Page 48 of The Fight For Survival
"I shouldn't have hit you like that," I start. "I saw something I didn't like, and I lost it. You were just the closest thing to me when I did. It was out of line, and I'm sorry." Braylon rubs down his beard and huffs. "Damon and Cade, by any chance?" I fold my arms and grind my jaw in irritation. "What's going on there?" I demand, both needing to know how worried I need to be regarding their relationship and not wanting to know in fear of the answer.
Cade was supposed to be mine and Mia's.
Hands up in surrender, Braylon shakes his head, "I'm not getting involved in this, Kane. That's up to Cade if he wants to tell you anything. I wouldn't jump to conclusions before you know the facts. And I certainly wouldn't hit the first thing in front of you because, as you've seen, it can backfire," Braylon laments.
I let out a surprised laugh. "Right," I nod. "Can I ask what made you nearly pulverize my face?" Braylon looks down at his tattooed hands resting on his knees. His knuckles are red, and I'm sure if you could see them under his tattoos, they would be bruised.
With a resigned sigh, Braylon murmurs, "I lost my little sister six years ago this week, and for me, Christmas is tough. My memories of her are more vivid and painful. I guess my emotions are a little out of control." I release a sad sigh. "That's rough, man. I'm sorry."
Clearing his throat, "Thanks."
Seeing that Braylon is done with that line of conversation, I stand up, ready to go back inside. Putting my hands in my pockets, I touch my phone. "Hey, do you know much about the people who own Noxious?" I ask Braylon, the touch of my phone reminding me of the cryptic message I received. Braylon wrinkles his brow, "I've never met them. I think it's two or three guys who own it. Why?" Shaking my head, "I thought I might have gotten a message from them earlier. It doesn't matter."
Braylon stares at me, concern in his blue/grey eyes. "Kane... Don't ignore them." He warns, standing up and trekking back into the house. I stare after him, thinking over his warning.
Maybe I should listen to him.
After some debating, I turn my phone on, bringing up the unknown number and dialing it.I'm sorry, but the number you have called has been disconnected.
Chills run down my body, and distress sends my pulse into overdrive. What the fuck?
This definitely has something to do with the job offer at Noxious. That's the only offer I recently got, so it has to be the manager or the bosses that sent that message, right? Okay, so all I need to do is go and find out why they sent such a creepy message and tell them to leave me the fuck alone. Maybe I can go back with everyone and pay them a visit. With that plan in mind, I go back inside.
"This is fucking heaven in my mouth, Vixen," Damon tells Mia around a mouthful of spaghetti and meatballs. I have to admit watching Mia move around my kitchen, cooking us this delicious meal like she belonged there, did something to me. The warming of my heart as she smiles timidly at Damon's compliment tames the anxiousness of having them all here.
As I study the group, my eyes narrow on the way Braylon watches Mia possessively, Damon outright flirts with her in front of Cade, and he doesn't bat an eye. And Mia? Well, Mia feeds off their attention like it's her only source of survival. Something is going on there, and Iwillfind out what exactly that is. But not tonight.
Let's just get through Christmas.After that? All bets are off.
Braylon
Awarmbodypressedagainst my back wakes me up the next day.
Christmas morning.
Evie loved Christmas. She would wake me up at four in the morning, jumping on my bed and singsonging my name. We had to open presents before anything else. Even though it was just the two of us and I couldn't afford to get her much, she was always so fucking grateful for what she got. With thoughts of my sister and the heated body glued to mine, I feel like I'm drowning.
With a grunt, I roll my shoulder back, moving the body away from me. "Nooo," the figure moans pitifully. Damon.
I knew sleeping in his bed was a bad idea, but the sofa was out of the question. Too damn tall for that shit, plus Mia had taken the cushions and made a makeshift bed for her and Cade anyway. Damon rolls into me again. With a curse under my breath, I give up on trying to detain him. The man is a cuddler. I wish he would have warned me. "If I feel your morning wood touch me at all. You are losing it," I rasp out in warning. "Merry Christmas to you too," he quips.
It's still dark outside, so it's hard to tell what time it is but the swishing of the door as it opens and closes, light feet brushing the carpet, and the movement of the bed as vanilla surrounds the air takes all thoughts of the time away.
When I feel Damon move away from me with Mia replacing him, the sorrow I feel lessens. "Now, this is how every morning should start," Damon sighs happily. "Though maybe instead of Braylon, Cade should be here," he teases. "Or maybe not any of you. Just Mia," I deadpan.
Mia giggles and snuggles into my chest. Straining my neck to see her face, I send her a warm smile. "Hey," I whisper, voice still groggy from sleep. Brushing her fingers along my bare chest, causing a shiver to run through me, she murmurs, "Hi."
We both jump when Damon exclaims, "6 a.m.! the whole morning is wasted!" He jumps out of bed, and I curse when I see his naked ass. "The fuck! Did you seriously sleep naked next to me?" I feel Mia shaking with silent laughter against me, so I poke her, causing her to snort laugh, which sends me into a deep chuckle.
What is this unconventional relationship turning into?
"Do we have no boundaries now?" I tease, my mood surprisingly lifting.
Damon has thankfully donned some sweatpants and stands there impatiently.
"Do we really need to get into a discussion about our weird family? It's Christmas! Let's go. Move move!" With that, he's out the door, banging on another door. "Kane! fire! fire!" I hear a fumble and a curse as Kane bolts to his door. "Fucking hell Damon! I thought you were serious," Kane hisses, making Damon snicker.
Do we really need to get into a discussion about our weird family?