“I’m actually pretty excited about it,” I confess. Turning to Britton, I ask, “Do you remember me telling you about my childhood friend, Charles?”
“I recall you mentioning him a time or two,” she states. “Why?”
“He’s the reason I wanted to pursue a special education degree. When he was two, he was left unsupervised and fell into the family’s pool. He had to be revived and ended up with brain trauma due to lack of oxygen. He had an in-home care teacher and she’s the one who inspired me to go down that path. It’s what I wanted to do when I enrolled in college. She was so damn patient with him and she was the only one, outside of me, that could get him to smile. He was the only friend I was allowed to have and he called to my soul.”
“Why him and not other kids from school?” LoneStar asks.
Seeing as he doesn’t know a helluva lot about my history, I decide to give him the abbreviated version so I don’t have to go into full detail and relive some of the more destructive things due to my parents. “Our fathers grew up together. They were best friends so we spent a lot of time at their house. Charles and I are only six months apart, so we learned to do things together. Anyway, our fathers were close, and our mothers were both materialistic so they got along too. Unlike my folks, they kept their fortune even while joining in on the partying life. They had the funds to hire in-home care and staff while mine didn’t. So Yolanda, Charles’ teacher, taught me about compassion and helped me learn to think outside of the box my parents kept me inside of. I helped her with Charles and that’s where I found my happy place. Being his friend was the highlight of my life until I met Britton.”
“He was your family, your brother,” LoneStar muses.
“He was and to a degree, still is,” I state. “Unfortunately, every time I call and check in on him, his parents tattle to mine, so I’ve had to limit my interaction with him.”
LoneStar leans back in his seat and says, “Boston and Carolina will be in good hands with you, Jersey. Thank you for volunteering to let them stay with you.”
“You’re welcome,” I whisper, choked up as I begin putting the dishes in the dishwasher. I’m not used to people believing in me, and when they do, it hits me like a sledgehammer and causes my emotions to go haywire. “I hope I don’t let anyone down.”
CHAPTER
FOUR
Slayer
Everything starts movingat a breakneck pace. I followed through on my word, hiring a crew of movers to clear out Mrs. Jackman's place while I handled the fees for her lease termination. After scouting out a nearby retirement complex via a digital walkthrough, I secured her a spot that offers plenty of social activities—something the old gal is actually eager to dive into. We even managed to get in front of a judge for an expedited hearing, and it's official: I'm now the legal guardian for both Boston and Carolina.
Xavier and Grady have initiated a legal battle against that neglectful establishment on behalf of the kids. Even if nothing else comes of it, the settlement from the litigation will provide a cushion for whatever their little one might need down the road. It's not that I'm unable or unwilling to handle the financial burden myself, but this windfall will offer them a sense of independence. I never want them to feel tethered or limited by my wallet if there are things they have their hearts set on.
Even though they’re grown, they still require a soft place to land and a hand to hold, especially since Boston still struggles with basic shit like buying his own damn clothes. Plus, neither one of them can get behind the wheel of a bike or a cage because of their medical history. Riptide gave me a shout and he wasn’t exactly polite about his order for me to haul ass back to Canton saying things at the compound have reached a boiling point. They found Britton, but it turns out she’s got some obsessed freak breathing down her neck, a stalker who’s tied in with the same dragon assholes we’re currently at war with.
I’m currently heading up a convoy as we make our way back toward the compound. Riptide was stretched too thin to send any brothers to act as an escort, so Xavier stepped in and provided a tactical team he keeps on retainer for high-stakes protection details. I’m naturally on edge around outsiders, but Xavier’s word is bond, so I agreed to meet them. After having Booker scrub their backgrounds and confirming they weren’t a threat, I brought them on to serve as a security detail for Boston and Carolina. Mrs. Jackman is following behind in the moving truck, which is hauling her car as they go. I’m not worried about her, those movers are the same ones who handled our transition from West Texas to our new home in Canton. They’re pros who keep their mouths shut and focus on the task at hand.
Twilight bled into a dark sky as the convoy finally rolled onto the compound. That heavy weight I’d been hauling in my neck and shoulders since I left started to melt away the moment the courtyard lights flickered into view and the gates hissed shut, locking the world out. Riptide was there, flanked by Indiana, Icer, LoneStar, and Nova, all of them loitering outside of Jersey’s trailer as we pulled to a stop. I barely had my kickstand down and my boots on the pavement before Rip was in my personal space. Without a word of greeting, his fist connected with myjaw, the force of the blow sending me reeling back. He leveled a finger at me, his voice a lethal snarl as he barked, “You rode alone!”
In the background, I hear Indiana wisecrack, “Uh oh. Mommy and Daddy are fighting.”
Riptide twirls around on his feet and narrows his eyes at Indiana, ordering, “Shut the fuck up. We don’t have time for your adolescent bullshit.”
A blur streaks past me, and I’m left standing there with my mouth hanging open as Boston launches himself into the air. He connects with Riptide’s back and begins whaling on my president with everything he’s got. “Don’t hit my Bubba!” he screams. I’m so damn stunned that my brain stalls out for a heartbeat before I can move. Scrambling over, I dodge his flying limbs and finally manage to get a grip, snatching Boston around the middle and hauling him off Rip.
Leaning in, I murmur soft words against his ear, pleading for him to find his chill. “I'm fine, Bubs. That punch barely even registered, he hits like a damn girl.” I make it a point not to blow smoke up my brother's ass, but the situation is dire and calls for some creative truth-telling. “I went off script and broke the code, Boston. I had that coming.”
When Boston settles down, he harrumphs. “Nobody deserves to be hit, Bubba. That’s just mean.”
“It is,” I say, sighing. “But we’ve talked about this, Bubs. You have to remember our deal. When things get heavy or the noise gets to be too much, you and Carolina need to shut your eyes and block it all out.”
As I set him on his feet, he places his hands on his hips and glares at me. “I’ll never shut my eyes when someone hurts you. Never! You protect me and I protect you, that’s what brothers do, right?”
“I know,” I say, letting out a heavy breath. “But we’ve talked about this, Bubs, choices come with a price, and I went off script. I’m too old for a timeout or a spanking, and since I spooked Riptide by leaving the way I did, he dealt with me the only way he knew how.”
Boston raises his hand and cups the spot Riptide punched, swiping his thumb over it. “You have a red mark. He hit you hard. I don’t like him, Bubba.”
I drop to my haunches, forcing him to meet my gaze. “I'm good, Bubs. Do I look like I'm hurting? I swear, I'm alright. Rip is my brother, and when I hauled ass without giving him a heads-up, it scared himsodamn much that he spent every minute I was gone on edge, and that fear turned into fury.”
“Then he should have used his words like you taught me how to do. You said that was being an adult, is your friend not a big boy like I am?” Boston asks.
Riptide, finally finding his composure, comes over and kneels down beside me, placing his hand on my shoulder and squeezing it. “I am a big boy, but I acted like a mean guy, you’re right about that. I’m sorry I scared you, and I should have used my words instead of my fist. I’m sorry I hit your brother.” The way Riptide’s hand is clamped on my shoulder says he’s anything but sorry. I know he and I will be going toe-to-toe later when Boston isn’t around. Like I told my brother, I deserve it, I did break a rule, one that I helped set into place and I have to face the consequences for that.
The door to Jersey’s place opens and she steps out onto the porch, narrowing her eyes at the three of us. “What’s going on out here?”
