Page 33 of Blood

“Stop hogging all the hugs. It’s my turn.” a voice complains behind my dad.

Michael playfully shoulders our dad out of the way, but the concern on his face is obvious.

“Come here, baby brother. You did good.”

I smile into his shoulder, and my own eyes tear for a second. This means more than he can ever know. Michael hates to be touched. An issue that’s gotten better since he met his wife last year, but even with Lara’s help, his past still dominates him.

This is the first hug I’ve shared with my brother.

“You did good,” he repeats, slapping my back. When he pulls away, we share a look.

“You did good, Lube,” Lara, my sister-in-law agrees, replacing her husband and giving me her own hug.

“Got to stop calling me that.” I shake my head.

“Never,” she whispers.

I hug her tighter.

“I can’t believe those animals tried to hurt my babies,” Mom frets, still framing Sam’s face.

“I’m okay, too,” I declare loudly, holding up my hand. “What are you two doing here? What about Charlie?” I ask my brother and his wife.

“She and baby . . .”

Mom clears her throat, cutting him off. She knows the name. I squint at her.

“Charlie and the baby,” Michael says carefully, “are doing great. Momma is catching up on sleep, and Daniel has Belle in the hospital room with them. Lara and I will head backtomorrow to stay until they’re ready to come home, probably next week.”

“Daniel didn’t mind you coming back?”

Michael’s head rears back as if I slapped him. “Kaleb, your house was broken into while you were in it. Daniel helped me pack everyone’s bags.”

I frown, my pride taking a punch. “I had everything covered. No one was getting near Sam or Shelby.”

“I wasn’t worried about Sam or Shelby. I knew you had them covered. I was worried about you.”

Oh.

My cheeks flush, and my heart swells. With how close Michael and Daniel are, sometimes it’s easy to forget how much they love me too.

“And it looks like I was right to be.” He motions to my feet. “Any other injuries?”

Uncomfortable with the attention of the room, I shrug nonchalantly. “My ribs and back took a knock, but nothing a hot bath and rest won’t fix.”

I roll my head on my shoulders.Sleep and another good fuck too,I silently add.

My eyes find Sam, but she’s still happily bathing in our mother’s attention.

“How are you doing, Shelby?” Dad asks, making his way over to her.

Shelby gives a small smile and a hum to show she’s okay. The color is finally returning to her cheeks.

“Tonight could have ended so differently,” Dad whispers. “We could have lost three of our kids.”

Shelby blushes at his words. She’s family, and it’s good for her to hear it. Her earlier words repeat in my head.

The front door opens again. Michael and I step forward, putting ourselves in front of the family. Sheriff McCallister walks in, following a frantic-looking Dr. Leonard Moore.