Page 2 of Double Dare

I regret looking at him because his eyes are the same as mine. Green, confused and ashamed. Pathetic. “I don’t fucking know,” I echo. “Let’s just drop it before we kill each other just for not knowing anything.”

Kade shakes his head and tries to wipe the blood from his nose. “You better get your shit together before we go home or Mom is going to ask questions and spout off all her bullshit.”

I almost grin at that. That woman is a turmoil seeker, and she always knows. I struggle to sit up, my muscles seizing and the pain ripening now that the adrenaline is wearing off. My head is throbbing, my face feels crinkly with all the dried blood, and I’m half-ass grateful that a headache is starting. Maybe it’ll dim down the confusion for a bit.

“Get up, man,” I say, kicking him in the hip. “You need to smarten the fuck up.”

“Why?” He groans as he pushes himself to his feet, swaying for a second before his fingers link into the chinks of the cage.

I nod at his hands. “No more fucking fighting. You need your hands for work.” And love. And passion. If Kade messed up his hands and lost his art, he’d…no longer be Kade.

He flexes his fingers, the tape creaking, to make sure nothing is broken or damaged. His knuckles are a bit bloody, but that’s probably my blood more than his. For a minute, we just stare at nothing, words caught in our throats, feelings there but unclear, our fears mingling with our wants.

Then he says, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done it.”

“Fuck you, Kade.” I exit the cage, not sure I want to hear his apology when everything was under my direction and suggestion. I wanted him to do it; I wanted Laken to have it. What the hell is wrong with me?

Kade follows me out, trying to wipe off his face with a white towel that turns red. “I’ll back off now, okay? One and done.”

I throw a t-shirt on and cover it with a hoodie, hiding my face from him because that doesn’t sound like the right answer. I don’t think I want him to back off because he’s been a part of our dynamic for a lot longer than last night. Laken’s pretty open with me. Well, she’s extremely open with me, and she was comfortable enough to tell me she likes the feeling of being watched by Kade. I mean, I enjoy a good fuck show as much as the next guy, so I supported that, and to be a bit smug, I never minded it either because I got to have and he only got to watch.

But now my mind is shifting, thinking new things, desiring different dynamics, being a bitch for not making any of them clear, mixing them all up with things that should throw me off. He’s my brother. Society says no to that. I mean, I wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot pole, but…Laken would, and I’d want to be there.

Jesus, shut up, head!

“Is it too early to drink?” I ask him, grabbing the keys and turning off all the lights.

“Mom has creamy maple booze,” Kade says, closing the door behind me. “That’s basically an invitation and permission for morning drinking.”

Logic works for me.

We lock up, our bodies too hot to feel the chill in the air, and climb in the truck to let it defrost. I light a smoke even though I just told myself not to smoke anymore, and Kade steals it from me.

“I’ll even make it for ya, you dick.” He grins, shrugging. “Since I lost.”

Barely. But I’ll still brag about it. “Fucking right you lost.” I light another smoke and pull out to head home.

Little miss Genevieve Alderidge needs some family love, and we gotta be there for her while her dad is on the loose in Alaska.

Looking at his phone, Kade says, “Zahn and Four threw him off. Genny’s at Mom and Dad’s.”

I nod. “Good. She ain’t fucking leaving.”

“Ever,” Kade agrees. “Four’s a chained up little bitch, but if her dad tries to take her, I will straight up shackle that prissy little peach to his bed and stand guard to keep her dad away.”

Amen.

Gen’s family now, and no one fucks with family.

Chapter 2

I might not have had a mom, but I have a dad who rounds out parenting like a badass. While I sit on Four’s bed with a distraught Genevieve, I can’t help but wonder what my life would have looked like without the influence of an incredible parent. I’ll never know the struggle Gen is going through, but I’ll be here for her every step of the way.

Nina grabs Gen’s hand in quiet reassurance, giving her a moment to break down and build herself back up. My heart is breaking for this beautiful girl who is only just starting to learn what it means to discover herself and think on her own. We’re waiting for Four and Zahn to come back from the docks after running into Gen’s dad, and as much as she’s worried about what this will mean for her, she’s more worried about Four getting caught in the crosshairs.

“They’ll throw him off, Gen. They’ll talk their way out of it,” Nina says.

“They’re smooth talkers. They can handle a little diversion.” I reach over and hand her a tissue. “You can tell us about your dad if you want. Talk us through it.”

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