Chapter 31 #2
Marcus raises himself slightly, scanning my body, his eyes frightened. I realize I’m shaking. “Are you okay, baby boy?” His voice comes out raspy. “Fuck, you’re trembling. Are you hurt?”
“No,” I whisper. “I’m okay.”
His hands tangle in my hair, and he pushes it back from my face, the callused pads of his fingers rough on my cheeks. “Are you sure? Fuck!” He sniffles and a tear snakes down his face.
“Hey,” I whisper. “I’m okay. You’re okay.”
We scooch from under the table and sit up, eyes locked.
“Fuck, Dad, are you okay?” Lincoln’s voice cuts through our moment. Link is kneeling in front of John, fussing over a bloody cut on his forehead,
“Yeah,” John gives a watery laugh. “Just a scratch.”
“Let’s get downstairs.” Link is clearly about to lose his shit, and I don’t blame him. “I’ll call my security guy to get a team to search the property.”
“Guys,” Trey murmurs. “There’s a note.”
“What?” Fiona looks pale. Frightened. And a little angry. She approaches Trey and takes the note from his hand.
Marcus helps me to my feet. I stand behind him, breathing deeply as I resist the urge to slide my finger below my waistband as the adrenaline starts to wane.
Fiona looks at Brantley and Sebastian. “He’s gonna . . . I can’t. I have to go. I have to run.” She sobs, covering her face, and steps into Brantley’s arms, and my heart fucking aches for her.
Seb grabs the note. “Is this from your stepfather?”
Fiona looks at him and nods solemnly. “Yes, it’s from Dennis. It’s definitely his handwriting this time.”
Seb’s head snaps up. “This time? Fiona, did you suspect someone else wrote the other note?”
“No?” She looks guilty as fuck.
Brantley sighs. “Really, Fi?”
“I guess I convinced myself it was him disguising his handwriting. I didn’t want to believe there was another threat out there. One psychopath is enough, you know?”
I look away because this interaction feels so intimate.
Marcus rests a gentle hand on my hip. “C’mon, guys, let’s get downstairs. We’re really exposed in this room. Let’s get John cleaned up and figure out what happens next.”
Fiona, Sebastian, and Brantley left quickly. Fiona was obviously shaken, and her boyfriends looked like they wanted to commit murder.
Marcus was livid. Everyone he loves was just threatened, and I think his big-brother radar went off the rails.
Marcus had a long, hushed conversation with John, who I learned is the same John who has been helping Marcus with Martin, and then John went to bed.
I’m not sure what they talked about, but Marcus left the conversation looking slightly calmer.
Now, while Marcus helps Trey and Link with the clean-up, Charlie and I are sitting on the porch steps, huddled under a blanket, while she fills me in on all the crazy shit going on with Fiona and her band of merry men—Lincoln’s words, not mine.
“So is this sort of violence normal for your family gatherings?” I quip around a yawn. I’m tired as fuck.
Charlie chuckles and looks at me out of the corner of her eye. “I mean, there was the time my ex tried to beat up Seb and then shot Link, but we haven’t had anything too crazy happen since then.”
“Until now.”
She nods. “Until now.”
I watch Marcus hold up a sheet of plywood, appreciating the way his muscles strain against the sleeves of his shirt while Link nails the wood to the side of the house.
“So you’re into my brother, huh?”
I study Charlie for a moment, not surprised that she can read the situation. I resist a smile. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“He’s straight,” she says matter-of-factly.
I just nod. It’s not my secret to share.
Charlie raises an eyebrow. “What’s been going on? Tell me about it. Marcus isn’t great with relationships, romantic or otherwise.” She scrunches her nose. “Just ask Lizzy.”
I snort a laugh. “I really need the full story on what he did to Lizzy.”
“Marcus deserved her ire, trust me.” She shrugs.
“And not to make light of her feelings, but Marcus was young, and she wanted him forever.” Her gaze moves to her brother, looking pensive.
“Marcus doesn’t let people get close to him.
I think it’s his dad’s fault. He always had to be the perfect son, and that was hard on him.
” She looks back at me. “At least that asshole isn’t around anymore. ”
I nod but internally wince. She’s going to be furious when she finds out he’s actually had his tentacles in their lives the entire time.
“So,” Charlie probes again. “Has something happened between you two?”
I consider telling her everything because I so badly want to talk to someone other than Marion and Tris about this, but I shake my head.
“Nothing,” I say quietly. “There’s nothing between us. I’m just the decorator.”
Charlie doesn’t push me for more. She leans against my body, resting her head against my shoulder.
I close my eyes, enjoying the comfort of her warmth while I try to ignore the miserable feeling in my gut that wants to float to the surface. “You smell good, Kitty,” I murmur.
“So do you.”
I’m almost asleep when I hear footsteps approaching us, and I crack my eyes open and look up at Marcus.
He wipes sweat from his brow. “You two look cozy,” he says with a gentle smile.
I can tell that he has a huge soft spot for Charlie, and I can’t blame him.
She’s one of my favorite people. “You ready to go?” he asks me.
I nod and stand, pulling Charlie up with me. She groans in protest. “Marcus, I was so warm.”
Lincoln walks up behind Marcus, stomping mud from his boots before he steps up onto the porch. “I’m sure Trey and I can take care of that, Sunshine,” he says with a smirk.
“Yeah, I guess,” she says grumpily.
Link gives her a dark look and swats her ass as he heads into the house, causing her to giggle.
We follow him inside.
Trey has managed to sweep up most of the glass and is sitting at the bar, frowning at his phone when we enter. He glances up, taking me in. “You guys headed out?”
Marcus and I nod.
Trey stands and walks up to me, giving me a once-over before bringing me in close for a hug. I squeeze him back, pressing my face to his neck, and a lump clogs my throat. I don’t know why I’m so emotional right now.
“You okay?” he asks in my ear, his hand tracing gentle circles on my back.
I nod into his shoulder, but I’m not okay. I feel fragile, like everything is about to break. We pull apart, and I give him an unconvincing smile.
“We need to get together more often.” Trey claps me on the back. “I miss you, buddy.”
“I miss you too.” I nod at Lincoln and give Charlie a final hug.
While Marcus says his goodbyes, I walk to the foyer to put on my coat and shoes, then head out to the truck, feeling drained. We still have a two-hour drive ahead of us.
Marcus walks from the house, and we climb into the truck. He blows out a breath and looks at me. “You okay?”
I shake my head, my lip wobbling. “No.”
He reaches over, pressing a warm hand to my thigh as he starts up the engine and pulls out onto the darkened highway.
“I’m so sorry. I know that stuff with Dennis is fucked up, but if I’d known it was this bad, I never would have brought you—”
I jerk my thigh from under his hand. “You think this is about Fiona’s stepfather?”
Marcus looks baffled as his eyes dart between me and the road. “It was pretty fucking scary.”
“Yes, it was, and I feel for Fiona. Truly. But that whole thing was just a drop in the bucket.”
“So what is it?”
“Are you really this dense?” I snap, frustration and anger running hot through my blood.
“Is this about the ‘decorator’ comment?” He shakes his head and gives me a frustrated look. “I found out tonight that you’ve fucked my sister’s boyfriends and you never told me. I think we’re even.”
“Are you kidding me? That happened in high school, Marcus. It’s not even relevant anymore!
” I yank my hands through my hair. “Your fucking brother just came out as demi and then admitted to being in a poly relationship, but you can’t tell them you’re bi?
” My voice cracks. “You can’t tell them you’re with me? ”
“It’s more complicated than that.” His grip tightens on the steering wheel. “I didn’t expect John to be there—”
“What does that matter?”
“And there’s my dad—”
“Sebastian and Charlie don’t even know about him, Marcus! They think he’s been out of your life for three years! These secrets are going to bite you in the ass.”
He swallows heavily and puts on his signal, pulling off the road and coming to a stop.
“Look, I’m scared, okay?” His voice shakes, and I look at him, surprised to see tears in his eyes.
“Yes, it’s about protecting Seb and Charlie, but that’s the excuse I hide behind because I don’t want to admit that you’ve fucked me up. ”
“Oh, this is my fault?”
“Of course it’s your fault!”
I push open the door and practically fall onto the gravel pullout. Then, I tug my coat around my body and start walking. I know I’m being completely irrational, but I’m so fucking angry.
I hear the driver’s door slam as Marcus follows me outside.
“Jeremy! What the fuck are you doing?”
“Walking home,” I say petulantly.
“We’re in the middle of nowhere!” Marcus shouts. “You’re being ridiculous!”
I spin, throwing my arms out. “I’m being ridiculous?” I march up to him and shove my finger into his pec, which hurts my fucking finger. “You just blamed me for your inability to admit that you might actually care about someone other than your goddamn siblings.”
“But it is your fault,” he says softly, his hand cupping my face.
“Don’t fucking touch me.” I step back quickly and turn away from him to resume walking. I just need to be anywhere but here.
“It’s your fault because you’re too perfect.” His voice is laced with desperation.
I freeze. “I’m not perfect, Marcus,” I grit out, refusing to turn around.