Page 98 of Rise of the King (Checkmate 5)

He nods.

“She loves me. And I love you. She’ll stay wherever I’ve gotta stay.”

“She loves you? For real?”

I nod and let out a watery laugh. “She can be a little prickly around new people, but I seem to recall Jess slamming you into place a billion times, too. It’s what we get for falling in love with headstrong women. It’s the price we pay for perfection.” Smiling because now I’m thinking of my girl, I exhale and let a little of the worry go. If Kane asks me to leave, I still won’t be alone. “Soph’s truly amazing, Kane. She’s perfect, and, bad attitude or not, you’ll be glad she’s one of us.”

“She’s gonna be my sister for real?”

Nodding, I flip the blade in my pocket as nervous energy radiates beneath my skin until I’m ready to fly through the roof. “I actually already told her what’s happening. But that we had to wait for you to stand with me.”

Dropping his head, he watches his boots and continues to rock on his heels. “I was waiting for you, too. I told Jessie we’re marrying, told her she’s stuck with me for life. Every day that you didn’t come back broke me a little more.”

“I’m right here,” I choke out. “I just need you to tell me you love me.”

“I do.” Glancing up, I see an actual tear slide over his cheek. “I love you, Jay. I’m sorry you got sick; I’m sorry you got hurt. It was my job to take care of you, and you had all these battles you were fighting alone.”

I’ve never in my adult life cried. Not even when I was dying from a bad batch of cocaine. Not when my apartment was firebombed and I feared Sophia was hurt, not when I was shot in the head, and not when I woke up with the world’s worst headache. But I step forward now with tears in my eyes and throw my arms around my brother’s shoulders. He’s my size, my height, my build. He’s two years older, so he always took on the responsibility, but when my breath explodes against his shoulder, he returns my hug and squeezes me so tight, I finally feel put back together again. “You’re back.”

“I’m back.” I don’t say a damn word about the way his chest bounces. Or his hot breath hitting my shoulder in fast, choking pants. I’ve always known he was alive. I’ve watched him for months. But he’s only just now finding out about me, so I keep my trap shut, let him lean on me, and when tears slide over my cheeks, I shamelessly wipe them on his shirt.

“I love you, Jay.”

“I love you too. I promise not to die again.”

He chokes out a laugh. “Fuck me, this is too stressful.” Pulling back, he holds my shoulders and looks me over. “You’re alive. Yeah, motherfucker! You’re alive.” Instead of chest bumps, he pulls me back in for a hug and presses a stupid, noisy kiss to my cheek. “I can’t process.”

“You need your girl?”

He barks out a laugh. “I actually think I do. Jesus, there’s so much going on that you’re now a part of.”

“Like CAB?”

“No! Like, my girl is amazing. She’s my coping mechanism now, so you’re gonna see her around a lot.”

I laugh. “Okay.”

“But she’s a twin, and her sister is Jess’ coping mechanism when I can’t keep up, which means Laine is around a lot too. But now you’re here, and you were always my coping mechanism, so I’m keeping you close, which means Sophia will be around a lot.”

“She’s not going anywhere. She’s mine.”

“So I get a sister?”

I nod. “But don’t step on her. And don’t take her food. She’s a beast, and she goes for the throat every time.”

“Noted.” Sniffling, he wipes a hand beneath his nose and laughs. “Jesus, you left me, Jay, and I was all alone. Then I got Jess, then we got Laine, then we got Ang, and it all exploded from there.”

“Yeah, about that. He’s gotta go.”

“He–” Surprised, he pauses and looks back into my eyes. “Huh?”

“Angelo Alesi? It’s time we have a hit put on him. He’s extra weight; we don’t need him.”

“We’re not putting a hit on him!” Laughing, he pulls me back in and squeezes. “He’s actually really cool. And since he’s with the twin, he’s gonna be around a lot too.”

“But I’m your bro.” Pathetically, my voice quivers. “You’re mine, not his. I heard you call him bro, and I swear, I almost tore my house down to get to you.”

“You’re jealous?” Kane’s watery eyes light up. “You’re jealous of my new brother?”

---