“Can’t hit them, Con. The courts will still call it murder.” Sionn leaned forward and patted his cousin on the shoulder. “Just get us through it, okay?”
The Hummer was wide enough for Miki and Sionn to sit on either side of him on the backseat, although Connor made a small crack about being a chauffeur when he’d come out of the station and found them all squished in together.
They were silent on the drive, but Damien’s hands were held tight on either side of him, Sionn’s wide thumb stroking the pulse at his wrist. He didn’t see any of the city they drove through, and blinked in surprise when they pulled in front of an iron gate blocking off the L of a side street. More people loitered there, cameras flashing bright starbursts, and Connor dialed an access number from his phone, triggering the gate to open.
“Won’t they just follow us in?” Damien twisted around to see if any of the reporters ducked in behind the gate.
“Nah, Kane pretty much arrests them for trespassing. Sometimes it takes a while for them to get out.” Miki snorted. “We put the gate up after he punched one of them out. Dude bit a guy. Tried to sue, but he was on my property. Judge told him he was lucky Kane didn’t shoot him.”
Connor guided the Hummer into one of the open bays, then got out to close the door behind them. Opening the back door, he nodded at Sionn. “You’re clear. Let me check the house. Don’t want any surprises.”
“I don’t know if I can live like this.” Damie crawled out of the vehicle. “I feel like…. I dunno. Shit. I don’t know what I’m saying. This is too crazy.”
“It’s not always going to be like this,” Miki reassured him. “Things will get back to normal.”
“Whatever the fuck normal is.” Damien gave his brother a weak smile. Sionn came up behind him and wrapped strong arms around Damien’s chest. He leaned into the man, grateful to have Sionn there. “Fucking hell, I’m so damned tired.”
“It’s been a shit long day,” Sionn agreed. He kissed the slope of Damien’s neck, nuzzling the spot. “Let’s see about feeding you guys. Then maybe you can crash.”
“There’s a bathroom upstairs.” Miki was about to say more when a blond terrier shot out of the house, wiggling with excitement. He bent over and ran his hands through the dog’s fur, chucking it under its chin as it crooned Wookiee noises at him. “Damie, meet Dude. Dude, this is Damie. Try not to chew on his toes.”
“Fuck, a dog. A boyfriend. You’ve gotten all tame and domesticated while I was dead.” He’d meant it to tease, but his voice ran flat, cutting an edge through his words. He saw the spark of hurt in Miki’s eyes, and he stepped away from Sionn, reaching for his friend. “Sinjun, fuck… I didn’t mean….”
“Yeah, I know.” Miki hugged him, nearly cracking his ribs with a tight embrace. “Your mom’s gone, and we just found each other again. A lot of ups and downs today. I know, man. No need to say anything else. It’s all good. Come on in. I’ve got to take Dude outside to pee, and Connor’s probably checking the bathroom drains for shower monsters. He’s kind of anal.”
“Fuck,” Damie spat after Miki went through the door to the warehouse, the dog close on his heels. Pacing in a small circle, he gritted his teeth and wrapped his arms around his waist. “Fucking stupid. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”
“He said it’s okay,” Sionn reassured him, pulling his arms away from his body. “Let it go, Damie boy. Let’s go inside.”
“I hurt him. Not even back for a day and I’m already making him bleed.” Damien stepped back from Sionn, refusing to be mollified. “What the fuck am I doing?”
“You’re hurting.” The man refused to be shoved out. Sionn grabbed at Damie’s waistband and pulled him back in. “He knows that. Miki loves you. We both do. Don’t worry about it right now.”
“You don’t even know me. And hell, he hasn’t seen me in how long? Neither one of you can love me. Shit, you didn’t even know my fucking name.” He pushed slightly against Sionn, but the man held on tight. “He’s happy, Sionn. I don’t want to fuck that up.”
“It’s not going to be fucked up,” Sionn murmured. “And yeah, I’m right fond of you, Damie boy. So for right now, we’re going to go inside, get some food, then maybe find a bed to fall into. And I’m going to spend the night holding you while you sleep, because I can’t think of anything else you need more.”
There in the silence of the warehouse’s garage, Damien felt the wall break, and he choked, first on the sorrow filling him, then on the tide of pain pouring up from his chest. It hit him without warning, anguish tearing through him. Sobbing, he stumbled, blind and numb, but Sionn was there, a wall of warmth and strength he could cling to.