The Confidant

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Adelaide

The expo for SoT is a hit. There’s a great turnout.

I both love and hate that.

I’m wondering how many of these people know me through the internet. Every glance is a question of whether or not they know my history and have judged me already.

Half the people here eye me the same way. It’s comforting to know I’m not alone in the thought.

While I’m uncomfortable as hell on the inside, I’m smiling on the outside.

No one recognizes Poe. It surprises me for some reason. He built this from the ground up, and barely anyone knows who he is. He doesn’t introduce himself or make small talk. He nods, answers any questions brave people approach him to ask, and sends them on their way without fuss. All while holding Racer under one arm and me with the other.

Damon’s booth for cover-ups is going well. He needs a little help with the number of people lining up, which makes me regret not having the ability to jump in there. My spirit may be willing, but all my tools are gone.

“That could be you,” Poe mutters in my ear. The warm puff of air makes me shiver, my smile getting wider.

“Yeah, it could.” I turn my head to bump his nose with mine.

His eyes widen a little in surprise. This is the first time I’ve talked about tattoos without sounding like I’ve had the wind taken out of me. It seems minor, but it’s a big step for me.

“Mr. Richards,” a cold voice calls behind us.

I recognize it from a few nights ago at the fancy restaurant. I try my best not to think of anything else from that night.

I spin out from under Poe’s arm with an exaggerated smile that’s obviously fake. Gabriel Jefferson has several men with him of varying heights and statures, including his two obvious bodyguards and a redheaded woman who looks ready to chew metal and spit out nails. She looks around at everyone passing by with a sense of tension that’s a little concerning. She’s vibrating with try me asshole energy.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the Snowman himself,” I gush and clasp my hands under my chin to play up the fake hero worship.

The flat expression he gives me makes me cackle as my fake attitude drops.

“You have to relax, ami . Too much tension isn’t a good thing around here.” I give a subtle look around to draw attention to the people outside their rather large circle. The open gap of space between them and outsiders is obvious and awkward. A single woman walking in this direction sees the well-built men, pales in obvious fear, and immediately turns the other way to avoid them.

“Spread out a bit, let her breathe,” I gesture to a red-haired man and his blonde friend. The grumpy woman is squished between them like they’re holding her prisoner. They look at each other in confusion.

“Loosen the stuffy jacket. That will send a better message.” I point at the big guard hovering behind Gabriel. “I’m here to guard my buddy, but I’m chill with it kind of vibe.”

The woman’s expression gets bewildered as the men spread out and listen, loosening up their stances. The easing of the watchful expressions helps a ton.

“Much better.” I clap my hands and turn to Poe.

He’s watching me with amusement.

“Now,” I face him and adjust his tie. “You play nice and use more than one word to respond to people.”

“No,” he raises a brow, bringing out my mock scowl.

“You especially can’t use your favorite word. It’s all yeses today. Go for a record,” I boop Racer’s nose. “Racer is keeping an eye on you. This is the only warning you’re getting, yappy.”

“Yes, siren,” he breaks into his teasing grin, finally peeking out of his shell.

“That’s better.” I give him a quick kiss and walk away before he can turn it into the lip-lock we both want.

“Oh, I forgot,” I exclaim with a sly grin as I turn around and smack his butt. “Good luck out there, champ.”

He stiffens up but doesn’t turn around. I take the opportunity to hurry away with maniacal laughter. I’m sure he’s uncomfortable as hell. It makes the win sweeter. He needs to be a person for five seconds without me as a buffer. He can do it.

I use my time to walk around, checking out the various booths with their specialties. Some are for different types of therapy, and a few are for different anger management classes. There are psychologists handing out cards and offering free consultations. It’s a busy hive of people seeing each other vulnerable and taking the time to boost each other up.

The walk helps me relax in the environment. Everyone is reacting differently to this expo, and I don’t need to feel so tense about my doubts. I’m not the only one who has them. I might be strolling alone, but I’m in a crowd of understanding individuals.

Poe

I stare at Gabriel with a furrowed brow.

What he’s proposing is something I’ve never thought of. It has a lot of risks and pitfalls. Not to mention, I’d need a building and security.

“An apartment complex for survivors,” I manage to mutter as I try to picture it.

“I was informed that it will make the adjustment to civilian life easier with normal interactions.” His tone is dry, almost mocking as he says it. He’s quoting someone.

Would security even help in that situation? He’s talking about putting individuals with military trauma in with civilians. Then, adding survivors from the rumored sex trafficking ring. I’m not even going to ask how he’s caught up in that. I have way too many clues standing in front of me that would probably kill me after the first question.

That’s a lot of unstable factors blending together under one roof, though. There would have to be clear-cut rules for no weaponry in the complex. No unnecessary physical contact or overly aggressive friendliness. Among a million other things.

His assistant, Jake, smiles at me hopefully and starts nodding. My eyebrow rises at the motion. The subtle manipulation to say yes to everything Gabriel is proposing is noted.

“Problems,” I turn back to Gabriel. “Building. Security. No weapons. Monitors.”

“I have a building and security ready to go. I’m not sure how they’ll feel about no weapons.” Gabriel gives me a cold look. “Spending a lifetime ready to defend yourself isn’t an easy habit to break. And a survivor might find comfort in having one handy.”

“What kind of monitor?” Cade asks with a frown.

“An SoT monitor is a group member that has graduated from their specified programs. They’ve decided to take on helping others with their unique outlooks and training as a boost. Think of them as experts who know signs to watch for. Like Thomas,” I gesture to the man glaring at everyone. I chose him because he stands out from the rest like a beacon with his neon pink hair.

“What’s the highlighter’s specialty?” Amanda smirks.

“Anger management,” I tell her flatly.

“He doesn’t look like he graduated from his specified program ,” Jake says with a light laugh.

“Directly after he graduated, he caught a kidnapper and almost beat him to death.” I turn to Jake with a blank expression. “The fact that he stopped is a testament to how far he’s come.”

“You say that like it’s a good thing.” Cade glares at me.

“It is.” I raise a brow. “He didn’t hurt anyone else. He wasn’t out of control or spiraling. He saw a problem and reacted. The offender struck first, so it was self-defense. Thomas called his old mentor when he got arrested, as he had been trained to in case of an emergency. He didn’t resist or cause unnecessary risk to anyone else involved. He was controlled and effective the entire time. Several of the police officers appreciated his instincts for trouble. The boy’s parents were happy to have their son back untouched. To me, that’s more than enough.”

They stare at me as if I’m a mystery. Something I don’t have patience for.

“Some of the people here have been in that little boy’s shoes and had things turn out very different. You’ll have to excuse me if our opinions on what I feel is acceptable risk and reward differ from yours,” I dismiss their judgment of my opinion.

“Poe,” another group leader walks by with a smile.

“Lucas, how’s Thomas?” I ask him point-blank. The person in question recently joined Lucas’s group to help monitor one of the members.

“As stubborn as he always is,” Lucas sighs and shakes his head. “But dealing well with the new group. Greg hasn’t even noticed how much he’s helping him with his temper. Lily hasn’t had any progress yet, though.”

I nod, and Lucas takes it as the dismissal it is to walk away.

“I understand if you have your own reservations,” I begin without much interest. Let them see reality from our side of things. If they’re uncomfortable with it, this will never work.

Gabriel cuts me off with a dark smile that makes my eyes narrow. “Let’s schedule a viewing of the building and speak to the men already living there. You’re wiping away the reservations without effort.”

I stare at him as I think it through. It’s a tough call.

“Poe,” Greg barks behind me.

I calmly turn to find the large, angry man gnashing his teeth. His meaty hands are clenching and unclenching in a rhythm that relaxes him. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Thomas slowly begin to move closer to us.

“Yes?” I ask him with a raised brow.

“There’s some old lady outside demanding to see her daughter. She’s making people nervous. I had to walk away before I punched her,” he shakes his head as if he’s trying to get the thought out of his mind.

I straighten, the meeting falling to the side.

“Who is she looking for?” I ask him flatly. I think I know. I just need it confirmed.

“Addie,” Greg glares at me. “How did that ball of chaotic sunshine, come out of that hateful bitch? So what if I like tattoos? I can get them all over my goddamn body if I want. It doesn’t make me a demon.”

Thomas nudges Greg’s arm with an elbow. The effect has Greg loosening his hands again as he glances down at him.

“What do you want, eraser head?” He sneers.

Thomas smirks at him, unfazed. “Are you going to bitch or guard the doors, Greg? You volunteered for the job. Whoever is out there is probably relieved you walked away. All you have to do is stand there and stare. Anyone with half a brain will stay out of punching distance. No touching necessary.”

Greg’s scowl gets deeper before he turns and marches away, cursing Thomas under his breath.

Thomas waits until Greg is in the crowd before he starts following with a relaxed pace.

I debate on how to handle this.

I don’t want Addie facing her mother head-on in front of vulnerable witnesses. It will take all the progress she’s made and throw it in the trash. On the other hand, if I take over, there’s a good chance I’ll be sleeping on the couch with Racer for company for a month.

I’ll have to keep this professional at least on the surface. I wouldn’t allow anyone to stand outside acting like an ass with so many people that have experience with that type of toxicity around.

“Excuse me,” I mutter absently and follow the path to the entrance.

“This is a public building. I can go in there if I want.” I hear a heavily accented voice snap sharply. An older version of my siren watered down with bitter anger and hate.

Greg’s stiff back is in my line of sight. He’s big enough that I can’t see past him.

“This is not a public event,” he grinds out through clenched teeth. “Members only.”

“My daughter better not be a member. She doesn’t belong here, soaking up attention like she has a right to it. Get out of my way.” That hateful, grinding tone makes my back tense.

“Greg,” I say calmly. I don’t want to startle him, but I need him to move. It’s past time for my turn to be the wall she can’t climb to get to my wife.

The big man sidesteps to let me out. As he moves, I make sure to fill the entrance instead. The older woman who was marching forward walks into me and tries to push past. My hand goes to her bicep as I keep moving, forcing her back.

The people who were trying to enter with her step back in frustration. I see the older man who was in the restaurant a few nights ago. Joseph. His glare should singe me as he backsteps.

“This is him,” he mutters to the blonde kid next to him.

“Him?” Both their eyes narrow on me.

“Let my wife go,” Joseph’s hands fist as his teeth grind.

“No,” I dismiss him and look down at the woman in question.

I would call her beautiful if I didn’t know her from Addie’s stories. Not to mention the texts that are burned into my mind. This woman is toxic. She’s been abusing my wife long before I ever met her. She certainly doesn’t seem to have a problem treating other people the same way.

I can see my siren in the slope of her nose. Her high cheekbones and sharp chin. But her lips are thin, and her eyes are a blue so dark they seem to swallow the light. She has a healthy tan, and her blonde hair is pulled back in a bun so tight that I wouldn’t be surprised if she had a headache.

“This is assault,” she yells at me, her face turning a dull red with anger.

Several people behind me gasp and fall silent.

“ This is a person escorting an aggressor out to make sure people feel safe inside,” I correct her in a bland tone. “Greg, call security.”

“Alright,” he grinds back with a disgusted look at her.

She yanks her arm out of my loose grip as if she’s fighting for her life. Maybe in her mind, she is.

“Mr. Richards?” A hesitant voice says from behind her.

I glance at the woman briefly, long enough to take in her small form and her rounded belly, before I focus on Maman . I hate that name and the person associated with it.

“I’m so sorry. She followed us. She isn’t supposed to be here. I knew keeping Joseph in the loop was a bad call, but I felt guilty because he’s worried,” the brunette clasps her hands together in a praying position with a cringe. Her shoulders hunch when Maman turns on her with a scowl.

“Back off, Maman,” the blond man next to Joseph steps in front of the pregnant woman smoothly. He’s covered in flower tattoos of various types. I recognize Addie’s work and her brother because of it. The two men behind her are probably the rest of the cake.

I give a resigned sigh when I realize Addie has never told me their names. I’m stuck with Frosting and Sprinkles, and I have no idea which one is which.

Maman regains my attention with her dramatic whining to her son.

“These men are being unreasonable, baby. Why wouldn’t I get to see my daughter? Huh? What right does anyone have to tell me I can’t?” She spins back to me, stepping into my personal space with her fists clenched.

“There are people in that building who don’t do well with drama,” I inform her flatly without backing down an inch. “This is supposed to be a safe place for them to meet. Your aggressive behavior won’t be allowed inside.”

The way she scoffs, as if I’m the one acting like a dick, is ridiculous. I give her the look of disgust she deserves in return. I’m more than ready to shoot her ego down without mercy. The question is, what would Addie think?

She didn’t tell me what happened in that room, and I respected her right to process it, though it was a struggle. I wanted to hear that she gave them all black eyes, and we were celebrating by going around town knocking over trash cans. Instead, I got gentle smiles and quiet introspection.

“They’re on their way,” Greg tells me, and resumes his arms-crossed posture.

I nod as Maman glances around me to glare at him.

“Yeah, he looks really torn up at all my drama ,” she sneers.

“Fuck you, lady,” Greg erupts behind me with a surprising speed. I slide into his path to keep him from her, which leaves me with a large man breathing down my neck and jabbing his finger in the air over my shoulder. “You don’t know me for shit. I was beaten within an inch of my life by a woman just like you! Fuck you!”

“Greg, take a break,” Thomas says calmly.

I feel Greg move away, snapping bitterly as Thomas commiserates with him.

“Not dealing well has many different forms.” I narrow my eyes at her. “What you’re doing is causing a lot of harm to people looking for comfort with other survivors. Leave now and never come back.”

It burns me that I’m being polite. I want to jump down this woman’s throat and rip my way out on the other side.

Joseph grabs her arm and pulls her away to have a private word. It leaves a space open for the brunette to come forward. She has a wary eye on Maman, and when she faces me, she seems just as cautious.

“Hi. I’m Tera?”

I raise a brow at the questioning tone. It makes her warily happy expression begin to falter.

“Back off, man,” one of the cake pieces, a man who’s somehow larger than Greg, scowls at me. Unlike Greg, he’s lean in the middle and clearly muscled. None of her men seem to approve of me. It isn’t surprising.

I return my gaze to Tera.

“Congratulations on the baby,” I tell her without much emphasis.

I’m too busy thinking about how badly Addie wanted to meet her. Press her face on this woman’s stomach and feel it kick her in the cheek. The memory of her wistful expression when she told me she’d never get that tears me up inside.

“Thank you,” she says in a voice that wavers with a lack of confidence.

“Are you married to my sister?” Asher asks in a calm tone that comes through gritted teeth.

I glance at him and raise my hand to show him the ring. “Yes.”

The simple action and the single word seem to defeat him. He stares at the ring with agonized eyes, and his face pales.

“She didn’t… want me there?” He asks, sounding lost.

My hand drops. His eyes follow the motion and don’t rise again.

“She did,” I tell him cautiously. His eyes snap back to me as his face freezes into an unfeeling mask I’m familiar with. It makes me pause.

Is he the one?

I feel like an idiot even thinking it. Of course, he’s the one. The youngest. The one she guards more than the rest. Her favorite. And he’s covered in her flowers. Another layer of protection when she can’t be by his side.

“She was told that you never wanted to speak to her again. Because of my photographs and website,” my eyes narrow. “The Broussards didn’t approve.”

“I didn’t know about any of this until a week ago,” he tells me in a voice iced over to be unfeeling. There’s a certain lack of tone to it that’s a shield to keep people out of his inner thoughts.

“A week ago,” I mutter, my brows furrowing. “Then she lied to her. Again . Two months of suffering for one more lie.”

My eyes move to Maman as my expression becomes more severe. I want her gone, and I never want to see her again.

“It’s my fault,” Tera bursts into speech with wide eyes filled with remorse.

“It isn’t,” I cut her off without looking at her. My hands slowly begin to curl into fists as my anger focuses where it belongs. “That woman has been training my wife to think everyone despises her. That’s not on you.”

“I was the reason Asher stayed away from Adelaide. I’m so sorry. Please, we just want to see her and explain everything.”

“Babygirl,” one of the men tells her sternly, but she’s too caught in her own guilt to listen.

“She can hate me. It’s not a big deal. I just want to fix this so bad,” she brushes him off with a panicked tone. Her breathing begins to get choppy, and reluctant concern builds inside me.

“Addie doesn’t hate anyone, especially you,” I glance back and gesture for one of the people crowding the entrance to bring me a chair.

“Are you sure?” She chokes out as a chair is set next to her.

Grace appears out of nowhere with a bottle of water and a weak smile. She knows better than to approach someone in the middle of a panic attack. Some people can’t handle physical stimulation while it’s happening. Grace is one of those people. But it’s hard to stand on the sidelines and not want to extend comfort however you can. I mutter thanks to Grace and point to the chair.

“I’m sure. You’re her hero. I lost count of how many times she’s crowed about you being the reigning champ of happy vibes. Sit down for a minute.” I stare at Tera hard.

My look seems to motivate her to perch on the chair quickly. The tense way she holds herself disturbs me. She looks like she’s waiting for a lecture to ensue. It makes my standard hard-hearted approach to things waver.

I do what Addie would do in this situation.

“Hold this,” I hand her Racer and watch as she hugs it tightly to her chest.

“Wow, such comfort,” one of them mutters mockingly. I think it’s the guy who’s beside the mountain of man. Frosting? I’m not sure. I give them both a dismissive look and refocus on Tera.

“Me? A hero?” She breathes harshly in confusion.

“Does breathing into a bag help?” Grace asks hesitantly. “I have one in my purse for emergencies.”

Asher moves to her back and gently clasps the front of her throat. My eyes narrow on the move, body tense if I need to react. The grip seems to soothe her, but seeing it makes me uneasy. It could become something else in an instant, and she’s trusting him not to do it.

My eyes move to him as he leans closer to whisper to her. The sudden droop to her shoulders is surprising. She listens intently, occasionally nodding.

This is a set routine to help her relax. I don’t understand it, but I can’t deny that it works. Whatever it is that he went through has taught him the tools he needs to survive with trauma. He’s steady and sure with it, while she is still lost. Two damaged souls healing each other. Supporting.

And now I know why he’s her favorite. He sees someone faltering and doesn’t hesitate to act. It doesn’t matter if it’s his pregnant girlfriend right now. I’m sure of him based on the grateful glance he gives Grace before he goes back to talking to Tera.

I look at Maman and Joseph, watching her argue for all she’s worth farther out in the parking lot. Joseph’s arms are crossed, but he stands firm no matter what she says.

“Tera?” Gabriel’s voice sounds behind me. His tone is menacing as he focuses on me, the apparent enemy in their midst. He makes sure to move between us, and his bodyguards follow his actions with threatening stances.

“Gabe?” Tera perks up with surprise. Asher moves his hand to her shoulder as he straightens with a frown.

“Who upset my number one?” Amanda demands, shoving her way past me to get to Tera. “I’m about to break skulls in this place, I swear to God.”

“You know each other?” I glance at Gabriel in confusion. How could he know Asher’s girlfriend? This town is smaller than I thought.

“Tera was instrumental in taking down the sex trafficking ring,” he informs me with a slight scowl. “None of us will stand by and watch her be harassed.”

I look back at the fragile woman with raised brows and nod. I start to understand why she would think it was her fault for keeping him away.

Removing her little brother as an obstacle takes a backseat as the yelling escalates in the parking lot.

I point to Maman with a subtle smile. “Feel free to take care of the problem. I’m sure we would all appreciate it.”

His group’s focus moves to the oblivious, ranting woman while I try not to smirk.

“Oh, no,” Tera protests with wide eyes. “It’s not that bad, I swear.”

“Poe,” Grace says in a warning tone. “If Addie finds out you’re escalating this, she’s going to be upset.”

“I’ll pay my dues on the couch,” I assure her calmly, satisfied with the decision.

“Bold words for a yappy dog.”

My shoulders stiffen up at the ominous sound of my siren’s tones.

“Sucks to be you, yappy ,” Grace shrugs with a smirk.

Adelaide

You can bet when I watched the security guys pass by me, looking tense enough to snap, I followed them. Where there’s trouble, I’ll find Poe, guaranteed.

I can’t see anything over the bodies blocking my way, but I can hear just fine.

Someone is outside this building, raising a ruckus. Three guesses who it could be with that accent. Tera is here and upset, which means Asher is here, too. This is a mess that needs to vacate the premises immediately.

I missed whatever started this. All I catch is that Asher’s One helped take down a sex trafficking ring. That girl has balls of steel. No wonder Asher has been avoiding me like the plague. He’s been sitting on top of his girl to keep her safe. He couldn’t afford to focus anywhere else.

I wince when I think about that long-ago conversation where I told him to sit on her to keep her out of trouble. If only I had known how things would turn out.

Maman must have used Asher’s absence to lie to me again. That’s why he wanted a hug at dinner. My God, that woman is vicious with her hate.

My baby brother doesn’t despise me.

My heart leaps in happiness and sinks directly afterward.

A part of me doesn’t believe in this easy win.

I’m lost in my thoughts until my husband opens his fat mouth to throw himself into the doghouse. If he wants time on the couch, he’s headed in the right direction for it.

“Bold words for a yappy dog.” I push my way past the Snowman’s bodyguards to see what kind of damage control I need to do.

Grace is at Tera’s side with a water. The try-me-and-die woman is holding her hand on the other side. Asher is behind her with his blank face on, backing her up. The look of complete desperation she gives me is more than a little concerning. There’s Frosting and Sprinkles with Maman and Joseph out in the parking lot, arguing.

“Well, what a mess,” I huff and put my fists on my hips. I’m not sure where to start with all this.

“Siren,” Poe starts in a cautious tone.

“Uh-uh,” I glare at him. “You go back inside with those boys and finish your meeting. I’ll hear your explanations later. I’m warning you now that no is about to become my favorite word. Start praying it’s just the couch and not a hotel room in LA for a week.”

Before he can start in on me with his narrowed eyes, I turn to Tera.

“You go on inside, petite ,” I gentle my tone. It’s obvious that she’s sensitive. A gentle approach will work best for her. “The chair has wheels. Take advantage and have Frosting push you around to see the sights.”

“Who?” Someone asks with a scoff.

“I’ve got this,” Amanda straightens and edges Asher out of the way to grip the back of the chair with a wide grin.

“Gently,” I snap, pointing a finger at her sternly. “That’s delicate cargo right there. She can have a wilder ride when she’s not pregnant.”

Her brows rise in surprise as her smile gets wider. “I like her.”

“Like me and get moving at the same time. Multitask,” I laugh.

“I’m not a member,” Tera protests, glancing around as if she’s about to break the law. She’s adorable.

“You’re not causing trouble.” Grace gives her a hesitant smile. “Plus, Addie said you’re in. She’s the most fierce at protecting people’s privacy, and you’re the first person who’s ever gotten a free pass.”

“Oh my gosh, I love your tattoo,” Tera gushes, her mood brightening as Amanda wheels her away.

Her voice fades away as she peppers Grace with a million questions. I notice Frosting keeps pace, staying quiet behind them. He gives me a solemn glance as he passes.

I get it. I’m not popular with his group. He’s not popular in mine, either. He can stuff his angry looks until Asher explains himself. And maybe after I explain myself, too.

“Addie,” Asher starts, taking a single step toward me that feels like the start of a compromise. He’s willing to step up. All I have to do is meet him there.

“One problem at a time,” I tell him, my voice hesitant. I don’t like that I’m being defensive around him, but I can’t help it. I’ve mentally built that block to keep myself from being hurt.

I watch him pause, his expression slowly emerging to show me how much my reaction hurts him. I’ve never wanted to damage my baby brother. I’ve never wanted to be damaged, either. We’re on even footing, though I doubt he knows it.

His head turns to take in Maman. She’s getting louder while Joseph remains quiet and fierce.

“This won’t stand. Not here, of all places,” I mutter, trying to brace myself for one more confrontation. Why in the world would she even think of coming here?

The security guards pass by me, and I watch them go.

As a kid watching her mother have a meltdown in a public parking lot, I’m scared. As an adult watching this drama unfold, it’s kind of funny.

Who’s dramatic now?

Asher moves toward them but pauses when I don’t join him.

His eyes move between mine with a frown.

“You don’t want to talk to her.”

His firm assurance is backed up by my nod.

“I think I’ve heard plenty out of her. I’m not interested in whatever this is.”

“If she keeps this up, I’m going to get a restraining order,” Poe tells him flatly.

“Do it,” Asher says without hesitation.

My lips part in surprise at his angry vehemence.

His frigid mask falters as he admits, “I talked to Pa about it. He agreed. If she can’t keep control of herself, then she needs to stay away.”

“He’s here with her,” I point out with a raised brow.

“She took the car and his phone. We picked him up.” Asher glares at Valerie with a lot of disgust. “Let security drag her away or call the cops. Maybe it will knock some sense into her.”

I’m gaping now.

He’s going to let some stranger manhandle Valerie into her car? While he watches? Is the sky still blue?

“Who are you?” I ask in disbelief.

His eyes meet mine, his scowl on point. I cross my arms with my own glare.

“Don’t you look at me like that, Asher Florent Br-”

He interrupts my usual lecture before I can really get started.

“I’m your brother. The one who’s always looked up to you and wished I could be that strong. I love you, and she tried to tear you away from me. She can act like a fool somewhere else. I have a lot of explaining to do. And so do you , by the way. You got fucking married? To this uptight prick?”

Tears overflow my eyes as Poe scoffs.

“Be nice to my dog,” I choke out.

“Stop crying,” Asher snaps. Before I know it, his arms are around me in a fierce hug that’s strangling. It squeezes the sobs out of me, I’m convinced.

I feel like I’m falling apart and being put back together at super speed. My emotions are all over the place, with happy shock and wary pain.

My arms hesitantly rise to go around his back. It’s the first hug I’ve given him that feels awkward. That makes the tears flow faster.

“Please don’t cry,” he whispers with his face hidden in my shoulder. “You’ve never cried before.”

“Happy tears,” I try to convince him.

“I don’t care.” He snaps back.

“I do what I want.”

“Can I do what I want?” Poe asks wistfully.

“No,” I choke on a laugh. “Lord only knows what you have in mind.”

“Complete chaos,” Poe smiles sweetly. That’s how I know he means it.