Page 8 of Dirty Love

He looks up at me and wiggles his way out of his hoodie, his smile lazy, his eyes a little bloodshot from the weed.

“You tired?”

He nods and removes the rest of his clothes, his pale body on full display minus the black fabric of his boxers, his left leg hooked over the blanket while he curls himself up into a ball in the middle of my bed.

I should tell him to get out, make him go back to his own room before he passes out in here, but I don’t do that. I like it better when he’s close to me, which is why I strip down to my underwear and lie down beside him, carefully running my fingers through his hair while I watch him fall asleep.

CHAPTER 4

KADE

Sixteen years old…

“Boys! Get up! Now!”

My eyes pop open at the sound of our dad’s shouted voice, followed by the front door slamming with enough force to shake the entire house.

“Shit,” Nicky whispers from beside me, shooting up in bed like he’s actually about to go down there.

Not a chance in hell.

He moves to stand but I move faster, pinning him to the mattress with my hands on either side of his head, my hips resting between his open thighs. “Stay here.”

“But—”

“I said stay here,” I repeat through my teeth, slower this time. “I mean it, Nicky. If you leave this fucking room I swear to god I’ll never forgive you.”

He swallows and I soften my features for him, gently pressing a kiss to the creased spot between his eyebrows. Knowing our dad’s about to come charging upstairs any second now, I climb out from between my brother’s legs and throw a black pair of sweats on, leaving him there while I go downstairs to meet the pissed off fucker in the living room.

“Where were you last night?” he asks, leaning back against the side of the couch with his arms crossed over his chest, still wearing his police uniform from the twelve hour shift he just finished.

“What do you mean?”

“Do not play dumb with me,” he warns, straightening up to his full height, pointing toward the bay window beside us. “The neighbor down the street just told me she saw you two walking back here at three o’ clock in the fucking morning. In what world are my teenage sons allowed to stay out all night, Kade?!”

“I’m sorry,” I lie, hoping to wrap this up quick so I can get back to Nicky. “We went to Arianna’s house and fell asleep watching a movie. It was an accident.”

“Oh, really?” he asks, his tone light, but I’m not buying it. “You should invite her over for dinner soon. I’d love the chance to get to know her properly.”

“Yeah, I bet you would,” I mutter, scoffing quietly at the thought because no, that’s not happening.

Before I can blink, his huge fist connects with my cheek and I fall over the coffee table behind me. My back hits the floor and I roll over onto my side, lowering my head to hide the way my face is screwed up in agony.

Fucking prick.

“What did I tell you about talking back?!” he shouts, but I can barely hear it over the ringing in my ears.

I’m sure he hits me even harder than he did when I was smaller, almost like he’s afraid I’ll start fighting back if he doesn’t keep me in line. I won’t fight back, though, because I’m not stupid enough to believe he won’t take it out on Nicky if I push him hard enough.

He’d have to kill me first, but I wouldn’t put it past the psychotic piece of shit to do just that.

“Where’s your brother?”

“Asleep,” I grit out, struggling to keep my tone respectful. “Sir.”

But he’s not asleep.

I can just imagine him pacing back and forth in my bedroom right now, warring with himself over whether or not he should disobey me.

---