Kaz overheard them arguing. Again.
“Don’t start,” he mumbled as Kaz came to stand next to him. He stared up at the white house, at the wooden back porch Jane was climbing the steps to, her shoulders high and her steps heavy.
“Maybe you all just need some time apart,” Kaz suggested, dark brow raised at Wilder.
“I doubt it’s gonna make me want to throw up any less when seeing our brother kiss our sister.”
Kaz frowned, gaze going vacant. His brother was trying to fix this mess, and he couldn’t fault him for it. The three of them had put him square in the middle of this bullshit storm. Kaz should’ve spent his time playing house with his partner, not wrangling three idiots.
He knew he was being dramatic about it all, but he couldn’t help how he felt. They kept that secret for so many years that he feared the sting of betrayal would never leave him. Itwould always be there in his heart, the knowledge that they kept something so huge from him. Would he have reacted badly thirteen years ago? Sure, but he wouldn’t have this deep-rooted betrayal burning inside him. He would’ve eventually gotten over two people he thought of as siblings being romantically involved. Instead, he was drowning in this shitty fucking feeling he couldn’t escape.
Kaz looked up at the porch, and from the smile that spread on his face, Wilder knew exactly who he’d found there. Miles had changed everything. Kaz was happy. Legit fucking happy.
He wished he could be happier for them than he was. Wished that Solo and Jane’s bullshit didn’t put a damper on his excitement for Miles and Kaz.
Fortunately, it didn’t stop a smile from spreading on his lips as Miles made his way toward them. He was wearing his cut with such pride it damned near shone from him.
“You guys ready?” Miles asked, stopping in front of them, his lips lifting on one side when Kaz instantly reached for him, arms circling Miles’s waist and tugging him close.
“For you? Always,” Kaz whispered just loud enough for Wilder to hear and snort out a laugh.
Miles elbowed Kaz, chuckling when Kaz only held onto him tighter, one hand cupping the back of Miles’s head to kiss him. They kept it PG, and Wilder doubted it was for his benefit. It was more likely because they did need to get going, and if those two started, there was no stopping them. He’d learnt that the hard way.
Kaz pulled back, voice too low for Wilder to hear as he mumbled something against Miles’s lips. Miles nodded, the heat in his eyes slowly dropping to a simmer before he turned toward Wilder. “You’re coming, right?”
“Yeah, I’ve just gotta make a quick stop first,” he said, backing away with a smile he hoped wasn’t so fake they’d notice.He was shit out of luck if the flat stare Kaz gave him was any indication.
“Don’t do anything?”
“Stupid?” He shook his head. “When have you ever known me to do something stupid?”
Kaz’s eyes narrowed, and he felt a real smile spread on his lips.
“We’ll see you there,” Miles said before pressing a kiss to Kaz’s cheek, distracting him just long enough to let Wilder get away.
He turned to head toward the parking lot, his heart stuttering to a halt in his chest when he looked up and found Jane leaning against the railing on the back porch, hurt in her eyes as her gaze met his.
He forced a swallow, his throat thick and painful.
He didn’t want to feel this pain. He wanted to be able to let it go, to move on, for her, but also for himself. He just didn’t know how.
CHAPTER TWO
Emmett
THE SOUND of running water led him toward the kitchen, where he expected to find his brother, though he wasn’t entirely surprised when he didn’t. The faucet was on, and Travis was nowhere to be seen. He walked to the sink and turned the water off with a shake of his head. It was easy to forget the water was running when you couldn’t hear it. He’d grown up with one of his fathers and his brother forgetting things quite often, though Travis was definitely the worst at it.
He reached for a glass in the cabinet despite wanting to go for a cup of coffee. Caffeine was not his friend. He was already nervous, and it would only make him more jittery.
They were going back to the motorcycle club. The bikers had bought and renovated a gym, and they’d commissioned him to paint two murals there. Why he’d agreed to do it, he still wasn’t sure. Possibly his brother’s guilt trip, possibly to escape his disaster of a life? Well, dating life, really. The rest wasn’t so bad. His ex, though? The asshole just wouldn’t take no for an answer.
If it weren’t for his family, he might not have realized in time that he was in an abusive relationship. They were only together for a year, but it was long enough to leave scars on his soul. He tried not to let it show, the shame of it too great. He knew to blame Heath, buthewas the one who stayed. The one who took the abuse.
He blew out a breath and rested his hip against the kitchen counter. He closed his eyes, running his hands down his face.Just thinking about it took its toll. At least he was out. Leaving hadn’t been pretty, though. Travis had to hold back their dad, or he might’ve killed Heath. Dad was a military man through and through, and even though it was over twenty years since he’d retired, Dad was as fit as when he was active-duty. Heath wouldn’t have stood a chance.
He grabbed the apple juice from the fridge and poured some into his glass, then reached for a bowl, milk, and his favorite cereal. He walked into the living room, heading for the couch, when low laughter stopped him in his tracks. No wonder his brother forgot about the water. He shook his head, smiling to himself as he sat down with his breakfast.
He was halfway through the cereal when the two lovebirds emerged from Travis’s bedroom. He popped a spoonful of cereal and milk into his mouth before putting his bowl on the coffee table, swallowing as he looked up. Emma’s dirty blonde hair was braided back the way she always did when she was planning on riding her bike. She wore her leather cut over a long-sleeved baby blue shirt that looked great with her dark jeans. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling as she glanced at Travis, who was watching her the way he had their whole lives: like she was the moon brightening his darkest night.
