Page 66 of Barrett

“Maybe it’s that he doesn’t want you to have to listen to or deal with it.” I didn’t know why Barrett did what he did, but that was my guess, considering how protective he was of his brother.

“Maybe.”

“I won’t do it, okay? I’ll say what I want but if something bothers you or you have questions, ask me. I’ll tell you what I can. Obviously, some shit will be off-limits, given who I work for. That’s another thing. You and Barrett are close, but what you see in the building we’re going to, you can’t tell anyone about.” Not that I thought he’d see much. Everyone was good about keeping the secret shit behind closed doors. We just never knew what each day would bring.

“I won’t. Barrett’s the only one I tell anything personal to, and I wouldn’t want to put him in a position where he had to go behind yours or Jordan’s backs.”

“No close friends?”

We stopped at a light, so I looked over at him. Marshall had his eyes out the window, watching as a light rain started to fall. “No. I’m not like the others. They have loving families and grew up with money. They can do whatever they want and don’t have to worry about how they’re going to pay for things. Barrett does a lot for me, so I don’t ask him for much. What he gives me is usually because he buys it, not because I ask. After the way our parents treated us, what we’d been through together, I wish he’d trust me more.” Barrett had dropped enough information here and there, so I had a pretty good idea about the kind of people his parents were.

The light turned green, so I got us moving again. “He does. You’re the most important person in his life. Being as such means he’s terrified of losing you. I get it. If something happened to my brother, I’d lose a part of myself.”

“You’re identical twins.”

I nodded. “It can get confusing at times.”

“I knew right away how I’d be able to tell you apart, and I don’t mean the scar your brother has.” I shouldn’t be surprised how nothing slipped by Marshall.

“At first, I thought it was you walking into my room, even though the clothes were different, but it’s the way he holds himself and smiles more freely.”

“I smile.” Right? Sometimes? Fuck’s sake.

Marshall chuckled. “You have, but it’s not the same. He’s a bit easier going than you. Am I right?”

“You are, except when we’re working. We’re equally dangerous.”

“I don’t doubt that. Plus, he stands more relaxed where you’re stiff. No, that’s not right. You’re a coiled spring waiting to bounce. I don’t think it would take much to set you off.”

It was my turn to laugh. “You’d be right. You should have seen your brother and me when we’d go toe to toe before you met me. God, the two of us were a constant push and pull.”

“Let me guess, Barrett found a way to rile you up and was relentless about it.”

“How’d you know?” They’re brothers but to say that, he had to see more.

“Because I got the moody, upset side of him at home, which meant someone was getting under his skin or he was getting under theirs, and it wasn’t working. After meeting you, I knew it would be him doing all he could to piss you off.”

“You have no idea. We won’t talk about how many times I fisted his shirt and put him up against a wall while I seethed.”

“And yet you didn’t end up in prison.”

“Not everything was…” I didn’t know what to say. Legal? It wasn’t, but that wasn’t a conversation I should have with Marshall.

“It’s fine. I don’t need to know. I’m glad you two are where you are though.”

“I’m not sure where that is after tonight. Barrett’s pissed.”

“That has everything to do with me, not you. He’ll be okay. I hope.”

I wasn’t sure if I should reach over and pat him on the shoulder. Would he want comfort from me? I didn’t normally do that with any of the guys I worked with, but I did with Barrett. I would always open my arms for him.

“Your brother is capable of handling himself.” That didn’t come out as confident as I had hoped.

“Are you sure about that? You don’t seem any better off than he is.”

Luckily, we were pulling into the garage and could put an end to this conversation. I liked Marshall, but I was torn up over Barrett. Leaving him behind ate at me. What if something happened to him? What if the guy who tried to take Marshall returned with backup? We had no idea if he was working alone or not. Although, in my gut, I thought it was only him.

“I don’t want to leave him behind,” was all I said.

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