The two uninvited guests also stand still, staring at me with a whole host of emotions flickering across their familiar faces.
How the fuck did they find me when I have gone to exhaustive lengths to hide us? If Hamilton wasn’t their archenemy, I might assume this is part two of a multi-part act, but there’s no way they are here to do his bidding. Unless Hamilton anonymously leaked details of our address to them on purpose knowing they would come and get us.
Motherfucker.
I bet that’s exactly what he’s done.
I am going to string him up by the balls and riddle his manipulative old ass with bullets the first opportunity I get.
Panic churns in my gut, mixing with years of pent-up rage, as I realize my predicament. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I snarl at my older brothers, pinning them with the full extent of my hatred. “You’re not wanted. Leave.” I’d jab my finger in their stupid faces if I currently had the use of my hands.
Shock splays across their faces. “You know who we are?” Maverick asks, disbelief oozing from his tone.
I snort out a bitter laugh. “Don’t look so surprised. Of course, I know. It’s why I’ve expended time, effort, and money hiding us from you.”
“Why would you do that?” Hurt and confusion ghosts over Maverick’s eerily similar face.
“Why wouldn’t I?” I snap, sending him a daggered glare. “You tossed us aside as babies like we were trash.”
“It wasn’t like that,” Kaiden says, finally finding his voice. “We’ve spent years looking for you. We?—”
“I don’t know what’s going on here, nor do I care,” the asshole cop says. “Get out of our way.”
My brothers eyeball the two cops and the cuffs wrapped around my wrists as if noticing them for the first time. They both straighten up, and Kaiden steps in front of the cop holding on to me, leveling him with a dark look I might admire if my brother wasn’t such a self-serving prick. “You’re not taking my brother anywhere until you tell us what’s going on.”
A strangled sound emits from behind us, and I grind my teeth to the molars as I briefly close my eyes. This is what I’m afraid of. I can’t leave Roman here with Maverick and Kaiden. It’ll be a shit show.
“Zayn.” Roman’s voice cracks. “What’s going on?”
I twist my head and stare at my brother. “Do what I say and call Everett.”
“It’s okay.” Maverick takes a step toward my little brother. “We’re your family. We’re here to help, and we’ll explain everything.”
“Stay the fuck away from him!” I shout, my dark gaze bouncing between Kaiden and Maverick. “I’m his legal guardian, and you don’t have my permission to talk to him.”
“We’re going nowhere, Rogan,” Kaiden says.
“That’s not my name!” I hiss, striving to get free of the hands constraining me. “Look, this has all been a misunderstanding, Officer,” I say, ignoring the asshole and appealing to his older partner. “I promise I’ll come to the station with my lawyer in a couple hours if you just cut me loose now so I can handle this family issue.”
“Nice try, dickwad.” The asshole cop digs his fingers into my elbow as he yanks me forward. “We have a warrant for your arrest, and you’re coming with us now.”
“For what?” Maverick asks at the same time Kaiden says, “Show me.” Kaiden blocks the asshole’s forward trajectory with his body.
“Get out of my way, or I’ll arrest you too.”
“I’d like to see you try.” Kaiden squares up to him, towering over his shorter, fleshier build with menacing eyes. “We have powerful friends, and you don’t want to make an enemy of us.”
“Are you threatening me, boy?”
“Everyone, calm down,” the older cop says, approaching my brothers. Maverick is glancing between me and Roman with a troubled look on his face. “Here’s the warrant.” He hands it to Kaiden. “We’re taking him to the tenth precinct. You can follow us there.”
Kaiden’s face gives nothing away as he reads the warrant. Lifting his head, he levels me with an intense look. “We’ll send a lawyer. Say nothing until he gets there.”
“I’m not an imbecile, and I can hire my own damn lawyer.”
“We take care of our own,” Kaiden grits out. “Keep your lips sealed until our guy arrives. We’ll meet you at the precinct.”
“I don’t fucking want or need your help,” I holler as I’m dragged to the open doorway. A few neighbors are out in the hallway, drawn to their doors by the commotion. Great. All we need is some do-gooder reporting to the management company, and we’ll be tossed out on our ear. “Don’t believe a word they tell you, Ro,” I shout, angling my head to look back at my little brother as I’m shoved into the hallway. “They’re liars, and it’s all lies!”
