Ourbrother.
****
Wraith and the others stood with Cleo at the fire until it completely burned out. They would’ve remained longer had she needed it. When she got up, they all fell in line walking back to the clubhouse. No one said a word, including her.
He wasn’t surprised when they walked in and the house was empty. It was part of their ritual. They celebrated Knox with everyone then cleared out the house, leaving it only for those closest to him. Tonight that included Cleo.
“Where is everyone?” Cleo asked as they entered the main room.
Wraith led her to the table as Cue walked over carrying a bottle of whiskey. Knox’s favorite.
“Tradition.” He planted the bottle on the table and set up the glasses. Twelve. Eight for the brothers at the table. Two for Jekyll and Hyde. One for Knox. And the final glass…for Cleo.
Gent pulled out his chair and sat across from Wraith, eyeing his woman. “We all tell our favorite Knox story. And you, darlin’” —Gent pointed to her— “Are in for a real treat ’cause I got one involving a bar fight and a fivesome with a rival club’s girls. And if you can’t quite figure out how that went down, I’ll explain in detail. Your brother was a hell of a guy.”
Fucking asshole.
To her credit, Cleo listened to them all, even Gent’s. When he was done, he pointed to her.
“Your turn.”
“I don’t really have a lot” —she glanced down at her glass and muttered— “Not like you all.”
“All we need is one,” Ace said, sipping his whiskey.
“Okay, um,” Cleo nervously shifted in her seat and a small smile emerged. “Knox left when he was eighteen, and we had a large age gap, so we weren’t super close, but um, the day before he moved out, he made plans to take me out for burgers. It was a Saturday, and he got into a huge fight with my mom. She kicked him out that day, and he left. I figured that was probably the last time I’d see him. On Monday, I was in school and got called to the office. The secretary said there was an emergency at home, and I was being signed out.” She smiled, which rolled into a laugh.
“Knox?” Cross asked.
She glanced up, nodding. “Yeah, he said my mom was in an accident, and he needed to take me to the hospital. We spent the day at the arcade, got lunch, and saw a movie. He dropped me off at the bus stop so my mom wouldn’t suspect anything.”
“She ever find out?”
Cleo lost her smile. “Yeah. She wasn’t happy.”
Wraith could imagine what Cleo’s punishment would’ve been for that infraction.
“But it was worth it.”
Worth the beating.
“Anyway.” Cleo waved her hand and reached for her glass. “That’s the best one I’ve got. I told you I didn’t have great stories.”
Cue scoffed. “He busted you outta school. That’s a great fucking story.”
When the room grew quiet, Gent was a welcome distraction.
“I got another one.”
“Is everyone clothed in this story?” Cleo asked.
Gent scoffed. “Where’s the fun in that?”
Ah, fuck, it’s gonna be a long night.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“You’re paying me rent. You don’t have to feed me.” Grizz grumbled, and she battened down her smile.
