Page 31 of Bear

Bear’s eyes softened with adoration and he kissed my forehead.

“Thank you, Shelby.”

I hummed with contentment. Even though we didn’t have a solution to the problem with Justin, I felt significantly calmer that Bear and I would be just fine, no matter what came our way.

Chapter Eleven

Bear

I should have told Shelby about the fight on Wednesday. That was the whole point of stopping my search for Carlos and paying her a visit. She deserved to know what was happening.

Then I saw the concern in her eyes. When she started talking about leaving in the hopes that would throw Justin off…I panicked and I clammed up and I knew I couldn’t tell her. She would try to talk me out of it. She would be worried sick. She would blame herself.

And deep down, I feared that if Shelby saw me in that cage with Justin, blood on my knuckles, violent, brutal…it would break her and drive her away from me.

So, I kept my mouth shut, like a selfish, cowardly asshole.

But the guilt gnawed at me now, eating me alive.

Trapped in the churn of my own thoughts, I returned to my apartment. Pedro was at the kitchen counter, head bent over his homework as he absently reached for the bowl of popcorn next to his elbow.

“There are leftovers in the fridge,” he said without looking up from his textbook.

I felt a pang of sympathy for Pedro, getting lost in the middle of everything. On my way past him, I ruffled his hair.

“You cooked?” I teased. “Let me guess. Cold cereal? Or a pack of protein bars?”

Pedro wrinkled his nose in my direction and batted my hand away.

“Very funny. I made burritos. With beef marinated in chili peppers, roasted corn, and tomatoes. Also added extra sour cream and cheese, the way you like them. And plenty of lettuce, so you won’t nag me about eating my veggies.”

I stared at Pedro, feeling like I would burst with pride. It seemed like just yesterday he was a wide-eyed three-year-old little boy, clinging to my shirt, crying because he was afraid of the dark. And yet here he was before me, nearly a man fully grown. At fifteen, he was holding down a steady job at Rooster’s Garage, he could cook a damn fine meal, and maintain good grades.

I wrapped an arm around Pedro’s shoulders and hugged him.

“I shouldn’t tease you as much as I do,” I said. “Thank you for making dinner.”

Pedro glanced at me, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion for a moment. Then understanding dawned on his face as my words sank in and he scrubbed at his nose, self-consciously.

Before he could respond, the door opened, signaling Carlos’ return. I stepped into the hallway to meet him.

Silence filled the apartment. Carlos stopped at the threshold, meeting my gaze with a level look.

“Got your message,” he said.

“Hours ago,” I pointed out.

He huffed and shook his head. Then he shut the door with enough force to make the floor shudder beneath my feet.

“Don’t get your panties in a twist, big brother.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were failing your classes? Why didn’t you tell me that you’d dropped out of school?”

He huffed. “Should have known Pedro would rat me out.”

“Hey,” I barked, putting my hand up. “Don’t talk about your brother like that.”

“He’s a fucking snitch.”

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