Page 125 of Desecrated Saints
“Are any of us? This whole situation is fucked.”
I look at him, noting the lines of exhaustion. “You not sleeping much?”
He shakes his head. “Talking about everything was rough. I handed all of Dad’s files over, the lot of them. Four months of working for the bastard taught me a few things, but I’m now an accomplice.”
“That’s bullshit. You got us out.”
Kade scoffs. “I smuggled contraband, sold drugs, incited a riot and supplied weapons to convicted murderers. Oh, not to mention burning the place down and helping several convicts escape. They want my fucking head.”
“Everything will work out.”
“How can you be so sure?”
We arrive at our floor with a ding and step out of the elevator. I clap Kade on the shoulder as we head for our temporary home, hating the uncertainty in his voice. He’s the last one to start doubting himself.
“There’s no other option, that’s why,” I answer easily. “We did the impossible before. We’ll do it again.”
“Do you remember when I had to beg you to eat a single meal with me in Blackwood?” Kade asks randomly. “A mere conversation took weeks of pleading. You’d given up.”
“People change.” I shrug off the shame eating me alive. “I grew up. Getting Brooklyn back changed everything for me. If that was possible, then I could do anything. Even learn to live with myself.”
Before we can head inside, Kade’s hand grabs my shirt sleeve.
“Hud… no matter what happens, I’m glad I got my brother back.”
Jesus, he’s determined to kill me off with this emotional shit. We’re all going fucking insane in this place.
“Yeah, I love you too, jackass.” I get him in a headlock and mess up his styled blonde locks. “Can we move on now? I’m not fucking kissing you.”
“I still hate you, bro. You’re a pain in my ass.”
“And I will be forever. Thanks to you.”
Entering the apartment together, we find the others spread across the sectional sofa in the living room. Phoenix and Eli are keeping up their end of the bargain, sandwiching Brooklyn between them while a movie plays. She doesn’t appear to be paying attention, anxiously picking at her nails.
“Right, then.” Kade claps his hands. “Who’s ready for some fun?”
“Fun?” Brooklyn wrinkles her nose.
Draining a bottle of water from the kitchen, I toss her a smirk. “You know, fun? It’s when you get off the fucking sofa and join the land of the living. Maybe even crack a smile. Sounds crazy, huh?”
“Does this fun involve alcohol?” Phoenix grins mischievously.
Offering Eli a hand up, Kade moves to grab Brooklyn next. She squeals while being lifted into the air and pushed in my direction. I imprison her in my arms before she can crawl back into bed and hide like she’s taken to doing.
“Come and find out.”
“Where’s Seven?” Brooklyn frowns.
“He’s… out,” I answer lamely. “Preoccupied.”
“I thought he was with you guys. Where did he go?”
Silencing her questions with a kiss, I pillage her mouth until Phoenix starts wolf-whistling. We break apart, both breathing hard. He’s hanging off Eli, still needing support with walking.
It’s the first time I’ve seen him look like himself after losing his sister. His latest depressive episode has been rough, even with medication. He’ll always suffer from these intense, brutal cycles.
Kade takes Brooklyn’s other hand, so we both have a grip on her. She’s reluctantly pulled along, leaving the warm bubble of the apartment behind. I won’t let her slip back into a detached haze. We have enough to contend with as it is. Whatever Seven did yesterday, it brought her back to us.
