Chapter Twenty-Five
Rex
F uck! Fuck! Fuck! I seriously fucked that up. Why didn’t I think to check we were alone before opening my big mouth? This is not what we need right now. We’ve got enough going on without Jake being angry at us all because we didn’t tell him about Everett. Shit, I need to fix this. Fast.
“Rex!” Dre shouts, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts. “Calm down. You couldn’t have known he’d hear you.”
“I should have checked we were alone.”
“You’re in your home. That’s not something you’re used to doing here, right?
” Dre asks, but he doesn’t give me a chance to answer.
Instead, he just plows on with what he’s saying.
“Stop beating yourself up. It was an honest mistake. You didn’t know he was there.
Just tell Seth what happened. Really, if you think about it, this is between them; you just had the unfortunate luck of being the one who spilled the beans. ”
“Still—”
“Nope. Stop. Still nothing.”
We’re interrupted by the appearance of Seth. He wanders into the kitchen none the wiser of what’s happened. By the looks of things, he’s on the search for more caffeine. The giant empty mug in his hand is a bit of a giveaway.
“Seth.” I say seriously, knowing I need to tell him what’s happened before Jake finds him and blows up at him.
“What’s happened?” Seth asks, immediately picking up on my tone.
“I fucked up. Dre and I were talking about Everett being back, and Jake overheard. He’s not happy.”
“You didn’t fuck up, Rex. I should never have kept it from him, even with everything that was happening in his life.
He’s my brother, and all he’s ever done is love and support me.
If I’m being honest, I’m probably going to need all of you more than ever now that Ev’s back.
” Seth says as he pours some coffee into his mug.
“He might be angry now, but you know he’s always going to be there when you need him. It’s what we do, Seth. Let’s get all this shit we’ve currently got on our plates dealt with, and then we can figure out what the hell is going on with Everett’s return. Does that work?”
“Yeah. I need my focus on what I’m working on right now. If I let my thoughts of Everett invade my mind anymore than they already are, I’m going to be fucking useless, and I can’t be useless right now. There’s too much work for me to do with figuring out everything Richard has accessed.”
“Then we have a plan. If you need to talk before then, we’re all here to listen. We love you, Seth.”
“Love you too, big brother. I don’t know what I’d do without you all, and I’m glad I’ll never have to find out.”
With those final words, Seth turns and leaves the kitchen.
Leaving Dre and me alone once more. Neither of us speaks, though, both clearly lost in thought about the conversation I’ve just had with Seth.
Dre might not say a word, but I know he’s affected by what Seth has said.
His eyes are brimming with unshed tears that he’s attempting to blink away.
I get it. Hearing Seth talk about anything to do with Everett and how he feels is heartbreaking.
You can feel Seth’s pain in every single word he speaks.
Chiming echoes through the house, letting us all know someone is at the front door.
I have a strong suspicion I know who it is too.
Wreck and Shadow. I’m a little surprised Wreck waited this long to come over; I was sort of expecting him as soon as the sun was up.
I could tell yesterday he was eager to not only spend more time with Dre but also meet Immy.
* * *
Today has flown by. It feels like I just haven’t stopped. It’s just been one thing after another that’s required my attention, and it doesn’t look like that’s going to be changing anytime soon.
It all started with the door going this morning, and I was right.
It was Wreck and Shadow on the other side, and they didn’t come empty-handed either.
They were both weighed down with bags and bags of stuff for Dre and Immy.
It was sweet and thoughtful. Dre was beyond ecstatic to have the option of changing into clothes that actually fit him.
Especially before meeting my mother. It was a massive relief for me too; with everything that went down yesterday, we never got a chance to order new clothing and whatever else they both could want or need.
I can’t believe I forgot to do something so important; talk about a total blunder on my part.
Watching Wreck meet Immy was priceless. I’ve never seen a massive tattooed-up biker turn to goo so fast. I should have expected it, really; Immy has had that effect on everyone who meets her.
It’s almost impossible for anyone not to be taken in by her cuteness.
If I thought Wreck’s reaction was brilliant, watching Shadow was something else entirely.
The man spent a good ten minutes just cooing and baby talking to Immy.
She didn’t seem to mind one bit, though; she was entranced by him.
Her eyes never left him for the entire interaction.
It was really sweet. Clearly the man adores kids.
That all happened while Wreck sat back and watched Shadow with nothing but love and adoration in his eyes.
There is no missing how much they love and care for one another.
It’s probably one of the most obvious things I’ve ever seen.
Watching Shadow and Wreck act that way with each other gave Dre the chance he’d been waiting for.
He finally got to say something about them finally pulling their heads out of their asses about their true feelings for each other.
They both took the ribbing from him with smiles on their faces.
It was clear they didn’t mind what he was saying.
I’m pretty sure they’re used to it by now.
I know from Jake that everyone has said something similar to the pair since they finally got together.
It’s probably become pretty much an everyday occurrence for them.
I didn’t get to stick around much longer after that; my presence was needed over in The Holding Facility, where my mother was about to put the fear of hell into Richard, and fucking hell did she do that.
She never had to touch him, getting her point across entirely with her words and demeanor.
If it wasn’t such a serious situation, I’d have laughed at the way he quaked in her mere presence and begged her for mercy.
Fucking idiot. I have no idea why he ever would have believed she’d grant him any sort of mercy after what he’d done.
If anything, he’s lucky she didn’t make him pay for what he’d done herself.
She would probably have inflicted more pain and suffering than Anarchy, Phantom, and I plan to.
The woman is creative as all hell and has a serious mean streak when the situation requires it.
Mom soon switched gears after she was finished with Richard, though.
She was ready to meet Dre. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who’d told her about him.
I couldn’t resist gushing over him when I spoke to her last night, but apparently even Anarchy and Phantom had nothing but praise for him when they spoke to her.
She was more than a little intrigued about him, especially with such a fantastic endorsement from two of her Reapers.
They’re not exactly easily impressed by anyone.
Their meeting went just the way I expected it to.
Mom clearly adored him from first sight if the massive hug she gave him was any indication.
I could tell it meant the world to Dre that she embraced him so easily.
I told him he had nothing to worry about, and I was right.
As much as I’m sure Mom wished she could have stuck around and gotten to know Dre better, she didn’t have that option.
She’s a busy woman, and duty called. Dre did promise to keep in touch with her though, and I could tell my mom was ecstatic about that.
I have a feeling as time passes they’re going to become incredibly close, and if anyone deserves that sort of connection with a motherly figure, it’s Dre.
He certainly drew the short straw with his own.
Thinking of Dre’s fucking parents reminds me of what’s to come next on my to-do list of the day.
Anarchy and Phantom should be arriving with them anytime now.
Meaning I’m once again going to have to leave Dre, which is the last thing I want to do.
I swear I’m going to find a way to spend some time with him without any interruptions if it kills me.
I want some fucking time with my man without the world fucking interfering.
There’s only one person who I’ll never complain about affecting my time with Dre, and that’s Immy.
Everyone else is just going to have to deal with us shutting them out for a while.
“I thought you said it was just Anarchy and Phantom coming with the Kings?” Austin says as he enters the chill-out space where I’m currently stealing a minute with Dre and Immy.
“That’s because it is meant to just be them. Why? What’s going on now?”
“They’re here, and they’re not alone. It looks like we’re about to be invaded by all The Reapers.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Seriously.”
“Yep. They’ve just pulled up in a convoy outside The Holding Facility.”
“Great. Just what I wanted.”
“Is it bad they’re all here?” Dre asks, sounding wary.
“Not really, no. I’m just annoyed because I was hoping we’d finally get some alone time soon, and with their arrival I doubt that’s going to happen.”
“Rex. You don’t have to be the one to deal with everything. For once you’re going to put yourself first and spend time with your man while the rest of us deal with everything else.” Austin says, staring me down.
I can see him gearing up to argue his point with me, but for once I’m not going to argue. I’m going to take the offer for them to handle some of the load on my shoulders and run with it. I want time with Dre, and the only way that is going to happen is if I accept help.