Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 67490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Shayne rolled her eyes, then turned to her friend. “You didn’t tell him who I am?”
I knew who she was.
At least, I knew what Ande had told me.
“Shayne here is the sister of the head of one of the biggest gangs in North Texas.” I heard one of the brothers reply from behind us. “He also considers himself to own this part of town. She’ll be safe.”
I flicked a look behind me to see that it was Quincy who answered.
“Well, if that’s the case, wouldn’t that just put a big target on your back?” I wondered. “Is that not a giant invitation for other gangs looking to piss off your brother’s gang?”
I knew nothing about gangs. But it seemed plausible.
“Something that we’ve been trying to get through that thick skull of hers for years.” Quinn stood up. “And I’ll be walking her home, so no need to go out of your way.”
Then he was gone, hooking his hand around Shayne’s upper bicep as he went.
She went willingly for about two-point-five seconds, then wrenched her arm away from him. “Don’t guide me. I don’t need you.”
Then they were too far away to hear anything, but I saw them continue down the stairs, the two of them so close that they might as well have been seconds away from kissing. But there was nothing sweet and romantic about the way they were looking at each other. They were glaring hard enough to cause everyone around to give them a wide birth. And Quinn and Shayne were talking loudly, because as they passed people, the people would stare warily.
“Well, that was fun.” Ande sniffled.
“Predictable,” Quincy muttered. “It’d be really nice if they stopped beating around the bush already.”
“One day they might,” Ande shook her head. “But she’s stubborn, and so is he. There’s no right answer to any of it.”
“No,” Quincy stood up and caught his jacket. “And since we’ve already broken up, it’s time for me to head home.”
“Me, too.” Gable stood. “I gotta get back or they’ll notice I’m gone.”
As each brother left, they gave Ande a kiss on the head.
It wasn’t until the last one—Garrett—started to leave that he said, “Are you staying at Mom’s or my house?”
Ande bit her lip. “Neither.”
“Neither?” he asked incredulously. “If not there then… his place.”
I braced for the look of annoyance and contempt to cross his face, but Garrett nodded. “If you need anything, holler. I love you, Ande.”
Then he was slapping me on the shoulder and heading out himself, leaving his sister in my care.
“That was way easier than I thought it would be,” I admitted.
“That’s because Garrett isn’t the same person he used to be,” she murmured, watching him go. “Ever since he was stabbed, and all that went down with the gangs, he’s been this shell of a person. He puts on a good show, but it’s obvious to us all that he’s just not… right. We’ve all banded together to help but…”
I knew a little bit about needing to heal.
“Sometimes a man needs to fix himself by himself,” I said as I threw my hand over her shoulder. “You ready to go?”
She caught my hand, and I led her out of the bar.
“Shh,” she said as she pointed.
I looked up to find Shayne and Quinn arguing on a street corner.
Someone was leaning on a car in an alley close by, keeping a watch over the couple.
“What’s that about?” I whispered.
“That looks like her brother,” Ande admitted. “My brother and hers do not get along.”
I could see the way both men were rigid.
They didn’t look happy to be in each other’s vicinity at all.
“Let’s go,” I urged. “Let them figure that out.”
“I don’t think that’s ever going to happen,” she admitted as we walked toward my building. “Man, this has been a day.”
No kidding.
CHAPTER 14
You, brother, are the human version of period cramps.
-Simi to Keene
KEENE
After that encounter, the last thing I wanted to do was get back to my place and deal with my family… yet there they were.
All of them. Every last one of them. In my apartment, looking on expectantly.
At least the brothers-in-law had the decency to look chagrined.
“What are you all doing here?” I asked stiffly.
My hand curled protectively around Ande, who was clutching her blanket like her very life depended on it.
The move was noticed by all of my sisters.
“We’re here because we were watching the football game on your television,” Simi said unapologetically from the couch where she was stuffing her face with what looked like caramel popcorn. “Why are you here?”
I paused. “Because I live here.”
“Yeah,” Zip chewed on a piece of beef jerky. “But you literally said you weren’t coming home. How is this our fault that you’re here, and we’re here?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Because this is my house.”
“Technically,” Hades said tauntingly, “this is an apartment.”