by Jess Bryant
So the calls continued to come. They continued to drag Decker’s sorry ass home. And, as had become the norm, the bastard fought them every step of the way.
Tonight had been particularly brutal. Not only had Decker physically attacked them, he’d opened his mouth to spew as much vile hatred at them as humanly possible. Cursing their very existence, blaming them for the their mother’s addiction, even telling them that Remy had run away so he wouldn’t have to deal with them anymore, but none of that was new.
Apparently as drunk as he usually stayed, Decker wasn’t completely oblivious to his sons’ lives. He’d known that Jemma was back and waxed poet about the fiery little redhead and how he’d get her underneath him sooner or later. Cash had almost broken his fingers he swung at him so hard for bringing up those awful memories. His hand still throbbed and he’d have to put some ice on it when they got inside.
But even bringing up Jemma hadn’t been the worst of it.
Decker had turned his full attention on Colt as had become habit and taunted him mercilessly. He’d called him the stupid one. He’d called him the worthless one. He’d even said he wished he’d finished the job and killed Colt in the womb because clearly he’d damaged him mentally. It was the one insult Decker used that Colt couldn’t take in stubborn silence.
He’d never been able to take the taunting about being dumb. Never. Not from anyone. Not from a bully on the playground that picked on him because he read slowly and not from the father that had done the same every day of their childhood.
Colt had launched himself at the old man and nearly beaten him unconscious before Cash managed to pull him off. Even still, the bastard was big and he got in a few decent hits. Cash wasn’t entirely sure Decker hadn’t broken Colt’s nose, again, but his brother wouldn’t let him look at it. He’d only stomped back to the truck, climbed inside and remained quiet and solemn the entire drive home. As mercurial as his moods might be, nothing could pull Colt out of the darkness once he breached it. He had to drown in it before he could find the surface again.
Cash had given up trying to reassure his twin that nobody truly thought he was mentally handicapped years ago. Colt wouldn’t hear him anyways, not about that. His brother wasn’t stupid, not even close. He excelled at everything he’d ever applied himself to.
Schoolwork had just never been one of those things.
He’d barely graduated and most of his better grades had come off Cash passing his own work off as his twins. Not because Colt couldn’t do the assignment, but because he wouldn’t. Because where Cash refused to give the people what they expected and lower himself to the Bomar name, Colt had gone the other way and clung to it with every fiber of his being, using it as a shield.
For a long time now, he’d thought that Colt would grow out of that and realize he was an intelligent, worthwhile human being. He’d pulled himself together after school. He’d done some work, not all of it legal but all of it had paid, and he’d saved to buy the shop in town and open his tattoo parlor. He was a successful business owner and a hell of an artist but nobody would let him ever forget he was also a Bomar, not even himself, maybe especially not himself.
“Well… hell.” Colt drawled suddenly, pulling Cash out of his dark thoughts.
He glanced across the lot as he shifted the truck into park and killed the engine. It took a second for his eyes to adjust but when they did he easily placed the two figures standing on their front step. The porch light was dim and yellow but the willowy blonde and curvy redhead were so familiar they would have been impossible not to recognize.
“This is your fault.” Colt scowled as he threw the door open and jumped down out of the truck.
Whatever pleasure he had felt from seeing Jemma standing there waiting on him ran hard into a wall of guilt. Colt was beaten and bloody and he couldn’t stand for anyone to see him hurting. It was bad enough Cash had seen him that way but for the two girls to be there, it was only going to send his twin spiraling further into the endless well of pain and anger he harbored inside of him.
“I didn’t tell Jemma to wait up.”
“Yeah, whatever.” Colt snapped, marching across the dark lot without looking back.
Cash winced, “Don’t make this any worse. They’re here because they care.”
“Then they’re as fucked in the head as we are.”
He hurried after his brother, not entirely sure what he would say or do when he reached the girls. He kept one eye on Colt as they trudged closer but his gaze kept swinging to Jemma. She’d showered and changed since he left her at the pool earlier. Her hair was down now and despite the fact she was wearing those plaid pajama pants and a plain white t-shirt, he thought she looked just as sexy as she had in her little pink bikini.
There was worry on her face and his heart swelled in his chest. It didn’t matter what Colt thought. He hadn’t told her where he was going. He hadn’t told her anything. He certainly hadn’t asked her to wait around for him to come home but a big part of him leapt at the idea of coming home to her.
He liked that she was here. Liked that she was waiting for him. Liked that she’d been worried about him.
“Move.” Colt grumbled as he barreled past them onto the small porch.
Jemma’s eyes went wide at the harsh order and she stepped back. A gasp sounded and Cash automatically looked at her but it was Skylar that stepped forward. The pretty blonde was wearing a horrified look, her face pale and her blue eyes big as she reached for his brother.
“Oh God… Colt, you’re hurt.”
“I’m fine.” He jerked his arm away from where she’d put her palm against his bicep. “Don’t touch me right now, Skylar. It isn’t safe and that’s the only warning you’re going to get.”
“I… sorry.” She dropped her hand to her side. “Are you okay?”
“Stupid question, do I fuckin’ look okay?” Colt snarled at her.
Skylar recoiled, her mouth snapping shut even as her eyes went wide at the venom being hissed at her.
“What the hell are you even doing here? Go home Sky. I don’t want you here.”
Colt didn’t pause to watch his verbal swing land. He barreled through the door and disappeared inside the dark apartment. Cash winced when his gaze snapped back to the blonde. Her cheeks flamed pink and her eyes watered noticeably before she ducked her chin to her chest. Jemma reached for her but she jerked away as well, stumbling backwards towards her apartment.
“I told you.” She whispered, “Now’s the part where I get to say I told you so.”
“Skylar, wait…” Jemma tried but her friend only shook her head and then turned and fled up the sidewalk, disappearing behind her door with a loud thud, “Shit.”
“Hey.” Cash caught her by the wrist just as she turned to go after her, “Wait a sec.”
“Hey.” She turned back to face him warily, “I can go. Sky said you wouldn’t want us here but I thought… I guess I just needed to make sure you were okay. Now that I know you’re not, I can sleep easier or something.”
He held tight when she tried to pull free of him, “I don’t want you to go.”
“But…”
“But Colt doesn’t speak for me.” He tugged gently on her wrist and breathed a sigh of relief when she walked into his arms, “I’m glad you’re here.”
She hugged him and he held her tight. Just touching her calmed his nerves. He breathed in her familiar scent and his heartrate slowed. He held her until his brother came storming back out of the apartment, liquor bottle in hand, and then he sighed and forced himself to let Jemma go.
“Hold up.”
“Fuck off Cash.”
“Where the hell do you think you’re going with that?” He tried to take the bottle of whiskey but Colt was faster and he blocked him easily.
“I’m not driving anywhere. You have the keys. I need some air.” He glanced at Jemma and his anger flickered for just a second, a mountain of pain showing in his eyes before he forced it back, “You two can have the
apartment for the night. I’ll sleep somewhere else.”
“You don’t have to do that.” Jemma frowned.
“I don’t have to do anything.” Colt flashed a grin that was probably supposed to be reassuring but only came off sad. “But I’m going to get drunk and find somebody to keep me warm so y’all have fun. I know I will.”
He took off into the darkness and Cash let him go. There was no use chasing after him. He wouldn’t come back, not tonight. He needed air or to get drunk or both. He just needed to forget for a little while. So he let him go and turned back to Jemma when she touched his arm.
“He took the worst of it tonight?”
“Always.” He nodded and kissed the top of her head when she simply wrapped her arms around him instead of asking what he meant.
“He’s really not coming back tonight?” She asked after a few minutes passed.
“No.”
“Oh…” She leaned back, looked up at him, and his heart almost stopped when she said, “Do you want me to stay with you?”
His fingers tightened on her instinctually, “Is that an option?”
“Just to sleep. No funny business. Promise.” She smiled, “I don’t have to if you’d rather be alone. I just thought, maybe you didn’t want to be, alone that is.”
“I don’t.” He answered quickly, “Stay. Please?”
“Just sleep.” She reiterated and he felt his first smile since he’d left her side earlier slide up his face.
“Promise.”
It wouldn’t be easy but he was just exhausted enough that it might be possible. He led Jemma inside and shut the door behind them. He was fully aware that the last time she’d been in his apartment she’d refused to sleep in his room even alone. Now she followed him silently down the hallway, her small hand in his, and she didn’t say a word when he shut that door behind them too, sealing them inside together.
God, something about seeing Jemma here, in his room, standing beside his bed felt so damn right his chest hurt again. He moved towards her and she didn’t back away. When he cupped her cheeks she grabbed his wrists, holding him close and tilting her head up so he could brush a kiss against her lips.
“Thank you, for coming to check on me and for staying.”
“I was worried.” She frowned when she glanced at his bruised knuckles and then gently kissed them as well, “I am worried.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine, but you will be okay. I know that.” She released him and reached for his shirt, pushing it up until he had to raise his arms to help her take it off of him.
“I should probably go take another shower but I’m too damn exhausted.” He swayed on his feet.
“I don’t mind. Just get in bed before you fall down.”
He peeled off his shoes and jeans, letting her help steady him and then did as she said once he was down to his boxers. He held the blankets up and Jemma crawled right in beside him. She snuggled up against his side, resting her head against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. After a couple of moments, the tension inside him began to uncurl and sleep crept up.
“Jemma?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m glad you’re here.”
She smiled against his chest, “You already said that.”
“If I weren’t so tired, I’d probably break my promise and try to get you naked.” He yawned and resettled her a little tighter to his chest.
“No, baby, you wouldn’t.” She kissed his jaw, “Now go to sleep.”
He did, with a smile on his face, something he hadn’t known was even possible after dealing with Decker, and it was all because she was here, in his arms, in his bed, right where she was supposed to be, and she’d called him baby.
Chapter Ten
Every single mile that inched them closer to Houston, Hoyt and her horrible old life made Jemma rethink the decision to go after her things. She shouldn’t have come. There was nothing back here for her. She knew that. She should have just called it a loss and replaced everything, started from scratch. There was nothing here that she couldn’t live without and the dark memories that the past few hours in the car had dredged up were threatening to eat her alive.
She took a deep breath, let it out and closed her eyes. Watching the road rush past was giving her a headache. Seeing all of the places she’d contemplated stopping when she was on the run didn’t help either.
The hotel she’d refused to stop at because she’d worried Hoyt would see the charge on the credit card and come to get her. The convenience store where she’d purchased the sunglasses to cover her black eye. The gas station where she’d stopped to use the bathroom and ended up crying for twenty minutes before she managed to pull it together. There were a thousand other landmarks on the seven plus hour drive but she only seemed to notice the ones that hurt.
Once they’d entered the city and she’d pointed the way towards their destination, it had only gotten worse. She didn’t miss this city, not really, but it still left a funny taste in her mouth to be looking at it as an outsider. Maybe she always had been. Maybe that was the point. She’d never felt at home here, had always known that it belonged more to Hoyt than it ever would her, mostly because he’d never failed to point out that she wasn’t local, wasn’t a city-girl and never would be.
She hadn’t been happy here. She knew that now. She’d thought that would make coming back easier but it didn’t. If anything, it made her sadder. Because she’d known she wasn’t happy and she hadn’t done anything to fix it, to get out, not until she’d lost everything, not until it was almost too late.
“Hey…”
Jemma released the breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding when a warm, familiar hand slid into hers. She turned to face the source of that just as familiar, just as warm voice. The worry on his handsome face made her heart hurt and she squeezed his hand, letting her fingers automatically intertwine with his as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Those intense blue eyes studied her for a long moment before flickering back to the road, “You okay?”
She nodded.
It wasn’t a lie if she didn’t say it out loud. That’s what she told herself at least. Even she didn’t believe that lie though, because Cash could see through her.
He saw her in ways nobody else ever had, or ever would. He knew her history because he was a part of it. At first, she’d thought that was a bad thing, because he knew all of her baggage, all of her damage, better than anyone. But over the past few weeks, she’d come to realize that it wasn’t, because he would never use it against her.
Since the night she’d spent curled up beside him in bed, they’d rarely gone a day without seeing each other. They hadn’t slept together again, literally or sexually. He hadn’t pushed her for more, had in fact drawn them back from the ledge more than once when a simple kiss had turned into a steamy make-out session.
He said they didn’t have to rush. She agreed. What she hadn’t brought herself to tell him, at least not yet, was that it didn’t feel rushed. Not with him. It felt like she’d been without him too long already, as if he was a limb she hadn’t known she was missing, and now that she had it back, him back, she was ready to move forward.
Before she did that, she had to put her past behind her.
“We’re going to get in and get out okay?” Cash squeezed her hand as he eased through an intersection, “Only what you need. There’s enough room in the back for a few boxes but we can’t take anything big like furniture.”
They’d gone over this at least five times already. She knew. He knew she knew. He was just tense and edgy. So was she. It had been a quiet trip for the most part because Cash wasn’t a big talker on a good day and also because she was lost in her own head. Now that they were close, the tension in the cab of the truck had become suffocating and somebody had to say something.
“I know. I don’t need much. There’s not much that’s mine anyways.”
“We have the suitcase
s Skylar sent. You can jam as many clothes in those as will fit and…”
“Cash.” She cut him off with a sigh, “I know, okay? I’m ready. I just want to get this over with.”
He was silent as he made the turn into the parking lot of the building she’d pointed out. Since he needed both hands, she let him go and stared out the window as the large hi-rise where she’d lived with Hoyt loomed. Get in and get out. This was it, the last step she had to take before she could move on with her life.
A low whistle sounded from the back seat, “Whew, that’s one hell of an ivory tower, Jem.”
She shot Cash a look out of the corner of her eye and saw his jaw twitch. Their chaperone had been quiet most of the trip as well but he sat forward now, sticking his head between them to look out the front windshield. Jemma scooted over to give him more room when Colt wedged his broad shoulders between the front seats of the old truck.
She’d been surprised to find he was joining them but when she’d shot Colt a questioning look as he climbed into the truck this morning he’d simply shrugged and said more hands meant it would go faster. Neither of them had said a word about the look they’d shared when she said Skylar wasn’t coming and they’d been downright evasive when she asked about Colt closing down his shop for the day for something they could have handled on their own. Cash had scowled at him but remained quiet about his brother despite the hours they’d all spent together on the road.
“Shut it Colt.” He growled through clenched teeth now.
“I was just saying…”
“I know what you were saying. Shut. It.”
Colt rolled his eyes before leaning back in the seat with a muttered, “Rich bastard is gonna get a rude fucking awakening when he sees us is all I’s sayin’ bro.”
Jemma scrubbed a hand over her face and sighed, “He’s not going to see any of us because he isn’t here. He told me he’d be out of town or I wouldn’t have even come. I’m going to go up, get my stuff and then I’m out of here.”
