Page 90 of Brandishing Betrayals

Marcos

Despitethelatenight,Maya’s alarm woke us all up at six o’clock that morning. I stirred in the recliner, surprised that I actually fell asleep. I had planned on keeping watch over Stone, but once Maya cozied up to him in bed and said to turn on the night light, I hadn’t stood a chance.

Despite my fear for my brother, I had felt more content than I had in a long time. Maya’s gentle calm, despite her tears, was a balm to my weathered soul. I needed her calming presence around me always. After she let out her emotions and relaxed again, it was a like drug that permeated the air.

The second time Maya’s alarm went off, she slowly sat up. I watched her grab Jason’s wrist and push her fingers into his pulse point, while reading the analog watch on her wrist. She sighed when she dropped his wrist back to the mattress, before she turned to press the back her hand to his cheeks, checking his temperature.

Seemingly satisfied with what she felt, she pulled away from him and slowly got out of bed. The short tank top and booty short set she wore to bed flashed a lot of skin, and I felt my dick stirring in my jeans. She had always been gorgeous, ever since the day we met her. But in the last ten years, she’d only grown more beautiful.

Maya headed into the attached bathroom and shut the door behind her. Nico sat up from his makeshift bed on the floor and rubbed his face. The lack of sleep last night was hard on everyone, but our brother was still alive, and that was all that mattered. “How’s he doing?” Nico asked, his voice thick with sleep.

“Maya checked his vitals when she woke up. She seemed content with whatever she found.” My jaw cracked as I yawned deeply.

“That’s good.” Nico stood up and left the bedroom, probably in search of the main hallway bathroom.

I stood and stretched, before I left the room to go wake up Luke. I was honestly surprised that he never woke amidst all the commotion the night before, but I was grateful for it too. “Morning, Luke,” I greeted as I flipped on Luke’s overhead light and walked into his bedroom.

Luke groaned deeply and pulled the covers over his head. “Go away,” he mumbled.

I chuckled softly and walked further into the room. “Time to get up,” I said in a sing-song voice. “It’s the first day of schooool.”

Luke’s groan was deeper this time, more annoyed.

I laughed and shook the mattress, jostling Luke around like an earthquake was happening.

Luke laughed faintly beneath the covers and I grinned proudly. I really was getting the hang of this whole dad-life thing. “Come on! Up you go!”

Luke sighed and slowly peaked his head out from under his covers. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s your first day of school! I wouldn’t miss it for the world!”

I could see Luke slowly processing that as he stared into space. It was a painful reminder of how much I had missed. Both Luke and I were still wrapping our heads around it, knowing the matter had been out of both our control.

Finally, Luke sat up and slid out of bed, just as Nico walked in the room with a bright grin on his face. “Morning, dude! Ready for your first day?”

“Ugh,” Luke groaned, a faint smile on his face. “Why are you so chipper first thing?”

I laughed loudly. “You’ll get used to him.”

“The sun is shining! It’s a glorious day!” Nico said, being extra exuberant.

Luke walked out of the bedroom in just his boxers, shaking his head. I heard the bathroom door close a moment later.

“What’s the plan for today?” Nico asked.

“We should head to the clubhouse and see what’s happening with Axel, Phoenix, and Blaze. Did you hear back from your cousin?” I asked.

Nico shook his head. “A simple text stating he received it would be nice. But it was the middle of the night, and it is still early.”

I sighed and nodded. Leonardo Seratelli didn’t strike me as the type of man to sleep in during the week, though.

In the next hour we made breakfast for Luke and got him dressed and his lunch packed. I helped Maya with it all, and then we did a mini photo shoot in front of the house. Maya busted out a mini blackboard that had things like grade and age and favorite subjects. Maya asked Luke his favorite things while she wrote on the blackboard with neon colored chalk markers.

Luke was a good sport, indicating that he had done all of this before. I watched on as Maya snapped picture after of picture of Luke holding the board and his backpack in front of the house. Then she made me get in the photos as well, and I couldn’t keep the cheesy ass grin off my face when I wrapped my arm around my son.

“You get in there too!” Nico said, pushing Maya toward me and Luke.

Maya opened her mouth to protest, but Luke immediately agreed. “Yeah mom!”

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