Page 4 of Bossy Hero

Is he gonna be okay?

Again, I shake off the looming dread.

He’s fine. It’s only an hour. And he’s seventeen damn years old.

I twist the doorknob. “See you in an hour, buddy.”

He stops me with a rough grip on my forearm, and his voice quavers. “Alan, wait. Please don’t go.”

Fucking hell.

My teeth clank and grind, and I force out a calming breath. I don’t want to jump his case for being how he is.

But I also didn’t sign up to be his caregiver while my parents sail the fucking Caribbean or wherever the hell they are this time. This shit is so unfair.

If I take him with me, there’s zero chance we’ll get the girls back here. How would that play out?

Hey, come hang out with me and my kid brother. Promise he’s not as annoying as he looks. And he won’t stare while we make out. Much.

Yeah. That’ll go over like a brick to the head.

At least if I get them back here first, he can go to his room and I can restore the mood.

With an irritated flourish, I jerk my arm free. “I said I’ll be back in an hour.”

Using a double grip this time, he grabs hold of me and squeezes the shit out of my arm. “Alan, please. Let me come with you.” The tremble in his hands and voice almost makes me fold.

Almost.

But I don’t.

I’ve already conceded enough for him for tonight. And over the last ten years.

Instead, I brush him off me one final time and storm out the door. Pausing on the front porch, I grab my wallet and hand him a few bills. “Here. Pizza money. One hour. That was the deal. You’ll be fine.”

The keys weigh heavy in my hand, but the guilt in my chest over leaving him behind is far heavier. The lead brick sinking in my stomach doesn’t help.

When I lock up behind me, he moves to the floor-length glass panel on the side of the door. His flat palms press on the glass, and he spears my chest with his forlorn gaze.

Tears finally spring free, pouring down his face.

He cries out my name. Again and again.

“Alan. Alan, please. Alan. Alan. Come back, Alan. Alan.”

With swagger I haven’t earned and regret clogging my airway, I simply walk away.

After all, an hour isn’t going to kill him.

PartOne

The Past

Chapter1

Glimpsing the Grizzly

Alan “Big Al” Lancaster - AKA: Boss

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