Page 186 of Paradox
“Shhh.” Eden’s voice is gentle as he strokes my hair.
“You better not be anywhere near him!”
I lock my hands behind Eden’s back.
I hear the soles of the heavy military boots my brother always wears stomp onto the porch.
The front door flies open—the handle hitting the wall so hard I know there’ll be a dent there.
I push my face hard against Eden’s chest.
“Get your fucking hands off him, you sick son of a bitch!”
“I don’t wanna fight you.”
“You don’t wanna, what?” Tek’s boots stomp closer. “You’ve been lying to me for months.”
Eden stays quiet.
I wish I knew what he was thinking.
I wish I could make Tek understand.
“I told you to get the fuck away from him!”
I’m jerked forward as Eden falls back.
Tek hit him. Not a punch, but more than a slap.
Eden’s arms leave me to support his fall, but they don’t return.
“I don’t wanna fight you.”
“But I’m gonna kill you as soon as I get him away from you.”
“Him?”
“Fuck you.”
“If you care so much, you can use his name.”
Grabbing my arm, Tek tries to pull me away.
I shake my head, and link my heels together, but he grabs my other arm.
His grip is tight, though as soon as Tek lets go, I’m back against Eden’s chest.
This time my brother’s hands wrap around my ribs, but they slip—tearing the cling film.
“What the… What the fuck!” he yells, even louder than before; the fog of his anger preventing him from seeing what was right in front of him until now.
The crack of his hand against Eden’s face sends a chill down my spine.
“How dare you… What the fuck were you thinking?!”
“You think I forced him to lay there while I did it?”
Tek hits him again, and this time I feel it vibrate through me.
