Page 54 of Rather: The Therapist

Don.

Boss.

Head.

Leader.

Capo Mandamento.

I realized.

Chemistry. My brother’s position made it easy to understand his and it didn’t take a few minutes. Milliseconds was all I needed to fully comprehend.

“Rather.” I extended my hand to shake his.

He stood tall and he stood long, buttoning the jacket of his suit in the process. Not until he was ready did he take a good look at me, studying me like an open book, and take my hand into his. Words never evaded him. His eyes fell from mine, onto my hand where my grip was firm and full of confidence.

Yet, somehow, the sight of it seemed to have grown more repulsive by the second. He released me forcefully, abruptly ending our introduction. Unfazed by his disdain for my presence, I stood unmovingly, peering into his dark eyes. Maybe he was head of the people around him, but there was only one head of the Childers and his name was Chemistry.

With a roll of my eyes and a frustrated stream of air from my nose, I decided to end the stare down. Though I didn’t want to give up, I’d seen his kind and knew they didn’t give up easily, either. I made it clear, however, he wasn’t establishing his dominance over me. It didn’t exist. He’d be better off saving that energy for the people he shared blood with.

I gathered my bearings and sat in the chair designated for me. Because I could feel his eyes piercing my flesh, I went against my logic and took a look across the table where he sat. Finally, he set his sight on something else. On someone else.

Asshole!

TWO

I needed air in my lungs.

Rose.

I needed a pacemaker to monitor my heart.

Rose.

I needed to peel my eyes out of my skull.

Rose.

I needed to erase the memories from my head.

Rose.

The heart-shaped birthmark between her index finger and thumb was taxing my thoughts, jogging my memory, stealing my breath, and trying to dislodge my heart from my chest.

Two years.

Two whole years.

Two fucking years.

And, after two years, she re-enters my world with vengeance, preparing to flip that motherfucker upside down.

Two fucking years, I’d waited and so easily she falls into the hands of a kid I nearly raised with marriage as their fate. To make matters worse, marriage within a ninety-day timespan.

Kofi wasn’t ready and we all knew he wasn’t. However, his last incident nearly ended his life and brought ours to a screeching halt. Putting it very fucking lightly, he’d scared us all. While death didn’t faze me, it wasn’t a fate I wanted for my siblings. Not while I was still walking the earth, at least.

“Aye.”

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