Rack & Ruin (THIRDS 3)

“No, but I’ll manage. Right now, I think you should take Cael home to your place. He’s going to need you. He’ll want to go to the hospital once the shock wears off.”

“What about you?”

Sloane gave him a small smile. “I always need you.” He gave Dex a pat on the arm, giving it a gentle squeeze before walking off toward Tony and the mess in need of cleanup.

Dex put his arm around his brother and led him away from the noise and blood. “Come on, bro. Let’s go home.”

Cael nodded, though it was pretty clear his brother was elsewhere. As they walked, Dex did his best to comfort his brother, praying Ash would make it through this. Throughout this whole ordeal, Cael had never questioned or lost faith in Ash. Dex shouldn’t have dismissed his brother’s feelings or Ash’s behavior. He promised himself if Ash made it out of this alive, he’d try harder to get along with the burly agent. Ash deserved that much.

Chapter 12

DEX HANDED his brother a cup of hot chocolate piled high with mini marshmallows like their dad used to make them when they were feeling under the weather. Cael sat up and took the mug from him, the first movement he’d made in what felt like hours.

After getting to Dex’s apartment, Cael had made straight for the couch, leaving equipment and clothing on the floor in his wake until he’d finally reached it wearing nothing but his boxers, undershirt, and socks. It had broken Dex’s heart to watch his little brother curl up on his side, his head on the armrest and a throw pillow hugged tight to his chest. It was obvious then that Cael didn’t just have a thing for Ash. He was in love with him. Must have been for some time.

Dex took a seat beside his brother, offering what comfort he could. Rosa had dropped by with an overnight bag she’d put together for Cael after stopping by his apartment. Cael had given his partner a key in case of emergency. It was the first time Rosa had had to use it. Dex had managed to get his brother to the bathroom upstairs, and Cael had numbly gone in for a long shower. When he was dressed and out, Cael wanted to go back downstairs to the couch, which is where he’d been since Dex had showered and changed. The whole incident had left Cael shocked. It was most likely the only reason his little brother wasn’t fighting to get to the hospital.

“Why would he do that, Dex?”

Whatever Dex’s feelings on Ash, they didn’t matter now. What mattered was being there for Cael. “He cares about you.”

“The things he said.” Cael took a sip of his hot chocolate. He sucked in a few marshmallows—which made Dex smile—before putting the cup down on the small coffee table beside the couch. “I thought maybe….”

“He was protecting you. I realize that now. I should have known then. Sloane told me Ash asked him to keep us away from him.” Dex pulled his brother in to his arms and held him tight. “I’ve always believed he was such an asshole, and he is, but so am I. I shouldn’t have been so quick to judge him. You were right.” It was hard for him not to feel protective over Cael. Dex had always been the outspoken one, the funny kid, the one getting into some mischief or another. He’d been sent to the principal’s office more times than he cared to remember, and that had carried over from high school through to the dean’s office in college.

Tony was always teasing Dex, saying he was the cause of his gray hairs. It was most likely the truth. Cael had been the quiet one. The well-behaved one. The sweet, smart kid. Any mischief or trouble Cael got into was a result of following along with whatever harebrained scheme Dex’s wacky little brain came up with, because Cael wanted to be like his big brother. He’d follow Dex around, trying to imitate him and do what he did. At least until he was old enough to know better. Holding Cael like this reminded Dex of all the other times some bastard had stomped all over his little brother’s heart. Dex sure as hell hoped this wasn’t going to be another one of those times.

“Dex, what if Ash doesn’t make it?” Cael’s voice was quiet, as if saying the words alone might make it so.

“Ash is a fighter. You know if death comes knocking, he will beat the shit out of it.” And Dex believed that. Ash was the hardest, toughest, meanest son of a bitch Dex knew. The guy wouldn’t go down without a fight.

“What if he can’t?” Cael pulled away, his eyes puffy and red. “I need to be there with him. I need him to know I’m not pissed off with him. That I understand why he did what he did.”

Just as Dex opened his mouth to reply, his phone buzzed. Removing it from his pocket, he saw it was Sloane. He answered with his heart in his throat. “Hey. I hope you have good news.”

Cael stiffened. “Is that Sloane? Is Ash okay?”

“Yeah? Awesome. We’ll be right over. Thanks.”

“What is it?”

“Ash is out of surgery. He has a shit-ton of recovery to do, but he’s going to live to roar another day.”

Cael threw his arms around Dex and squeezed him tight. Dex chuckled and hugged him back. “Okay, Chirpy. Let’s go.” His brother pulled back and wiped a tear away.

“I’m sorry I was such a dick to you,” Cael muttered dejectedly.

“No, you were right. Sometimes I need reminding that you’re not a little kid anymore. Being older doesn’t always mean being wiser.”

“You are wise. And I’ll always be your little brother. But sometimes you do deserve a good kick in the ass.”

Dex chuckled

and helped his brother to his feet. “Come on, get dressed. You can’t go in your boxers and….” He peered at Cael’s feet and his blue-striped socks. “Are those koala bears wearing glasses on your socks?”

Cael smiled, his cheeks flushed in embarrassment. “Yeah. Ash got me them for Christmas.”

“That’s….” Dex searched his colorful vocabulary for the appropriate term, aware of his brother’s wary expression. “Pretty damn adorable.”