Page 14 of Reclaimed

I shrug. “It’s a job.” I tear off the headset and drop it on the entry table beside me.

“A well-paying one, from what I hear.” Jack files in with Lee taking up the rear.

“I can’t complain.”

I went from quitting my construction job due to an old shoulder injury flaring, to being shot in the other shoulder, making my return to the business impossible. By a stroke of luck, I not only found a job at the only electric company in this third of the state, but a fast-track promotion to the top due to some timely resignations. These days, I’m making more than I did in the construction business.

The pay? Fantastic. I’d stick with it for the rest of my career if the job itself didn’t feel like it was siphoning out my soul every time I took another call. Not that there’s much left of said soul these days anyway.

“That’s good to hear,” Corjan says quietly. Of all my family, I know he’s taking my distance the hardest. With the others entering their forties, the two of us have always been close as the youngest of the bunch. He just doesn’t see we’re on completely different dimensions. He married his high school sweetheart, lost her, got her back, and has kids.

I’ve never been in love and am still a virgin.

I’ve done other things. By no means am I fumbling if the way I commanded Isla last week is any indication. Thoughts of her writhing in my lap rapidly infiltrate my head.

“What brings you around?” The casual question sounds raspy in my suddenly dry throat.

“We’re mending some fence at the Sanctuary. We needed to come into town for supplies and thought we’d stop by,” Lee answers.

I find my water bottle at my desk and use a long drink to carefully choose my response, ignoring the pang of guilt that I’m not there helping them.

“I don’t need you guys to keep checking in on me.”

“Don’t you?” Jack challenges, crossing his arms over his chest. “Because you haven’t been yourself. Not since…”

“Not since I was shot?” I fill in for him.

“Exactly,” Jack returns.

“I’m fine,” I mutter.

“Are you?” Lee adds, the concern in his eyes forcing mine away. I focus on Chevy in Corjan’s arms.

“What a shitty question to ask.” I return my fortified stare at my oldest brother. “Why is it that the rest of you were allowed to be a bunch of grumpy assholes until you got your shit together? What’s so special about me that the minute I decide to take a backseat from providing you all with comedic relief that you act like you’re already planning my funeral?”

Corjan visibly flinches, revealing I’ve gone a smidge too far.

“That’s not fair,” Lee admonishes, slipping into the paternal role he’s played far too many times in the course of my life.

“I didn’t die in those woods.”

“I think part of you did,” Jack says. “We’re just trying to establish which part so we can help you fix it.”

“I don’t want nor need your help with this,” I hiss. “In fact, I’d appreciate that whenever you think you can do something to help, you do the opposite.”

“Pushing us away isn’t going to get you the result you want.” Jack fiddles with the key ring on his finger.

“It sure seemed to work out well for Jude. Seems like I need to be a bigger asshole to get what I want.”

Jack’s face pinches with a scowl at my mention of his twin.

“Or maybe I should be like Corjan and just pretend everything’s all right when we all knew how broken up he was inside.” I level my gaze on him. “For ten years you hid what losing Bree did to you. And we let you have that. Why can’t I fucking have that?”

The three others share a look.

“I don’t think I’m asking a lot for you all to back off.”

“We just want you to know we’re here,” Lee says.

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