Page 36 of Echoes of Fear

“Prolly,” he says. “But only if I can escape.”

“Steel told me that you were able to go outside the clubhouse at night,” I say.

“Yeah. Cause the buildings near it are closed at night, and there’s no mean peoples.”

“What about the gate?” Sullivan asks. “Didn’t that make you feel safe? No one can gain access to the grounds without being let it.”

“It does keep peoples out,” he says. “But it also locks me in. If I needed to run to escape, I wouldn’t be able to unless I used the passcode. Then it takes forever to open.”

“I hope this doesn’t scare you,” Reynolds starts. “Did you know that your Papa doesn’t have any neighbors? He bought this land five years ago, and he and I built our own homes here. I live on the other end of the property, five minutes down the road.”

The tips of Knox’s ears turn red, and I can only assume that he’s blushing.

“I did know that,” he giggles. “I know everything bouts all of you.”

“Everything?” Hayes questions. “Tell me something then that none of these men would know about me.”

Knox sits up and looks at Hayes. I place my hands gently on his hips. I’d much rather he go back to leaning against my body, but this will do.

“Prolly shouldn’t,” he says.

“Go on,” Hayes encourages. “It’s alright. I’m sure it’s nothing major.”

Knox hesitates, chewing on his bottom lip. His eyes dart between Hayes and me as if seeking reassurance or permission. Finally, he takes a deep breath and speaks, his voice barely above a whisper.

“You used to sleep with a stuffed bunny when you were a kid,” Knox reveals, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

There’s a collective chuckle from the rest of the group, but Hayes’s expression remains unreadable. He meets Knox’s gaze with a mixture of surprise and something else, something deeper that I can’t quite decipher.

“Is that so?” Hayes says softly, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. “I actually still have that bunny.”

“I threw out all my stuffies,” Knox says. “I’m not the same Little I once was. I tried to keep that side pushed down, but I guess he’ll always be there.”

“I actually think you’re a borderline Middle, baby boy,” I say.

“Yeah,” he sighs. “I think so, too. But, if I’m a little bit of a Middle, then why do you keep calling mebaby boy?”

“I don’t think you’re ready for that answer just yet,” I say, tickling his sides. “Now, let’s order food.”

***Knox***

Ghost, Steel, Blaze, and Venom are all sitting in random places inside Taylor’s house.

“King with the rest of the family?” I ask, picking at my slice of pizza.

“He has them all at his house,” Ghost answers. “He also wanted to extend the invitation that you are more than welcome to stay with him and Maddy.”

I smile but shake my head. I’ve been to King’s place many times. We all have. It’s where we do most of our cookouts and parties.

At least, it was before I got sick. I frown as the realization hits me that everyone has been coming to the clubhouse for everything since I was too afraid to leave it.

Not once have we done anything as a family for the past year.

Tears fall before I even realize I’m crying.

“What’s wrong, little one?” Blaze asks.

“I’m nothing but a nuisance,” I whisper.

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