi could hear him, and he didn’t want the man to know he was a loser.
Axel glanced at the other two brothers, whose eyes seemed to be on them, and nodded. “Come on.” He put his hand on Alfie’s back and led him towards the house he’d come out of.
Eleven
Alfie
Axel led him inside the house and up the stairs. Alfie couldn’t help but take in everything as he passed.
“Wow, this is mint!” Alfie exclaimed.
Axel looked around and grinned. “Not bad, innit, but Malek is the best part—and Mason.”
“Mason?” He glanced at his brother, eyebrow raised.
“He’s our son,” Axel said, but there was something in his brother’s voice at the announcement which he couldn’t quite read.
“You have a son? How is that even possible?” Alfie asked, brow furrowed.
“It’s a long story… I’ll explain everything to you, but only after we talk about what the hell is going on… Alf what happened? Why did you call all panicked?” Axel’s eyes were on him expectantly as he leaned against the door frame, arms crossed against his chest and a gaze that pierced through Alfie.
