And I'm done pretending that's ever going to change.
I pull out my phone and shoot off a text to Adriana.
Scans came back clear. Gavin's going to be okay. I'll be home soon.
Three gray dots appear immediately.
Thank God. I'm so relieved. I'm here when you get back.
I stare at her words and a wave of relief floods my chest.
My family might be falling apart. My father might be a monster. My oldest brother might be lost to me forever.
But Adriana is waiting for me. And right now, that's the only thing that matters.
CHAPTER 26
ADRIANA
I wokeup in his arms this morning.
He held me close all night, his grip tightening every time I moved. Even while asleep, he couldn’t relax. Something must have happened at that hospital beyond what he told me, and whatever it was kept him tense and tossing until early morning sunlight peeked through the blinds in the bedroom.
When I walk into the kitchen, he’s standing at the big marble island, staring into his coffee mug. Reaper presses against his leg, almost like he knows Lochlan needs comfort. It makes my heart flutter in my chest.
“Hey.” I wrap my arms around his waist from behind and rest my cheek against his back. “Talk to me.”
He heaves a deep sigh. “Ronan didn’t show up at the hospital.”
“What?” My brows furrow and I recoil. “How could he not have gone to see Gavin?”
“Cillian called him three times, so he knew. He just never came.” His voice is flat. “I went to his apartment after I left the hospital. Asshole was drinking whiskey like nothing happened. Said Gavin was reckless and maybe now he’d learn to be more careful.”
Jesus. I knew Ronan was cold, but this behavior baffles me. They’re brothers, for Pete’s sake. How could he just shrug off the situation like that? What could possibly have been more important than making sure his youngest brother was safe? Nothing in the world would ever keep me away from Luna if she was ever in trouble like that.
“And my father.” Lochlan shakes his head and my skin prickles at the disgust in his voice. “He showed up in one of his suits with a pole jammed up his ass. Then he had the nerve to blame Gavin for getting jumped.” He turns to look at me. “He left after that. Didn’t even go into the room.”
My jaw damn near hits the floor. “Wait, he didn’t check on his own son?”
“Nope. Just told me to keep your family in line so the Russians would stop making moves against us.” His hands curl into fists on the counter. “Gavin was lying there with sixteen stitches in his head, and my father decided he had something more pressing to do besides visit with his youngest son and tell him he’d find the motherfuckers who hurt him.”
“Oh my God,” I murmur when I realize there’s nothing I can say that will fix this. “What did you say to Ronan when you went to his apartment?”
Lochlan’s jaw tenses. “I told him he’s not my brother anymore.”
I rub a hand down the side of his arm. “I’m sorry. I know that’s not what you wanted.”
“No.” His shoulders sag, the dejected look in his eyes making my gut wrench. “But I’m done pretending he’s going to change.”
I cup his face. “You still have Cillian and Wolfe and Gavin.”
He nods slowly, pulling me into his chest. I breathe him in, feeling the race of his heartbeat against me. We stand there for a minute, just holding each other. Reaper gets off the floor, huffs, and wanders off to his bed.
“We should pick Gavin up,” Lochlan says. “He’s gettingdischarged this morning. Knowing him, he’ll try to walk out on his own and pass out in the parking garage.”
“Then let’s go.” I pause. “Oh, wait. We should bring him something. What’s his favorite food?”
A small smile appears on Lochlan’s face. And just like that, the butterflies are awake and swarming. “There’s a sub shop in Southie he’s obsessed with. He loves their foot-long Italian with lots of vinegar and extra hot peppers.”
