Page 74 of Love Thy Brother
I limped away from the SUV and headed for the chapel. It was still early by everyone else’s standards, but there were enough folk around that people noticed me and called out greetings that I ignored until a blonde devil crashed into my legs.
Ivy.Liliana wasn’t far behind.
I scooped up Ivy and uncle-hugged Liliana with my free arm, messing with her hair.
She laughed and pushed me away. “Your arms are as big as Papá’s legs.”
“Papá’s a string bean. Feed him spinach.”
“Like Popeye?”
“Yup.” My gaze fell on Liliana’s school uniform. It was purple and grey, like Ivy’s.Fuck. I’d missed her first day. Guilt ate away at me, no matter how loud the voice in my head reasoned that she had at least six other “uncles” to show up for her when I didn’t. Me and this kid. Four weeks holed up in a flashy-pants penthouse had bonded us tight. I’d promised her I’d always be there for her, and right now, I wasn’t here.
“Hey.” Decoy appeared at my side, calm and quiet. “Good to see you, man.”
His hand was warm on my back. Fleeting but fraternal, strong, and everything I needed. It anchored me the way only a brother could, but by the time I found my brain again, Decoy had moved on, taking the little ones with him.
I forced my sore legs to keep moving and pushed on until I reached the chapel.
Cam was at the table, alone and deep in thought, until he saw me. “Thought you weren’t coming.”
“Changed my mind.”
“Why?”
Stalling, I moved to the kitchen and boiled the kettle.
Cam followed me. “What is it? Something happen?”
“Patience, brother. Don’t make me tell the same story a thousand times. Hey, have we got any spare burners in here?”
Cam reached around me and opened a drawer. “The dodgy ones are who the fuck knows where, but there’s an old Samsung in here somewhere.”
He dug it out and passed it to me. “You break yours?”
“Riv’s.”
“He throw it at your head?”
“Not yet.”
Cam leaned on the doorframe, watching me mess with teabags and milk. “Don’t forget I need you on that truck run soon. Mateo and Decoy have parent shit to do in half term or whatever.”
“I haven’t forgotten.” Lies. Pretty much anything that wasn’t River had slipped my mind over the last few weeks, but I wasn’t about to tell Cam that. “Who’s my driving mate? Nash?”
“That work for you? If not, you can have Locke and I’ll send Nash on the other run into Wales.”
“Who guards Orla if Locke and Nash are on the road?”
“Me. We’re overdue some bonding time.”
I shot him a dry glance. “Sibling time for you two usually ends in a fistfight or a hangover.”
“I’m prepared for both. Who’s watching River right now?”
“No one. He came with me.”
Cam blinked. “He’s here? Where?”
