"Yes," Rome said simply. The first thing he'd said since she'd left, and I wasn't the only one who looked at him. Undisturbed by our stares, he continued, "But it's not just sex. She's one of us. She belongs here."
As much as my dick might dispute the sex comment, the rest of me didn't. What I wanted from Emersyn was so much more than just the liquid heat between her legs or to hear her harsh cries as she came. I wanted...
"You have got to be fucking kidding me. I've killed men for less and you're all basically telling me you brought her here and are pimping her out between you."
"I love you, kid," Doc said in the most even of tones. "But make that suggestion again and I will tear a strip off you like you’ve never experienced. She deserves a hell of a lot more than to be referred to as a whore."
"She's not a fucking whore," Milo snarled and I was already on my feet before I even realized I was moving. Kellan grabbed me. Doc stopped Vaughn. But it was Rome who moved and blocked Milo, going toe to toe with him.
"Don't discuss her. She might be your sister, but you don't know her. None of us did." The words resonated and Rome poked Milo in the chest. "You put her in front of us. You told us she was valuable. You have loved her for years. You charged us with looking after her. You didn't have to. We have all protected her. We care. We want her here. She needs us."
All of that was true on more levels than I cared to admit.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me." Milo looked at each of us and for the first time since I'd known him, the divide between us seemed to be a bottomless chasm, ripped open like a jagged wound. He was my best friend...
"Guys," I repeated. "Go. Let me talk to Milo."
Milo raked a hand through his hair and turned away from all of us as he stalked across the room. Rage seemed to vibrate in his muscles, and he couldn't sit still. I got that so fucking well.
"Jas," Kellan said in a low voice and I shook my head.
"Not this time. This is between me and Milo. If we don't settle it now, we won't ever settle it." And I needed it settled. She might not understand yet. But if Milo and I were at war—it would tear Emersyn apart. I couldn't let that happen. "She needs us all. Right now—we're not on the same continent, much less the same page."
Doc frowned at me but whatever he searched for in my face he must have found, because he nodded. "Try not to rip those stitches up and no more fighting. I don't want you puncturing a lung."
I almost laughed. Fighting was what I did. "It's okay, Doc," I told him. "If I do, I've got you on speed dial."
His lack of amusement filtered through his harsh stare, then he shook his head. "You kids are never going to change."
"We're not kids anymore," Kellan reminded him.
"Yeah, I suppose you aren't." Doc glanced at Milo. "You still want to stay at my place after this?"
That stopped me dead, and I wasn't the only one. Milo hadn't even planned to stay here? How much fucking damage had I done?
"No," Milo said and it wasn't the relief it should have been. "Jasper's right. The rest of you take off, but stay close."
Yeah, that took no interpretation. He didn't want anyone going after Emersyn.
Too fucking bad, brother. That was my next stop after we got this settled between us.
Rome didn't comment, he just walked out—the door to the warehouse and not up the stairs. Doc was two steps behind him. Then it was just me, Kellan, Vaughn, and Milo.
We waited, and Vaughn shot me a look and the second chasm erupting amidst all this mess became visible. Vaughn was taking my side against Milo. Kellan backed me against Milo.
A fist bruised my heart at that realization. They were choosing me.
But they couldn't only choose me. I wouldn't allow it.
Milo and I were more than blood. More than friends. We'd been the first family the other had, beyond Emersyn for him. We'd been the first.
"Go on guys," I repeated. "Please."
That got their attention and following a pair of aggrieved sighs, they left.
Then it was just me and Milo.
He stared at me for a long moment. My face fucking hurt and so did my chest. "I'm listening," he began.
"You remember what you said to me when we turned twelve?"
Milo frowned. Maybe it was a digression, but the words fit then and they fit now. I'd had a couple of really close scrapes that year—one with a dirty cop. Milo had always had my back, but when I'd joked about a fairy tale existence, he'd said something profound. Like me, Milo was a reader. He read everything.
"Fairy tales don't tell us the dragon is real or that the boogeyman exists," I began.
"They tell us they can be killed." He finished the statement with a sigh. "What are you in this, Jas? Are you the dragon?"
I chuckled, even if it hurt. "I fucking hope not. Because she hates being called princess."
It was a lame joke, but Milo's harsh chuckle was worth it.
"Want to get out of here for a while? Get some fresh air? Talk?" All I could do was offer the olive branch.
He had to accept it.
Even if it hurts
Milo
“Jasper,” Ms. Stephanie said as she led another boy into the yard. He was scrawny. Bruised. His eyes, though, were hollow and suspicious. “This is Milo. Milo, this is Jasper. He was the boy I told you about this morning.”
Ms. Stephanie had mentioned that she was bringing a new foster to the house today. One of the older fosters Ms. Joanie had looked after had won some scholarship to a boarding school. Ms. Joanie and Mr. Pete were pretty awesome. They opened their home to everyone, and they didn't pretend to be our parents. At the same time, they didn't pretend we weren't a part of the household.
I liked them.
They took real good care of Ivy, too. She was never dirty and always smiled. The first few days we were here, I'd changed her diapers. I'd always gotten to her first. Ms. Joanie hadn't scolded but she had told me that it was okay to let her do it.
I watched her real close, for like a week. Ms. Joanie was really good at changing her diaper and making Ivy laugh. So I didn't mind going out to play, but only if Ivy was downstairs in the play area where I could listen for her too.
“Why don’t you two get to know each other while I take Jasper’s things inside and talk to Ms. Joanie.” Ms. Stephanie's words pulled me back to the present and the kid eyeing me so distrustfully. He really was kind of scrawny and his clothes didn't fit. I hated when mine were too short or too long.
Ivy let out a yowl from inside and I jerked my attention to the door. Three cries. That was my deal with Ms. Joanie. Three of the yowling cries and if she didn't fix it, I would. The sobbing broke off almost as it started.
Whew.
She probably wanted someone to pick her up. Ivy liked cuddles. Ms. Stephanie was really good at them. Ivy never fussed when she carried her around.
Finally, I looked back at the new kid—Jasper.
“You want to play?”
“Not really.” It was a blunt answer, so I shrugged.
“Well, I’m gonna play over there.” I pointed toward the row of racing cars Mickey J had brought over a few days ago, along with his old racing set. I hadn't seen anything like it and when he said I could keep it I still couldn't believe it. Mickey was a lot like his sister. Ms. Stephanie was nicer though, but Mickey—Mickey seemed to get me. He never tried to sugar coat anything. Life sucks, kid, he would tell me. Just wait until it's your turn to kick it in the balls.