Page 66 of These Rough Waters

“Do you know what kind of nightmares?”

I shouldn’t press for these answers from a child, but I was desperate to find out more, I just needed something, “Monsters are hurting her.” Harper whispers, “They used to hurt her when she was awake but not here. But they scare her still.”

My blood runs cold. “Who were the monsters, Harper?”

Harper looks up from her bowl, a sad look on her face as her eyes well with tears but she shakes her head, “Momma doesn’t want us to talk about it.”

My fingers tighten on the spoon, “Okay kid.”

We part ways when Maya takes Harper off to school and I watch them go, Maya in a tight pair of jeans that hug her ass and thighs so deliciously I wanted to sink my teeth into her.

Rett’s still at my house, drinking my damn coffee and wearing my fucking sweats as he just casually hangs out in the kitchen.

He dramatically checks the Rolex on his wrist, and sips his coffee, “I hope you’re using protection,” he reprimands mockingly.

“Fuck off.”

“Really, Tor, finally got laid after five years and you’re still a cranky bastard. What’s it gonna take to get a smile on that pretty face, hm?”

“How about you leave, and I’ll be grand.”

“I come to check on my brother and this is the welcome I get?” he sulks, “So much for brotherly love.”

“The only thing brotherly you’re getting from me, Everett, is a slap upside the head. The fuck are you doing here?”

“Am I not allowed to take a vacation once in a while? I wanted to see my big brother.”

I sigh, “If this is about that damn job…”

“It’s not!” He confirms, “I have genuinely come to check on you, I can see now it’s not needed since you’re getting all cozy with that pretty little brunette.”

“Rett,” I growl. “Leave Maya alone.”

“Hey, you can put your dick away, you don’t need to piss all over the poor girl. Despite what you might believe, I do have boundaries.”

I turn to my younger brother and look at him. Really look at him. How long had it been since I saw him? He was looking older, more refined but there was that ever present darkness in his eyes. A darkness that was taught to us growing up by our father, a darkness that I’m able to suppress while Everett, he holds the darkness close and uses it to define his entire being. Kolten, our, for all intents and purposes, adoptive brother was completely devoured by that darkness.

But Rett hides it well in his character, he was loud, boyish and often playful but it was a ruse to hide those darker elements that made up most of who he was.

And looking at him now, realizing how much he’s let himself fall to that way of life, I worry I’ll lose him to it. Permanently.

“You ever thought about giving it up?” I place a cup under the spout on the coffee machine, watching his face to read his expression.

“Absolutely not,” he scoffs, “I’m far too young for retirement, old man.”

“You’re three years younger, Everett. I’m hardly ancient.”

“You look it. Maybe you should tidy up that facial hair, you’re giving mountain man.”

I roll my eyes.

“But you’re good?” I ask, leaning on the counter to take a sip of my coffee.

“Grand,” Rett widens his eyes dramatically, “Just fucking peachy, big brother. Don’t you worry about me.”

“And that job?”

“Passed it up,” He sighs, “I have another coming up after this trip.”

---