Page 41 of Malachi
“Kai, can we talk about what just happened?” Eden asked, walking into the kitchen.
“Not now, Eden. Here, eat your dinner,” I spoke tersely, sliding the plate across the countertop. “I’ll be back in a while.” Pocketing my phone once more, I turned to walk out of the back door.
“Kai. Please.” Her soft plea stopped me in my tracks.
“Not now. Please, Eden. We’ll talk later, okay?” It was an empty promise. I knew it. But hopefully, it would dissuade her long enough that I could handle this conversation with my brothers. Then I would deal with this mess. That was the only plan I could handle. One mess at a time.
I waited a long moment before she finally answered.
“Okay. You promise?” she reiterated, her brow furrowed in worry. I gave her the gentlest smile I could.
“I promise,” I lied once more. I opened the back door, closing it behind me and walking off towards the pole barn. It was the one at the edge of my property, close to Zeke’s home.
It was time to tell my brothers the truth about Leviticus, and to figure out what the hell we were going to do about it.
“Hey, Kai,” Ollie’s voice greeted me as I stomped my way into the barn.
“Ollie,” I greeted, glancing at my watch. “You’re early. That’s a first — oh wait. Your premature arrival is abigissue for you, right?” I teased.
“Actually, he’s got stamina for days,” Delilah’s voice called out as she walked in with Talia, their arms linked, with Zeke walking in behind them.
“Eww. I did not need to know that,” I grimaced, making her chuckle loudly. She was a vivacious woman and, in all honesty, a perfect match for my younger brother.
“Now we’re just waiting on Gideon,” Zeke sighed, pulling up one of the few chairs for Talia to sit.
“Gideon? Late? No, never!” Ollie exclaimed sarcastically. I glanced down at my watch, noting the fact that he wasn’t, in fact, late.
“How are you feeling, Talia?” Ollie asked our sister-in-law. The woman was practically glowing as she smiled up at him, her hand protectively resting against the barely visible bulge of her stomach.
“Feeling better, actually,” she said happily.
“She was actually able to eat like a normal human today,” Zeke chuckled, but I could tell that he was relieved. I couldn’t imagine watching someone I loved get sick over and over any time they ate. Pregnancy was barbaric. There was no other way to look at it. It was as brutal and ruthless as it was beautiful and incredible. Something I never wanted to experience, that was for damned sure.
“The fun has arrived!” Gideon exclaimed as he walked into the barn, drawing all of our attention away from Talia to where he and Naomi walked in, arms linked much as Delilah and Talia had just been.
“How is it you’re always the last person to arrive, Gideon?” Zeke chastised him playfully.
“I think the question you meant to ask is why are you all always arriving early?” he quipped right back. I had missed this — the banter between the lot of us. Pain gripped my chest as I noticed the obvious missing piece to our group.
“Technically, Gideon is not the last to arrive.” My blood ran cold for a moment as Levi’s voice called from the entrance of the barn.
“What are you doing here?” I seethed, the words hissing from between my tightly clenched teeth.
“I told you we needed to talk, Malachi,” he firmly reminded me. Ruth stood at his side, looking nothing like the strong and confident woman I had come to know over the past months. She looked timid and worried. Not a look that suited her.
“We did not invite you,” I spat back.
“It looks like a gathering of the brothers. I am, in fact, a brother, so why would I not be invited?” he responded, a smug little smile planted on his face.
“Who invited him?” I turned, posing the question to the rest of my family gathered. Each of my brothers shook their heads, their wives as well.
“If none of us invited you, then why are you here?” I asked again, slowly stalking my way up to where he and Ruth stood.
“I already answered you. It’s a meeting of the brothers. I am a brother. Therefore, I am here,” he reiterated. For as well as he was pulling off his air of cool calmness, I could see the fire burning in his eyes. He was just as keyed up as I was. Goody.
“We did not invite you to this meeting, so please remove yourself, and your wife, from my property,” I bit out coldly, mirroring his own calm demeanor.
“I think you’re going to want me to stay,” he said, taking a step towards me until we were nearly toe to toe, staring each other down. So that’s how he was going to play it.
