Page 108 of Explosive Prejudice

The staff questioned us, and I swear to God, it felt like I was a suspect. The fact I had bruised knuckles didn’t help. Once Shay-Lee was more lucid, he told a story about us getting into a bar fight with some drunks.

Despite leaving the hospital, Shay-Lee was still in rough shape and needed to rest, shower, eat, and change clothes. While the doctor treated him, I bought him some clothes at a shop outside the hospital. It wasn’t the best, but he needed something proper to wear to keep him warm and covered.

I parked the car in front of Chief’s house, where I lived with Andrei, Jessie, and Levi.

“You sure about this? I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Shay-Lee said, his tone tired and wary.

“Don’t worry, okay?” I gave his neck a soft squeeze. The last thing Shay-Lee needed was to worry about my family’s reaction. He’d been through enough. If anything, Chief had always said to come to him if I needed help, and now, I needed it. There was no way I’d let Shay-Lee go back home to his bastard father, and staying at Kai’s forever wasn’t an option. I had to keep Shay-Lee safe at all costs, even if my family would struggle with it.

Shay-Lee still seemed hesitant, so I got out of the car first, rounded it, and opened the door for him, waiting until he took my offered hand. “Come. You’re safe here.”

“Camilo.” Him saying my name with such softness only made my heart ache stronger.

Cupping his face, I was careful not to hurt him while leaning closer and pressing my lips to his. He was warm and sweet, so eager for more. And despite wanting to give him the world, first, I had to make sure he was safe.

“Let’s go.”

Being Saturday morning, everyone was home, judging by all the cars parked out front. I tensed at seeing Miles’s car parked next to Andrei’s truck. I mumbled a curse as we walked to the front door.

As always, the first to greet us was our dogs. They also noticed Shay-Lee, who hid behind me. “Don’t be scared,” I said while getting on my knees to pet Puma. “They won’t hurt you.”

“I-I’m not good with animals,” he muttered while Pacha rubbed against his legs, asking for attention.

“That’s okay. You’ll learn with time.”

Voices were coming from upstairs before Levi and Jessie appeared, stopping in the middle of the steps once they saw us, with wide eyes and jaws dropped.

“What’s up, guys?” I asked, trying to break the ice unsuccessfully.

The two said nothing until Jessie cleared his throat with an awkward cough. “Eh… Good morning?” His eyes jumped from me to Shay-Lee, the same as Levi’s. “Is he… Are you… I mean…” He paused and scratched his hair. “Am I still high or something?”

“No,” Levi said, his voice low.

“Ah… that’s good to know.”

I could feel Shay-Lee shrinking further into himself, and it pissed me off. “Where’s Chief?” I asked, running out of patience.

“He’s surfing with Andrei and Kai. They should be back soon,” Levi offered before going down the rest of the stairs. “You know he’s going to be angry.”

He was talking about Andrei.

“I don’t care.”

Levi shrugged. “Of course you don’t.” He turned to look at Jessie. “Let’s go eat breakfast, Kotik.”

Jessie nodded and jumped right after him, but before going to the kitchen, he stopped, looking at us, his lips curved into an awkward smile. “You’re welcome to join, you know?”

From the look of it, Shay-Lee was too fucking nervous to eat, but maybe I’d get him to drink a cup of coffee. That would be a start.

The next ten minutes were the definition of awkward silence. Other than asking me for the sugar once, neither of them had said a word and instead stole glances at us. They weren’t even trying to be subtle, but I couldn’t blame them. I’d just shown up with Shay-Lee by my side, keeping him close like I was guarding him. In their world, until fifteen minutes ago, I hated Shay-Lee’s guts, and he was our enemy, so it was reasonable to assume they were confused.

I was about to explain when someone walked in.

“Any chance Andrei’s back from surfing?” Miles yawned, eyes half closed as he entered the kitchen. It wasn’t until Shay-Lee said Miles’s name that his eyes shot open, looking at him in shock.

“What are you doing here?” he barked, brows pinched close and nose crinkled.

“He’s here with me,” I said before Shay-Lee could and moved to block him away from Miles, who, to his credit, was all but ready for a fight.

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