Page 11 of When a Soul Cries

“You’re the main reason it needs to be held together.”

Kai laughed loudly in my ear.

I glanced at Yasmine, who was pretending to inspect the kitchen while listening to every word.

“Text me the list,” I said.

“I already did. And don’t try sending your assistant. Sugga said she wants you to bring the groceries yourself.”

“Why?”

“Because I told her I had plans.”

“What plans?”

“Staying my ass at home and protecting my peace.”

“You’re useless.”

“And still your favorite brother.”

“You’re my only brother.”

“Exactly. No competition. I won before the race started.”

I shook my head. “Anything else?”

“Yeah. Don’t buy those hard-ass peaches you always get. She wants some she can eat this week, not when Jesus comes back.”

“Are you finished?”

“And get my cereal.”

“You’re a grown man. Buy your own cereal.”

“After everything I’ve been through?”

“You’re using your criminal case to get Cinnamon Toast Crunch now?”

“Trauma affects everybody differently.”

I laughed before I could stop myself.

“Get off my phone, Kai.”

“Love you too, big bro.”

I disconnected, still shaking my head.

That was Kai and me.

We could turn a grocery list into a full argument and insult each other for twenty minutes without either of us taking it personally. Making jokes was how Kai dealt with everything, including the months he’d spent behind bars.

I let him joke because hearing him laugh was better than remembering the days when I didn’t know if I would ever hear it again.

To everybody else, we were the Devereaux brothers. Powerful. Calculated. Once dangerous enough that people lowered their voices when they mentioned our names.

Around each other, we were two overgrown fools who talked too much shit and competed over everything. Sugga swore we gave her headaches on purpose.