Page 84 of Her Brother's Keeper

“Aw fuck. No, Angel, not at all;those are Rush’s issues.You’re having an anxiety attack. Just breathe, Baby.” He pulled me tight against his chest, his arms going around me, and murmured, “I’m gonna beat his fucking ass.”

“I’m sorry!” I whined, fear rising like a bubble off the surface and when it popped, I cried. I shook, and the tears slipped free and I gripped the lapels of Nox’s coat and sobbed.

“Maren?” Sage called and Nox fixed it like he fixed everything…

“It’s okay, Sage. Your sister’s just having a little panic attack, that’s all.”

“Why?” my brother demanded and I took in several deep breaths and tried valiantly to calm down. It’d been a while since I’d had one.

“It’s okay, Baby. Three things you can see,” Nox said and I tried to focus.

“You, the trees, and my brother.”

“Good, two things you can hear.”

I closed my eyes and said, “Frogs, and the fire crackling.”

“Good girl, that’s it, one thing you can smell…”

“Campfire,” I muttered and he held me a little back from him. I opened my eyes, feeling a little calmer, a little more centered, and I apologized again.

“No need to apologize,” he murmured, and I reached for Sage, hugging my brother tightly who looked like he was on the verge of tears himself.

“How much has this been happening?” he demanded.

“It just happens sometimes,” I said. “It’s okay, I don’t need you to worry about it… Everything is fine.”

“No, it’s not!” he cried, and thenhestarted to cry.

I hugged my brother tightly, but by now we had the attention of the whole fireside, and Archer called out, “Nox, what’s going on?”

“Rush needs his fuckin’ ass beat,” Nox called back. “But first, I need someone to take Maren and Sage inside.”

“Right here,” Everett said and just sort of appeared, then Sunshine and Doll showed up right behind her.

“We’ve got just the thing for you, sister-mom, just as soon as we get little brother squared away.” Evy said, and called out, “Reaver, Dray, and Connor. Could use you too!”

“Anything for you, Baby,” Dray called and heaved himself to his feet.

“Whipped,” Duracell said, laughing.

“I ain’t got a problem with that,” Dray uttered, secure in his masculinity, but then ruined it by shooting over at our club brother: “At least I got pussy to fuck.” Duracell laughed and even Blue hazarded a smile, even if it was secretive like he knew something the lot of us didn’t.

“Come on Honey,” Everett said and took me and Sage from Nox. Sage, I was guessing by now was having his own issues. Distressed to find out I wasn’t as infallible as he thought I was and honestly, I was a bit crestfallen that he had to find out this way. I’d always prided myself on keeping it together around him.

I looked back over my shoulder at Nox who smiled and gave a nod, “Be right there, Angel. Just as soon as I have a talk with my twin.”

Apprehension made me want to stay, but practicality told me there was something much deeper at play here, and so I let Everett and the other ol’ ladies take me inside. It wasn’t missed by me that the rest ghosted to their feet and began to follow leaving just the men outside.

Chapter 31

Nox

When Rush came out, it was to my fist right in his fucking mouth. He grunted and staggered back his hands going to his lips while I shook out my aching left hand. Fuck, I needed to watch that shit, or I was going to miss work.

“What thefuck, Nox?”

“You need to keep your fucking mouth shut around my woman,” I grated.

---