Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

Michael

True to his word, Kaleb keeps us outside until every one of them runs their fifteen lengths.

As the last few stragglers walk back toward us, I regret not joining them. I'm freezing my balls off out here.

Between the cold and worrying about Lara, I'm more than ready to get out of here.

"That the last one?" I ask Kaleb as he approaches.

"Yeah, Chief and his boys are headed back to base now. Told them I'd drop off some donuts on my way to work in the morning as a thank-you for being patient tonight."

"Thanks. It's always good to be in their good graces although they seemed to enjoy the show." I chuckle.

"No problem, they seemed to appreciate the offer. I think." He frowns. "They were too busy laughing at a police joke Nixon told as soon as I mentioned donuts."

My brother gives me a little smirk, and together, we head toward my truck.

Kaleb groans next to me. "She took my fucking baby."

I smother my laugh, but nothing can stop the smile that spreads across my face.

Sam has no idea how much he loves that car . . . or maybe she does. I push those thoughts away quickly. I have refused to think about their relationship for a while, so a little longer won't hurt. Besides, I don't have time for that brand of crazy right now.

Instead, I ask, "Do you want me to drop you off at home?"

Kaleb shakes his head. "I need my car for work at seven . . ." He pauses to glance down at his watch. "Which is in an hour and a half. Jesus Christ," he cusses. "You heading to go get your girl?"

Grabbing the door handle, I glare at him through the truck where he stands on the other side. "I don't have a girl. And what the fuck was earlier about?"

"What was what about?" he asks, playing dumb.

Climbing behind the wheel, I huff, "Telling Lara I stalk her."

Kaleb just shrugs. Shrugs !

"Dude, relax. She thought I was joking. Besides, look on the bright side. She didn't freak out, and now you know she thinks you're hot."

"No, she thinks I'm a weirdo. You didn't see her face when Sam drove off. Poor girl looked like she wanted to cry," I mutter. Maybe that's the real reason I was willing to stay and not rush after the girls. Lack of sleep is catching up, and defeat is creeping in.

"Lara's interested. You just have to put yourself out there," Kaleb coaxes me, his voice losing his signature playful tone.

Fuck.

I was hoping I could put this conversation off a little longer . . . forever, preferably. Some things you just can't take back once they're out there.

We fall into silence. Kaleb is lost in his thoughts while I try to think of the best way to broach the ever-looming subject without him burning the bridge I'm offering.

While our older brother would burn the bridge to protect himself, Kaleb is the kind of man who lights it on fire just to watch it burn.

Once on Ellis Road, I take a deep breath.

"Daniel means the world to me. He literally saved my life." I glance at Kaleb and find him frowning at me.

"I know." He nods.

"I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him." Emotion fills me, and I blow out a harsh breath .

Kaleb stays quiet for a moment before whispering, "I know."

"The shit that went on in that house before the Cromwells took us in . . ." I pause with a shake of my head because, even now, it's not something I can easily talk about. "Who Daniel is . . . was formed in that house. They made my brother a killer. He needs it, and I need him."

Kaleb stays quiet. We've never really called out what we do before.

"What we do every year, I do for him. Daniel is my brother. I have and would do anything for him." I make sure to catch Kaleb's eye. "Anything."

"I know," Kaleb whispers again.

"I would kill and die for my brother."

"He knows," Kaleb tries to reassure me.

I shake my head, eyes focused as I turn onto the private road leading to our parents' lake house. "Charlie tells Daniel that people don't know unless you tell them. So let me be clear, Kaleb . . ."

I slow the car to a stop and turn to the man who became my second brother the minute Helen and Christopher Cromwell brought him home. "You are my brother, Kaleb. You always will be. Whatever you decide, no matter what choice you make concerning her, we will always be family."

Kaleb stares at me, his panicked look almost comical. I stare at him and watch as he takes in my body language and expression .

After a few minutes, he blinks rapidly, and I know he realizes how serious I am.

I don't want him to feel even more uncomfortable. No one likes to be watched when you're at your most vulnerable, so I slowly steer the car down the long, narrow road again.

"It's not right." Kaleb's words are low and soft like he didn't want to speak them. But there's no room for embarrassment in this truck. I've watched this man hunt and gut another human being for sport. Right and wrong have no place here.

"Who says what's right?" I ask. "You do. Your house, your life, your rules."

He nods to show he's listening, but I need him to hear me. I confess my own secret. "I've been fantasizing about killing that college kid for the past several hours simply because he knocked Lara down. Who the fuck cares about right or wrong?" I stress.

The cab of the truck stays silent until the house comes into view.

"Always?" Kaleb asks quietly, his uncertainty clear.

"Always," I promise.

Kaleb moves in his seat, the atmosphere in the truck shifting with him, both relaxing.

My playful brother is back.

"What if I fuck Lara? You know, since you're not willing to go there."

His words hit their mark. My head shoots around to him. "I'll cut you into tiny pieces." The truck swerves for a moment before I'm forced to look away and regain control of the vehicle.

The jackass just grins in my passenger seat. I changed my mind. I only need one brother.

I pull the car over behind where Kaleb's Audi sits abandoned with the back door open. The sight of his prized possession parked so shitty makes me smile, and my own mood lifts.

I lean back against my door and very obviously eye him up and down. "Tiny pieces," I repeat. "Starting with your cock. Although it's already tiny, so cutting it off would have to suffice."

Kaleb laughs, his whole body shaking. "I'll have you know, no one has ever complained."

"Some people don't know any better." I shrug.

His hands start to fumble with his belt.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"Defending my honor." He laughs.

My chuckle joins his. "Put your cock away. No one wants to see that," I tell him.

"Lara does," he taunts me.

I pause halfway out of the truck. "I always thought it would be Daniel who punched you in the throat first . . . but it's gonna be me," I tell him.

My words don't deter him. They only make him grin wider.

"Let's rescue my princess." He nods at his ditched car. "Then we'll go get yours," he offers, pointing at the house beyond, his words no longer teasing.

I return his smile with one of my own.