Keep Healing (Fighting For Tomorrow #2)

CHAPTER 6

ALEKS

I don’t know how long the four of us sat, just watching Evie, but it was long after she’d fallen asleep. I wasn’t sure about the others, but I felt like I dare not take my eyes from her. I was terrified if I did, she’d be taken from me again, and I refused to ever allow that to happen. She was mine – ours – and no one and nothing would take her from us. We wouldn’t allow it. As long as she wanted us – this rag tag group of fucked up, broken men – she would have us. Even if she decided she didn’t want us one day, I wasn’t sure I could just walk away from her. She had weaved her way deep into my heart - a heart I had long since presumed dead – and she was in there for good. No matter what happened, even if we couldn’t make this relationship between us work, I would always be there to care for her and to protect her. Walking away from her was not an option.

“You’re sure she’s okay?” Harris asked eventually, breaking the silence.

“I’m sure, brother. The cut’s superficial. There’s no indications of concussion and the bleeding stopped as soon as I dressed it . She’s fine,” Kailan reassured Harris, and the rest of us, for the fifth time. “Her doctor brother can double check when he’s here later, but I do know what I’m talking about, boss. Scouts honor,” he joked with a mock scout salute, making us all huff a laugh and breaking the tension in the room.

“We can’t take any more risks with her. This could have ended so differently. We’re so fucking lucky she’s here right now,” Nick sighed as silence descended again.

“We won’t,” Harris agreed. “Whatever it takes. We’re gonna keep her safe and end this motherfucker once and for all.”

“Do the FBI have any leads so far?” I asked, looking to Nick.

“Nothing,” he shook his head. “Even with the information Evie gave them, they have no leads to go on other than the car, and I’m guessing he already ditched that by now.”

“We have to find him. He’s not going to stop coming for her,” Kailan pointed out what we all already knew.

“Maybe we should get her away from here. We could take her to another country. If we stay off the radar, he’ll never find her, not with Aleks’s skills,” Harris mused.

“We’re not running. Evie’s been through enough. She feels safe here, and she needs the support of her family, even if her brothers are all complete assholes,” Nick told him.

“They’re not that bad when you get to know them. They’re just really over protective,” Harris explained. “Once they background check us all, and see there’s nothing there, they’ll chill out.”

“Background check? You’re fucking with me, aren’t you?” I laughed.

“Wish I was, brother.”

“Do you think we can really make this work? With Evie, I mean? You think she can really handle all of our messed up?” Kailan asked, sounding more vulnerable than I thought I had ever heard from him.

“If anyone can, it’s her,” Nick answered first.

“She’s seen plenty of our fucked up and she hasn’t run yet,” I added with a shrug.

“We’re all a little messed up, Evie too. Maybe together we can all find a way to fix some of it, and get past what we can’t. I know she definitely makes me want to do that,” Harris added.

“Me too,” I agreed. I knew it wouldn’t be as easy as it sounded, but I would do whatever it took to be everything Evie deserved. I’d never be good enough, but if she were willing to let me try, I’d spend every second of every day just trying to be.

“So we stay here, right? We keep her safe and we work on finding out who exactly Soloman is?” Kailan looked to Harris for guidance, as always.

“For now,” Harris nodded. “If that’s what Ev wants. We need to all be home with her as much as possible. I’m confident that fucker can’t get on the property, but I’m not taking any risks anymore. I want a minimum of two of us in the house with her at all times, and we need to do sweeps and check the system for hacks regularly.”

“I set up an alert. We will all be notified on our cells if anyone tries to hack the security,” I explained.

“I’ll be here,” Nick said. “I’ve been suspended pending investigation, so I have a whole lot of free time on my hands.”

“Shit. I’m sorry man. That’s because I made you keep Evie being here quiet, isn’t it?” Harris looked guiltily to Nick as he spoke.

“It’s all good. I’d rather be here with Evie and Zack right now any way and I could use a break. The job was starting to get to me, all the awful shit I see on a daily basis. If I’m honest I’m not so sure it was the right career choice after everything we already saw overseas. It’s just fucking me up even more.”

“Can’t say I disagree with you. I don’t know how you do that job,” Harris told him. “You know we can always find work for you at the company. You already have an office there.”

“For now I’m good at home, where I’m needed. Lert’s just get through this and then I can reevaluate my career choices.”

“Anything from Kayla yet?” I asked. Nick had called her several times amongst the chaos, worried about Zack being in the house if anything happened, but so far Kayla hadn’t answered a single call or responded to any texts.

“Nah. She’s obviously having way too much fun with whichever rich sucker she’s latched onto now.”

“Fuck her. Our little buddy is way better off here with us anyway,” Kailan said as he tapped Nick reassuringly on the shoulder.

“We’ll keep him safe, Nick. You know that, right? We’re not going to let anything happen to him,” Harris added when Nick turned to the video monitor to check on his son with a look of worry and fear.

“Yeah, I know. Thanks man.” Nick took one last, long look at Evie where she lay right on the edge of the bed, snuggled on her side and sleeping soundly. “I should go and see what we have for dinner before her brothers show up. Can’t have them finding any more fault with us.”

“Hate to break it to you, bro, but I’m pretty sure they’re gonna do that anyway, no matter how good your spaghetti is,” Kailan chuckled, and we all knew he was right. We definitely had an uphill climb ahead of us where Evie’s brothers were concerned.

“I’ll do another sweep outside,” I volunteered. It had been over an hour since the guys did the last one and we were all feeling extra antsy with this asshole, Soloman, on the loose.

“I’ll come with you,” Harris offered. “You good to stay with her? I’m worried about nightmares.”

“Not going anywhere, boss,” Kailan promised as he moved to sit beside Evie on the bed, in the spot Harris was currently vacating, albeit reluctantly. It was like he too, dare not take his eyes off of her.

“Come on, Harris. Kailan has her,” I assured him as I gave his shoulder a squeeze of reassurance.

But for all my bravado to reassure Harris, I still felt a pain in my chest as I forced myself to leave the room. I didn’t want to be away from her – not yet – not after everything she’d been through and us almost losing her, but I had to. We had to. We had to be sure she was safe. Nothing else mattered.

EVIE

I was completely shocked by how soundly and deeply I had slept when I opened my eyes, but then I found Kailan laid out beside me and knew that was why. The guys hadn’t left me. One of them had been with me constantly and somehow, even in sleep, their presence had soothed me and allowed me to get the rest I needed.

“Morning,” I joked as I turned on my side to face Kailan, pulling his attention from whatever he’d been looking at on his cell.

“Morning, my beautiful girl,” he gushed as he dropped his cell to the bed and turned on his side, mirroring me. “How did you sleep?” he brushed some of the wild strands of my hair from my face, the smile never once leaving his handsome, slightly stubble covered face.

“Good, really good, actually. I think I must have needed it,” I laughed as I casually attempted to smooth down the remainder of my completely wild hair. I had laid down with it still wet, not to mention I hadn’t even shampooed it in the shower. It was a rat’s nest and I dreaded trying to tame it.

“Stop trying to straighten your hair,” he said as he reached up and grabbed my hand, holding it in his between us. “I like it like that. You look perfect.”

“Perfect? Kailan, my hair is a complete disaster right now. I’m pretty sure I look far from perfect,” I laughed.

“It’s pointless to argue with me. I’m always right, and I say you’re perfect just as you are.”

“Always right, huh?” I scoffed.

“Yep. Always, especially when it comes to how perfect my girl is at all times.”

“So I’m your girl now, am I? That’s the second time you’ve said that,” I pointed out.

“You said you like us. You already know we’re crazy about you. I think that makes you ‘my girl’, or at least ‘our girl’,” he explained. The words were confident, but there was an uncertainty and vulnerability on his face that about broke my heart.

“I think I might like being your girl,” I assured him, then I leaned in and kissed him square on the lips, taking him by surprise.

“Wait,” he said as I moved to pull away. “That wasn’t fair. I wasn’t ready,” he added with the most adorable pout.

“You have to be ready for a kiss?” I laughed.

“Yes, especially for our first kiss. I want to be able to remember it even when we’re all old and senile.”

“Fine. Are you ready now?” I couldn’t take the smile from my face as I waited for his answer. He just brought out a little of the playful side of me that I had lost for what felt like so long. No matter what, he could always make me smile and I needed that.

He animatedly worked his jaw back and forth, then puckered and sucked in his lips as though he were warming them up, only making me laugh out loud.

“Okay, ready now,” he declared, so I leaned in and once again kissed him, only this time I took my time and savored the feel of his lips and his stubble against my skin. I moved to pull away, but Kailan clearly wasn’t done. He placed his hand on my cheek, holding me in place slightly, but his touch remaining light enough that I could pull away if I wanted to, then he kissed me. First he pecked my lips a couple of times until I melted into him, shuffling closer so our chests were touching, then the kiss turned fiery, our tongues finding each other and tangling. Kailan was a great kisser. Within seconds he had my toes curling and my core humming for more. I could feel the heat of his body through my thin pajamas and was reminded of exactly how it felt to be a woman – another part of my self I had lost, but that part, I feared, was lost long before I was taken by Soloman. The last time, I realized, I had come alive in the way I was right there, and had earlier in the shower with Harris, was when Harris was in my life.

Dean had never made me feel that way. He never made me feel like I might explode if he didn’t just touch me. Sex with him had been boring and emotionless and I knew it, but I had looked beyond it because I loved him. I had thought the way Harris made me feel was something rare, that I would never be lucky enough to have again, and I had been prepared to live that way for Dean, because I thought he was it for me. How could I have been so damned stupid and na?ve? How could I have ever thought I could live without feeling the way Kailan was making me feel at that exact moment?

Just as Kailan’s hands started to roam down lower, right towards where I wanted them, his cell started chirping from where he’d dropped it on the bed between us and he froze.

“No,” I gasped breathlessly.

“Sorry darlin’, but it’s the boss and I have to get it. With everything that’s going on, it might be urgent,” he explained, then he kissed me once more, chastely on the lips before sitting up to answer the call.

I took huge, gasping breaths as I tried to cool off and calm down, but it was the second damned time that day the guys had gotten me worked up, only to stop. There was only so much a girl could take.

“Your brother’s are on the way. Boss man says they’re about ten minutes out,” Kailan told me as he ended the call and dropped the cell back to the bed.

“Yep, that’ll do it,” I uttered to myself as the mention of all five of my brothers showing up had all heat and need leaving me instantly. The last thing I needed was them finding me in bed with Kailan. They were already freaking out.

“Do what?”

“Nothing. I have to get dressed,” I told him as I rolled to the edge of the bed and sat up. It was going to be a long ass evening with my brothers and the four guys I was falling for, all sitting around the table scowling at each other. I could hardly wait…not! I just prayed it didn’t end in blood shed, but even I knew that was a lot to ask for, especially where Kyle was concerned.

***

My next pressing concern, of what the hell I was going to feed my brothers, who ate like bears going into hibernation year round, was alleviated as Kailan and I walked into the kitchen to the most amazing, delicious smell.

Nick was standing at the counter buttering slices of what had to be garlic bread, a huge bowl of salad beside him, prepared beautifully and ready to eat.

“You cooked?” I asked, lost for words.

“Can’t have your brothers trying to kick our asses on an empty stomach, can we?” Nick chuckled.

“There will be no ass kicking, please,” I sighed as I turned to where Aleks and Harris sat side by side at the counter, Aleks as always, on his laptop. “I know my brothers are a lot, and they’ve been complete assholes to you, but they’re just protective. They care because they’ve all been through hell and they just want to keep the people they love safe.”

“We know, sweetheart, and we’ll try to keep the peace, but there’s only so many insults we’ll let go,” Harris warned, and I nodded. I got that. I didn’t expect them to just sit back and take abuse. They didn’t deserve that and I’d never allow it to happen either. I just wanted them all to get along though.

“Just, please…can we try to keep physical fighting to a minimum?” I asked instead.

“Relax, darlin’,” Kailan said as he placed a kiss on the top of my head. “Everything will be just fine. You’ll see.”

I reached up to smooth my hair again. It was still wild, but luckily I’d managed to tame it into a bun. I was dressed in sweats and a hoody the guys had bought me, still too sore and tired to try any harder than that. I knew my brothers were unlikely to even notice what I wore, and the guys seemed to not care, as long as I was comfy.

The sound of Zack squealing from where he was playing on the floor at Harris’s feet had me turning with an excited smile. I hadn’t seen him since I got home.

“He’s hungry,” Harris laughed as he got down from the stool he sat on and picked the little bundle of joy up, blowing a raspberry against his cheek and making him laugh with delight.

It didn’t escape my notice that Aleks, Nick, and Harris were all dressed in neatly pressed button up shirts with their jeans, and their hair was styled too. They were trying to make a good impression, for me, and that meant more than I could say.

“Gimme. I need Zack cuddles,” I said as I approached Harris with my arms outstretched. Zack saw me and instantly reached for me too, which only made me feel even happier as I took him from Harris.

“Hey, little man. I missed you,” I told him as he slapped both hands over my cheeks and patted them. I leaned in to kiss his chubby cheeks, then beamed when he laughed for me, just as he’d laughed for Harris before. He was totally adorable in his blue dungarees with a striped shirt underneath. His cheeks were glowing red, likely because he was teething, but he had a huge smile on his face. He looked so much like his dad with his dark thick hair and dark eyes.

“I think he missed you too,” Nick chuckled as I turned to look at him with a smile. He winked at me and all I could think about was walking over there and kissing him too.

“They’re here,” Aleks said, making me pause in my tracks. Kissing Nick would have to wait, but I would definitely get to it.

“I’ll let them in. They like me best anyway,” Kailan announced. With one more kiss on the top of my head he left to open the front door.

“He’s dreaming if he thinks they like any of us,” Aleks scoffed.

“Just try to give them a chance guys. Their bark really is worse then their bite,” I told them, but even I doubted that statement. When it came to protecting people they loved, there was nothing my brothers wouldn’t do.

“We’ll be nice, if they are,” Nick told me. My face dropped knowing how unlikely it was my brothers were going to be nice. Maybe Xander would try, but the others? Forget it! “Come here, baby,” Nick added as he held out his arm. I didn’t even stop to consider it. I just went to him and curled into his side as he wrapped his arm around me, Zack between us. “Are you up to this?” he asked. He lifted my chin so he could study my face.

“Yeah. I’m good,” I lied.

“No lies, remember?”

“Fine. I’m not good, but I’m okay, and I’ll feel a lot better when I eat some of what ever that delicious smell is.”

“Lasagna. It’s the only thing I could make enough of for all of us. They’ll like that right? They’re not vegan or anything?”

“Ha! Vegan? They will eat literally anything, Nick. Just don’t mention vegans in front of Matt. It’s a dirty word to him,” I laughed. “It will be great. Thank you for cooking for them.” I reached up and kissed his cheek, knowing we didn’t have time for more. I could already hear Kailan jovially greeting my brothers and getting very little in return.

Not wanting to fuel the fire, I stepped away from Nick and reached into the salad bowl to grab a slice of cucumber, popping it in my mouth, then holding another up for Zack, which he snatched and shoved into his mouth as fast as he could.

“Don’t you feed this poor kid?” I laughed as I looked from Nick to Harris.

“He just ate an hour ago, a whole damned banana and a yoghurt,” Nick sighed, but he couldn’t hide the proud smile on his face from me. I saw it.

“You’re a growing boy, aren’t you, Zack?” I cooed as I handed him another slice of cucumber which he once again shoved in and devoured. I burst out laughing when he reached as far as he could for the huge bowl.

“What the fuck?” I looked up at the sharp tone in Kyle’s voice and found him frozen in the kitchen entry way, staring at me with a scowl.

“Kyle! No swearing in front of little ears!” I scolded, realizing instantly just how much that made me sound exactly like my mom.

“What the…is…how can he be….is that your damned kid?” he floundered, barely able to get the words out.

“What? What’s going on?” Cole asked as he strode in and past Kyle, followed by Matt. Kade and Xander were right on their heels, then all five of them were gawking at me with the same angry and puzzled expressions.

“Evie. Explain,” Kade grumbled as they all just glared. I sighed deeply as I resettled Zack on my hip and rounded the counter to take a seat at the dining table. All five sets of eyes followed me, but not one of them moved.

“You guys are so ridiculous,” I scoffed as I looked round to them. “You all have kids. Please, one of you tell me how old you think Zack here is?”

“Too old to be yours, obviously,” Xander answered, finally recovering some common sense. “But who is he?”

“He’s mine,” Nick spoke up.

“You’re married?” Matt gasped like a housewife clutching her pearls.

“Jesus guys. What the hell have you been drinking?” I laughed.

“Someone please explain before Kyle Hulks out,” Xander urged.

“For God’s sake. Zack is Nick’s son. He had a one night thing with Zack’s mom. They’re not now, nor have they ever been married. Now Nick and the mom share custody. That clear everything up for everyone?” I asked snippily.

“So that’s why they want you here, to play mom to their kid?” Kyle growled and when I turned to him he was turning colors that worried me. He really was about to Hulk out.

“Kyle!” I snapped.

“Seriously man? You know me. You really think I’d treat Evie like that?” Harris barked.

“I know you walked away from her with barely a word and broke her damned heart!” Kyle threw back.

“Do you even know how long it took her to come back from you leaving her?” Kade chimed in.

“I swear to God, you better all stop talking right the hell now!” I growled, not wanting to scare Zack by raising my voice, but I needed them to shut up. I didn’t need my teenage heart break laid out for all to see. I was so embarrassed.

“Let’s just all calm down a bit, huh?” Xander suggested.