Page 40 of Her Brother's Keeper

Sage pushed to his feet and stretched, “Bro code prevents us from speaking on it, right Nox?”

“Absolutely,” I said solemnly.

“Later,” Sage called over his shoulder and went for the stairs.

“Later, little man.”

“I’m not little!” he called down and Maren sagged with relief.

“There he is,” she said quietly and I chuckled.

“He’s worried about you,” I said and she looked up at me from beneath her long, dark, lashes. Fuck that was hot.

“Oh yeah?”

“Narced you out cold, the second he opened the door.” I rolled my lips together and eyed her carefully. She suddenly looked nervous and I sighed.

“Maren, this douche is the ringleader of a bunch of kids who arehurtingyou. That’s not cool and I’mgoingto deal with it. Now,what is going on?”

She hung her head and put a stray lock of hair behind her ear and the movement was both alluring and fucking heartbreaking with the expression she had on her face. She licked her lips and shifted in her seat and sighed heavily.

“Mostly it’s just things like what you heard on the phone,” she murmured. “A loud, sudden noise followed by a threat, usually of some form of rape. It’s disturbing and disconcerting, and I’ve tried to talk to the faculty about it but they say they can’t do anything unless they see the behavior first hand which, of course, he doesn’t do it in front of them.”

“You’re afraid,” I said and there wasn’t any question about it.

“Yes,” she said, unequivocally. “I’m afraid that he’ll show up here, or that he will catch me alone somewhere at school and make good on his threats.”

“Nope, not going to happen,” I said, and pulled her tight against my chest. I tucked her head beneath my chin and wound my fingers in her silky hair, placing my lips on the top of her head. She melted into the embrace willingly and it wasn’t but a second or two later she was crying softly into my fuckin’ Henley.

Oh, I wassotalking to Duracell when I got back to the club; maybe even Reaver. Minor or not, I think it was time for this kid to get a lesson or two in fear, so he knew what it was like.

“I’ve got you, Angel. Nothin’s gonna happen to you, Baby.” I made soothing noises and held Maren close and thought just about what I was gonna do, because Fuck. This. Shit.

Chapter 14

Maren

“Did you brush your teeth?” I asked my brother and he rolled his eyes at me.

“Didyou?” he demanded and I huffed a small laugh.

“On my way, now. You didn’t answer my question, though.”

“I’m not five and you’re not Dad. What, do you want me to come breathe on you?”

“No, just say ‘yes’ and I’m sorry for treating you like you’re five.” I put my hands on my chest, a most sincere gesture. “You’re right, you’re eleven and old enough that if you want to skip brushing your teeth and have your teeth rot out of your head? Well, that’s one decision you’re now forever allowed to make on your own.”

Sage made a grossed out face, “Well when you put itthat way,” he said.

“Well, it’s true, just trying to keep you out of the dentist’s chair because we all know how much youlovethat.”

“Which is why I brushed my teeth already! God, Maren.” He got up and came to his door. “Good night!” he cried and slammed it in my face.

“God grant me the patience…” I muttered and sighed.

I turned around and went into the bathroom to brush my teeth and put my hair into a braid over my shoulder, listening to the vacuum run downstairs as Nox cleaned up his and my brother’s disaster area. Truthfully, I didn’t mind the mess. Especially when Sage seemed almosthappywhen I’d come home. Equally as honestly, I was grateful that Nox was cleaning it up. I just didn’t have the energy; I was so deeply mentally, and emotionally, exhausted.

I shut off the tap after spitting a final time and rinsed my brush to total silence in the house. When I stood up, I jumped and clapped my hands over my mouth to keep from screaming. Nox frowned at me from over my shoulder in the bathroom mirror.

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