Page 70 of Hidden Desires
“Ace. Stop,” Blade finally said, feeling dejected. He tucked his T-shirt into the back pocket of his jeans. “He’s your brother. There was never going to be a scenario where we could ever be together. He loves you and only wants the best for you.”
“Fuck that,” Ace shouted, giving his brother a headbutt to the nose.
Marcus stumbled back, still holding onto his little brother for dear life.
It was sweet that Ace was trying so hard. Finally, he had someone who wanted to fight for him. But he couldn’t come between brothers. They were family. They needed each other.
While it broke his heart to do so, he needed to let Ace go. He needed to walk away from this family.
Perhaps one day he could start again.
He took one final look at Ace, trying to commit every curve of his face to memory.
Seeing the boy with tears in his eyes broke his heart.
He wanted to remember Ace the way he was last night, smiling and laughing as they flew together across Fremont Street.
That was the memory he always wanted to remember.
“Take care of yourself, kid,” Blade said as he swung his leg over his Harley and started the engine.
“Blade, no!” Ace cried out, reaching for him.
Ignoring the crushing feeling in his chest, he shifted his bike into gear and peeled out of the parking lot.
He glanced into his side mirror and watched as Ace tore himself out of his brother’s grip and leaped into Lucas’s arms.
At least he had his best friend to hold on to.
He… he had no one.
22
ACE
“You’re a fucking asshole!” Ace shouted, stomping around Marcus’s motel room. “How could you? You’re a beast, and a bully, and a motherfucking jackass who is going to die alone and unhappy because he can’t keep his nose in his own fucking business!”
Marcus was drinking a whiskey, staring out the window. Hopefully, planning his own beating.
Ace was pissed.
The way his gorilla brother pummeled Blade. Tossed him around like he was some sort of worthless piece of trash, instead of the friend he’d been for nearly fifteen years.
“How could you?” Ace sobbed, grabbing a glass and filling it with whiskey. His hands were shaking as he spilled the amber liquid on the cheap wooden table.
“I was protecting you.”
“Bullshit!” Ace shouted, spinning around and spilling half his drink. “You were doing what you always do and bullying guys into staying away from me!”
Marcus glanced up at Ace. “Bullying? I take care of you,” Marcus snarled, jumping from his chair and stomping towardAce. “Ever since we were kids, all I’ve ever done is look out for you. I’ve kept you in clothes, made sure you had food to eat, took care of you when you were sick. I even made sure that you went to fucking school to get an education! Our so-called parents never gave a shit whether you lived or died. It was me who made sure you had medicine when you got the flu. It was me who made sure you got your vaccines and measles shots. If it weren’t for me, you would have been malnourished and probably left for dead in your own waste.”
Ace glared up at his big brother. He knew that he owed his life to the stubborn bastard standing before him. He knew that it had been Marcus who sacrificed everything to make sure that he grew up safe and loved. He knew that everything he was now was a direct result of everything his brother had done for him.
But Blade? Blade didn’t deserve any of what his brother had given him. He had been nothing but a loyal and good friend to both Marcus and himself. He took care of the crew and made sure that everyone was safe and protected.
This had to end. This overprotective cycle of his brother’s.
Ace took a seat on Marcus’s bed and slowly took a sip of his whiskey.
