Page 2 of The Fortunate Ones
The boy who’d spoken, Ajax, crawled out of Brooks’s lap and dragged his brother along with him to the other side of the hospital beds to play without the boring grown-ups.
“Rawr, Lo! Rawr!” Ajax tried. Loki kept quiet, but he did wave his dino figure at his brother.
Brooks’s eyes trailed their movements.
“Do they have family coming?” I asked quietly.
Brooks shook his head. “That’s what they’re trying to figure out now. Their cousin is speaking to the feds and social workers, but she told me they lived with a grandma and she was really sick and couldn’t do much. I’m not sure where they’re gonna go. They need somewhere safe, with someone that can give them the care they need.”
I cupped Brooks’s cheek and brought his attention to me. I could see where his mind was going, and I didn’t want him to get hooked on an idea that just couldn’t happen.
“You know we can’t keep them, sweetheart. Even if they don’t go back to live with their grandma. It was one thing to take in Matty, but we’re not equipped to deal with three young kids, especially ones that will likely need help.”
Brooks deflated. “I know. I just worry. I can’t help but think about Diego and me and what would’ve happened if our parents hadn’t found us. I don’t want them to get lost in the system, sir.”
I kissed him chastely. “They won’t. I have someone in mind. Someone with the resources and training to help kids from this kind of situation. I just have to make some phone calls.”
That seemed to alleviate a lot of Brooks’s worries. “Thank God. I had no idea how I was going to leave them here.”
“I won’t let these kids get lost, trouble. I promise.”
Groaning, Brooks climbed to his feet. “Thank you. All of them deserve a good home.” I wished it were as easy as that, but unfortunately it never was. Brooks adjusted his pants that had gotten twisted when he was playing. “Is everything else okay?” he asked.
“Yeah. Everything is covered.”
“So what next?”
“Now, we find Skye, Mav, and Wes and we all go home. Matty is spending the night with Mav’s parents, so he’s safe. I’m going to strip you and Skye, and then we’re going to inspect every inch of you for injuries. Every inch,” I huskily whispered low enough so the boys couldn’t hear us.
Brooks’s tongue flicked over his lip ring, his blue eyes dilated. “Not that I’m complaining about that plan, but I’m okay. So is Skye. We weren’t really in danger.”
I ran my thumb along his lower lip but pulled it away quickly before I got carried away. “I know. But it doesn’t matter. That’s still what’s happening. Tomorrow is going to be another shitshow. We’re taking the night for ourselves. Everything else can wait.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Good, now let’s go find a nurse to see who can relieve you from babysitting duty, and then we’ll find our men.”
“Yes, sir.”
CHAPTER 1
BROOKS
ONE YEAR LATER
“You knowyou don’t have to leave, right?” I asked Matty as he hustled to pack his overnight bag. He was spending the night at one of his friends’ houses from his hockey team, and I thought I was more nervous than everyone else.
I wanted him to finally get a chance at some normalcy, but I also wanted him where I could see him. My overprotective men were wearing off on me, I guessed.
I turned back to Matty, who rolled his eyes at me, but less like he was annoyed and more amused by me, throwing his duffle over his shoulder. “Diego vetted my friend and everyone who lives in that house. Luca and Maverick freaking interviewed his parents, plus we all know Leo will have his ass parked outside the whole damn time. I promise I’ll be fine. It’s the night before your birthday. You should be enjoying it with your guys and not worrying about me.”
I flopped onto his bed dramatically, pouting like the brat I was, and nearly spilling my energy drink all over his bedding in the process. I blatantly ignored his dirty look and placed the can on his nightstand before falling back again with a humph. Mattyand I had a unique dynamic since we were pretty close in age. I didn’t fit that father-figure void in his mind the way the older guys did. I liked to think of Skye and Diego as his meddling uncles. They towed the line between cool confidants that he could share anything with and guardians that would rat on him to his real dads, aka mostly Mav and Wes.
Me? I guessed I was like an older brother. We hung out a lot. We talked about everything, both the shitty and the fun stuff, like video games, his crushes, and the latest manga. We also bickered, teased, and bantered with each other like most brothers did.
I still felt this intense need to protect Matty. I trusted the guys to keep him safe, of course, but I couldn’t escape the feeling that I also had to take care of him.
“Ugh, stop being reasonable.”
