Page 109 of Sweet Sin

“I won’t be.” Hawks hurries away from the area.

I hold onto Eagle. “It’s going to be fine, baby brother. It’s going to be fine.”

I see different things when I look at my youngest brother.

I see the man who screwed up royally and got me put away.

But I also see the cute little toddler who followed me around, grabbing my hand and calling me Fah-fah, the little boy who I taught to ride a horse and a two-wheeler. The little boy who said I was his hero.

Then I see the shivering seventeen year old who went into shock. That young man, still a boy, really, who shivered in my arms and begged me, without words, to help him. To protect him.

And I vowed I would, just as I did when he was a little kid.

Just as I did when he was a baby and I held him for the first time when Mom was still in the hospital.

Robin and Raven treated him like he was their baby. They were little mommies to him.

But me?

I wasn’t a little father to Eagle.

I was a big brother. A hero. And in the end, a savior.

He’s up to something, but I can’t deal with that right now. I’ve got Savannah to consider, and in the next room, Raven, who may be rejecting my bone marrow.

Raven…who may be relapsing.

Raven…who may die.

“Nice of you to show up,” I finally say to him.

“I love her just as much as you do, Fal.”

I don’t doubt his words. I’ve never doubted Eagle’s words. He always means well. Since that fateful day, I know he’s stayed clean. We got him into rehab and I got updates from Hawk while I was inside.

Hawk watched him like a… Well, like a hawk.

He became his protector while I was gone.

But I’m back now.

“So what’s up with you and the woman?” Eagle asks.

“You heard her.”

Eagle grins. “She’s in love with you.”

“Apparently.”

Eagle steps toward me. “And you return her feelings?”

“I do, so back off.”

He holds up a hand. “You’ve got no worries with me. I owe you a lot.”

Fuck, he has no idea. “I don’t want to go there, Eagle. Not here, and not now.”

“I just mean—”

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