Page 30 of Lost In The Dark

I barely knew them, but it was like some part deep inside recognized that they were my brothers and put trust in them. Maybe that would prove to make me a fool one day, but I doubted it. Asher and Eli had already done so much for me, and they had no cause to, except for the fact they were so sure we were related. They seemed like good men and I needed them to be. They were all I had and without them and their help, I hadno idea where exactly I would be in that moment. I just knew it wouldn’t have been good had they not interceded on my behalf.

Eli leaned in slowly, allowing me time to flinch away, but I didn’t. When he lay a soft kiss on the side of my head I couldn’t help but smile through my emotion. Eli would never know just how much his simple, comforting gesture meant to me.

“Come on, let’s find Ash and get some breakfast,” Eli suggested as he wrapped his arm around my back and supported me as I shakily made my way past the staircase and into the kitchen.

I shrank back against Eli as I looked around and found Adam and Jordan behind the counter. Adam seemed to be making eggs while Jordan filled a travel cup with black coffee.

“Morning, sweetheart,” Asher greeted, pulling my attention to where he sat at the counter. He seemed to be dressed to work out in a sleeveless black sports shirt and shorts. His hair was messy and the stubble on his chin was even thicker. A laptop was open on the counter before him, and he was holding a cup of black coffee.

“Morning,” I whispered, suddenly feeling nervous all over again, just like the night before.

“How are you feeling?” he asked as he looked me over assessingly.

“Um…a little better, I guess,” I shrugged. I kept my peripheral vision on Adam and Jordan in the kitchen, but they had both paused and seemed to be watching me.

“I was just telling her she looks much better than she did last night. We were going to have some breakfast,” Eli added as he steered me forward and towards Asher.

“Good timing then. The eggs are ready and I have waffles or French toast keeping warm in the oven,” Adam spoke up. I instantly looked around to him. He was dressed in shorts and a tight fitting t-shirt that showed every line and dip of his ripped body beneath. He looked ready to work out too. His deep, dark brown eyes were locked on mine and I had to fight to pull my gaze from him.

“Do you want coffee?” Jordan asked as I glanced to him. He held up the coffee pot he was holding and smiled widely. It was a spectacular smile which lit up his entire face. His brown eyes, so much like his brothers, seemed to sparkle in the sunlight coming through the glass doors behind me. I saw those flecks of amber and gold in his irises, that I had noticed the night before. He was dressed in dark charcoal colored, tailored pants, with a white shirt tucked into them, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair, which had been a little messy the night before, was now neatly styled and held in place with some kind of product.

“No thanks. I…I d-don’t drink coffee,” I pushed out through my tight throat. I wasn’t sure I had ever felt so many feelings at once. I was overwhelmed and my heart was pounding with fear, but I also couldn’t help but notice how handsome the two almost strangers were, even if they also intimidated the stuffing out of me, especially Adam. He was just so huge and strong. That fact was beginning to intrigue me almost as much as it terrified me.

“We have tea? Or juice? What do you like?” Jordan asked, his smile still in place and setting me at ease just a little.

I glanced to Eli who had paused beside me as I hesitated to climb onto the stool beside Asher. He smiled a little, encouraging me.

“I…Diet Coke? I’m kind of addicted to it,” I admitted shyly. Of course I knew it had likely been months, or more likely yearssince I last had the beverage, but before everything, it had been all I drank other than water.

“I think we have some,” Jordan declared as he hurried to the refrigerator. He opened it, then seconds later stood victoriously with a cold, silver can in hand. “Success!” he announced animatedly as he handed it across the counter to me. I nursed the comfortingly familiar beverage between my hands and thanked him. “We’ll need to buy more at the store, bro. There’s only three cans back there.”

“I’ll add it to the list. I had a trip to the grocery store planned for today anyway,” Adam replied as he looked to me with a wink. I knew I blushed instantly, and I felt a fool for such a stupid reaction, hurriedly looking down to the floor in an attempt to hide it.

“Sit down, Addy. You’re shaking,” Eli told me quietly as he moved his grip on me and instead grabbed my hips and lifted me effortlessly into the stool beside Asher.

I flinched just slightly as I bent to sit, pain shooting through my ribs and wrist at the movement.

“You’re in pain,” Asher stated as he turned in his seat and looked me over again.

“I’m okay,” I tried to reassure him, again ducking my head to avoid his knowing eyes.

“Addy,” he scolded gently. I felt his finger gently touch my chin, then he was pulling just enough to make me look up at him. When my eyes met his, I saw they were filled with worry. It seemed that was about the only look I had caused both him and Eli since they met me, and I hated it. “The truth, sweetheart. Wewant to take care of you, but we can’t do that if we don’t know what the problem is. Are you hurting?”

I let out a half sniffle, half laugh at that. Yes I was hurting! So damned much I didn’t know how to even begin to soothe it, but that wasn’t what he meant. He meant physical pain, not the agony that was ripping through my every single thought with every second that passed. Thankfully, Asher released my chin and I was able to look down again.

“Talk to us, sweetie,” Eli pleaded as he climbed onto the stool beside me and leaned closer to cover my hand with his own.

I took a deep breath and lifted my eyes to meet Asher’s again. “My ribs…and my wrist. I j-just need some pain pills,” I told him tiredly.

“I want to call in our family physician to check you over,” Asher sighed. “I hate to think of you in pain, and I’m worried about your back. I think you should have been given some antibiotics to protect against infection, and surely the cuts should be dressed while they heal.”

I swallowed hard as my eyes drifted to Adam and Jordan where they both stood watching me. Did they know everything? Did they know about the cuts and scars that covered my back, butt, and thighs? I didn’t understand why the thought of them knowing that hurt so much, but it did.

“I’m okay,” I whispered again with a shake of my head, forcing my eyes to meet Asher’s once more. “I j-just need some Aspirin.”

“You wouldn’t have to go to the hospital, Addy. The doctor would come here. We’ve known him for years. He’s treated Eli and I for scrapes and ailments since we were kids,” Asher pushed.

He. That was the problem. While I had no interest in being poked and prodded by anyone ever again – male or female – the idea of a man I didn’t know putting his hands on me had me instantly starting to tremble violently. My heart was once again pounding hard enough to bust through my chest and the familiar feeling of tingling in my fingers and toes was warning me of my impending meltdown.

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