“That’s what we’d all like to know.”
The unmitigated rage in his blue eyes scorched her, and it reminded her so much of Darling that it gave her a chill.
Drake laid his head down on the bed like a small child with a sleeping parent he didn’t want to disturb. One he wanted to wake up and hold him, and make everything better.
Zarya felt her own tears gather at the way Drake stared at his brother. The love he had for Darling was so deep that it was almost tangible. This wasn’t the image she’d had of Drake from what she’d been told about him. While there was no denying the fact that he was an adult, he held a deep vulnerability that made a mockery of his sister’s.
Maris moved to put a comforting hand on Drake’s shoulder. “He really will be fine. You don’t have to worry about him. He’s a fighter.”
Drake nodded. “Believe me, I know.”
“Did you bring your mother with you?” Syn asked.
Drake let out an aggravated sound deep in the back of his throat. “That’s what took me so long to get here. I was trying to convince her to come with me. She adamantly refused. I know Darling’s going to be pissed at me that I left her alone, but I don’t care. After everything he’s done for us, I couldn’t stay there while he was hurt or dead… Damn the news. They had so many conflicting reports that I had to come and see for myself what had happened.”
Then he did the most unexpected thing of all. He placed his head on Darling’s shoulder and gave him what she could only describe as a little brother hug.
Her throat tightened at how sweet a gesture it was, especially coming from someone who was as fierce as Drake.
He stood and turned around, then realized there was a “stranger” in the room with them. A scowl creased his brow. “Who are you?”
“Zarya.”
He went completely rigid. “Starska?”
She nodded.
Hatred flared in his eyes before he took an angry step toward her.
Hauk caught him with one arm and held him back. “Don’t.”
“She’s the reason he was attacked!” Drake snarled. “What—”
“She’s the reason he’s alive.” Hauk’s tone was steady and calming. “But for her, you’d be picking out your brother’s casket right now.”
Maris nodded, then added, “Not to mention, Darling will paint your backside red if you harm one hair on his lady’s head.”
Drake turned his scowl to Maris. “What do you mean?”
“I spoke your language, little man. Quite plainly. What part of ‘she’s his lady’ did you not comprehend?”
“All of it.” Drake looked to the others before he spoke again. “I’m so confused,” he breathed.
Hauk laughed. “Yeah, us, too. It’s been a strange day all the way around.”
Syn stepped forward. “Lise came in not long before you and Ryn. Why don’t you go say hi to her?”
Drake put his hands on his hips. “Subtle like an exploding mine there, Syn. You might as well have said, ‘Boy, get your ass out.’ ” He glanced back at Darling. “If anything changes, let me know.”
Syn inclined his head to him.
No one spoke again until after Drake had left. Then Hauk looked at her and grinned. “They put the fun in ‘dysfunctional,’ eh?”
Zarya wasn’t exactly amused by that. “I’m not passing judgment on them. It’s not my place. But having met the three of them… it certainly does explain a lot about Darling.”
Syn gave her a light hug. “I feel your pain. I married into an extremely screwed up family dynamic myself. But I have to say, Darling’s family makes mine look normal in comparison—which scares the hell out of me most days.”
Hauk let out an evil snicker. “Can’t wait to tell Kasen that the next time I see her.”
“You do and I’ll make sure you have a nasty accident the next time you fly your ship.”
Syn’s threat didn’t bother Hauk in the least. “That’s all right, Rit. You’ll just have to put me back together again. Be your punishment for it.”
With a light “heh,” Syn ran his hand through his long hair. “And on that note, I need to go update the rest of our screwed up family on how he’s doing.”
Hauk nodded. “I’ll help.”
After Hauk and Syn left, she turned toward Maris.
“What’s that expression mean?” he asked. “And for the record, I didn’t do it.”
Laughing at his defensiveness, Zarya tried to reconcile the people she’d just met with the erroneous preconceived notions she’d had of them. “Just trying to take it all in. Darling has had a most complicated life.”
“You’ve no idea, hon.”
No, but she was beginning to, and like Syn with his in-laws, she was rather scared of Darling’s. “I can’t imagine dealing with the stress he’s had. Having an uncle who treats you like you’re mentally deficient and can’t go to the bathroom alone, while the rest lean on you so hard that it’s a wonder your back isn’t bowed from it…”