Jet stills, the blood draining from his face once more, his jaw clenching. Silence stretches, full of echoes.
Shit.
I knew it. A drawing of his father trying to kill him. He keeps having nightmares with his dad stabbing him, chasing him. When will it end?
“Jet. Come here.” When he doesn’t move, I reach for him, draw him to my side.
He’s stiff like a board at first, but he’s not as thin as he was after coming out of the hospital. His ribs are wrapped in strong muscle, his hair is thick and soft when he finally gives in and leans against me, resting his head on my shoulder.
“You can talk to me about it,” I tell him quietly.
“Yeah, man, you say that to me, but what about you? What did your dad tell you?”
My turn to stiffen. “Nothing much.”
“That’s fucking bullshit.”
“Kiss my ass, Jet.”
“I could do that,” he says, grinning. “You have a fine ass.”
“Shut up.”
He sighs and lies down, throwing his legs over the armrest and resting his head in my lap. “What is he doing to you, J? Has he insulted you? Threatened you? Does he even know you’re with us?”
I chew on the inside of my cheek until I taste blood.
“Right. I figured.” Jet sighs. His lashes lower, hiding his eyes. He has such fucking long lashes for a guy. “Will you ever tell him?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Sure it is. You just tell them, J. And the weight is off your chest.”
“Both my parents think that I’m… someone else. Something else.”
“And what will they do when you tell them the truth? Disown you?”
I snort. Disown me. Not ever want to see my face again. Yeah, that’s one of my worries. I’ve often wondered how my sister has managed to live with that.
But I’ll live with it. I’m sure I can do it.
It’s the other things, the other words my dad has said more than once that don’t let me breathe. The words I try not to hear inside my mind, the words that put the weight of responsibility on my shoulders.
I’m the oldest child. I’m supposed to make my parents proud, and look after them.
Not cause their death.
Chapter Nine
Jethro
I had a family. And then I didn’t.
But I was given a second chance. I found Joel, and then Candy, and now I have a home.
Never realized how scared I’d be to lose it all again.
“You look like crap,” Candy informs me