Page 150 of Outcast
It was intense—but so was the slow, sweet sex we’d had a few times since exchangingI love yous.Emory had topped and bottomed both—he was still discovering where his boundaries lay—and I was enjoying every minute of the ride.
“Gross,” Bailey said now, screwing up his face. “Didn’t need to know that.”
“Like we couldn’t figure it out after listening to them go at it the past few weeks?” Holden said.
“Shut it,” I said as Emory’s blush darkened. “We stayed at his place last night, so quit your bitching.”
“We appreciate it. Feel free to keep doing that.”
I clapped my free hand to my heart. “Ouch. I thought you wanted me in your brotherly nest of love.”
“Okay, that sounds disturbing,” Bailey muttered.
“Or hot,” Angel said, waggling her eyebrows.
“More like incestuous,” Axel said.
“Like I said,” she teased. “Hot.” She lifted the gun, leaving my wrist a little numb from all the vibrations. “Okay, you’re done. Let me get you cleaned up.”
Angel bandaged me and went through the after-care instructions. I tuned her out. This wasn’t my first rodeo.
“Okay, I’ll go run the bill. Emory, let me introduce you to Fox before he leaves. He’s looking for an apprentice, and he’s a great teacher.”
His eyes widened. “Oh, but I have a job.”
She smiled knowingly and shrugged. “Well, you never know where life will take you. Besides, who says you can’t do it part time for fun? Just come up front if you want to meet him.”
She walked off, and I nudged Emory’s hip. “You should check it out. You’re all about chasing your joy now, right?”
“Right,” he said slowly. “Well, I guess it can’t hurt to learn more. I just, I help people at my job. If I left it…”
“You’re supposed to be making choices that make you happy, golden boy. If it’s staying at the bank, definitely do that. If it’s something else, well, I think you owe it to yourself to consider it. That’s all.”
“Yeah, I guess I do.” He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders as if marching into battle, and headed for the front desk.
It still took so much work for him to consider his desires over his obligations. I didn’t doubt Emory would always be a selfless person who wanted to make others happy, but hopefully, he’d at least put himself into the equation now.
It would take time for him to figure out what he really wanted, and that was okay. I’d be there to support him, no matter what path he took.
My brothers crowded in as I stood up to look at the simple black design of an infinity symbol with the words Bro and Code in each loop.
Axel lined up his arm next to mine. Bailey held his in as well so we could see the tattoos side by side.
“Such a simple little design,” Holden murmured, gazing at our wrists.
“But a complicated road that led us here,” I said.
Not just the years I’d lost with my brothers or the time I’d needed to earn their trust again, but every step of our lives leading up to this code between us. The loss, abandonment, neglect, and abuse we’d each endured. The love and loyalty we’d found together, thanks to my foster mom’s tireless efforts to help us heal.
The challenges we still faced, the trauma we’d always carry—but most of all, the new family we’d forged. One we’d fight for again and again.
“We got here,” Holden said. “All of us.”
We finally fucking did.
EPILOGUE
Late October
