When he called me, sounding like he was crying, my heart fucking sank. He asked me to come get him. He says he’s not hurt, but I don’t believe him. Not one bit.
“No,” Easton says. “Maybe he’s inside?” Easton nods towards the restaurant, but it looks closed.
Grabbing my phone, I call Isaiah. “Hey, where are you?”
“Back alley next to the pizza place,” he rasps.
My eyes dart over to the dimly lit alleyway next to the building we’re in front of. I’m racing forward, Easton following after.
“Isaiah.” His name comes out in a rushed breath as I run over to him. “What the fuck happened?” My eyes widen as I take in the state of my little brother.
He’s sitting on the ground, the most broken and defeated look on his face. That and the fact that he’s bloody and has a black eye forming.
“I’m fine,” he growls at me, pulling his face from my grasp when I try to get a look at it.
“Fine?” I scoff. “You’re not fucking fine. Who did this?” I demand. Who the fuck beat my little brother up? I’ll fucking kill them.
“It doesn’t matter. Can you just take me home? Please.” I hate how sad he sounds.
Isaiah isn’t a small guy. For being fifteen, he’s already reaching six feet. Playing hockey has made him fit, so he can easily defend himself. He’s gotten into more than a few fights when it comes to defending his friends and Raiden.
He’s come home with a bloody lip or a bruised cheek before, but never this.
“Someone hurt you. And I want to know who. And why?”
Isaiah closes his eyes, letting out a pained groan as he leans his head back against the wall.
“Please. Tell me what's going on. It’s me. You can trust me with anything.”
He opens one eye, looking behind me. “What’s he doing here?”
I look over my shoulder and find a worried Easton standing there, arms crossed like he’s standing guard.
“You can trust him.”
He snorts out a laugh. “Anyone who hurts my brother is someone I can’t trust.”
Now is not the time to defend Easton. I’ll deal with that later. “So, you can understand why I’m freaking the fuck out, seeing my little brother fucking beaten to a bloody pulp?!”
“You’re being dramatic. It’s a split lip, maybe a black eye.” He shifts, letting out a sharp gasp. “And maybe a few bruised ribs.”
“Christ,” I growl. “Isaiah,” I warn.
“Fine.” He sighs heavily, still giving Easton a glaring look. “He needs to go.”
“I’ll wait for you on the sidewalk, okay?” Easton puts a gentle hand on my shoulder.
I look up at him and nod. “Okay.”
“So, what the fuck is going on between you two?” Isaiah asks.
“This is not about us. We can talk about that later. Stop trying to deflect.”
“Remember when Raiden brought up the fact that I like guys?”
“Yeah. Not a cool thing for him to out you like that, but yeah.” I nod.
“Well, there's this new guy at River Ridge High. His name is Parker. He came to town last year. Over the summer, we started hanging out and...”
