The door opens and…my brothers walk in. Cash and Josh. They’re both here. Oh my goodness…they’re…here.
“Cash,” I breathe, acknowledging him first. It’s been longer since the last time I saw him. My eyes flicker to his vest—no, cut, I think he said it was called—and see his name with the word Nomad. His brown hair is all askew on his head and the twinkle in his eyes makes me grin. “What are you doing here?”
He frowns in distaste, before leaning down and kissing my cheek. “Helen called me.”
Josh walks to my other side and shoves his hands in the pockets of his trousers. My brothers couldn’t be more different. A biker and a businessman. A smart ass and a snob. The only thing they have in common is their love for me.
“Where’s Mom?” Josh asks in an inscrutable tone.
“I don’t know. Grandma said she’s taking care of her.”
Glancing between them, I see their mutual scowls. I never knew much about Cash’s mom and the relationship with her. He’s a year or two older than Josh and I know Mom hates him.
“I can’t believe she went this far,” Josh continues tightly.
My captivity seems to be an open secret. Grandma’s doing. I sigh. “Neither can I. She’s been different recently, though.”
Josh frowns in confusion but Cash asks, “How so?”
Irritated by Josh’s obliviousness, I address him first. “Not that you would know, Josh. You pay about as much attention to me as they do.”
He thrusts his fingers through his hair, the universal gesture for frustrated men. “I have my business to see to. Besides, I’m here now.”
“For how long?”
“Georgie, I promise as soon as I close my deal…I’ll take you somewhere. Shopping, maybe?”
My emotions are overflowing and I glare at him. “You’re a dickhead. Shopping doesn’t solve everything. What about now? I need you now.”
And I do. I need someone. Someone besides Sloane, who’ll break me more than anyone when he walks away.
Cash’s phone rings. I transfer my glare to him when he seems to struggle with the decision on answering it or not. “Answer, asshole,” I snarl. “Someone out there really needs you.”
“Georgie.”
They both say my name at the same time and I sniffle.
“I flew home immediately to check on you,” Josh says quietly.
“And I hit the road a few hours after I got the call,” Cash adds, turning and heading to my window. The name Death Dwellers MC arc on the back of the cut, along with a grim reaper, holding a bloody scythe with eyes glowing. “I’m here.”
Cash is former military and a man who doesn’t like to be tied down or boxed in for too long. He could stay on the road for days. After only a few minutes in my room, he’s going stir crazy.
“Tell me about this Crowell assfuck,” he grumbles, still staring out the window.
Josh clenches his jaw. “Why didn’t you tell me about him?” he asks, guilt dulling his eyes.
“So he could leave me, too? So I could destroy your relationship? Real, true friendships aren’t easy to come by.”
“If he’s Josh’s fucking friend, point me to his goddamn enemies,” Cash hisses.
“He was…is…my friend,” I insist softly.
“My condolences on his death.”
“Cash!” I cry. “Leave him be. I had as much to do with our sex as he did…”
Cash chokes and Josh loses his color. I realize my mistake immediately. They were talking about the drugs.
“Wait. It wasn’t real sex,” I say quickly. “It was just oral sex.”
Any other time, I would laugh at the obscene outrage in their faces. Not now, though. They both look like demons. Scared they’ll turn on me, I back against my bed.
“Where is he?”
Cash’s voice is all the more deadly for its calmness, contrasting the look in his eyes too much.
“Grandma s-said he’s recovering,” I tell him. “I don’t know from what.”
“Where?” he demands again.
“I don’t know. Sloane said not to worry about it.”
“Who the fuck is Sloane?” This from Cash, at the same time Josh says, “That singer person?”
Okay, something else Grandma failed to mention to them. I nod, having learned my lesson with the sex with Crowell screw up. “He visited me with Grandma and Dad. To cheer me up.”
The two of them exchange looks that I don’t necessarily like, but I change the subject quickly. “How long are you two in town?”
Rubbing his eyes, Josh sighs. “I leave tomorrow afternoon. But I have…two, three months tops before I’ll be free for a few weeks.”
“Okay.” What else is there to say? I lower my gaze and mumble, “you, Cash?”
“How long do you want me to stay?”