Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 49393 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49393 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
As for the aftermath, I can’t remember immediately passing out or having fallen asleep while tangled up between my lovers.
10
JAKE
Checking the app was habit. I did it every night before I went to bed. I made sure the front and back doors were locked like anyone else did. Then I flipped to the map and pinpointed the location of each of my brothers. It didn’t matter if I knew they were on a job or in another country for that matter. It was a habit, reassuring myself that they were okay.
I’d been a natural at security because I was an anxious kid, always sure something terrible was going to happen to my family. Then it did.
Dad got sick when I was fifteen, and soon after, he was gone. My twin was a genius. We always knew it, but the year my dad died, Eli graduated early. He went to college on a scholarship and left me behind. The new place and new start were good for him, and I didn’t begrudge him that. But I missed the hell out of him, sleeping on the bottom bunk still, never using the top one I’d wanted for years but that had been his.
I was saving his spot for him, I guess. Or I thought that if I used it, if I changed anything, then I’d bring down some curse and he’d never come back. Just like our dad had died, something could happen to Eli. For a while Mom thought I’d become a priest because I took a religious turn after we lost Dad. I took to walking to church every morning before class, but she didn’t know I was praying like a selfish, desperate kid—don’t take anyone else, please. Not my mom, not my brothers. Let this be enough. I won’t complain. Just don’t take anyone else from me.
It reassured my mom, and she thought I was getting comfort from all that church attendance. She was dealing with Ty who had gone off the rails when Dad got sick. He’d always been a prankster, but he was in detention about every week after that. The teachers were trying to be patient and sympathetic, but it was like he wouldn’t let them be nice to him. At her wit’s end, my mom even asked if my priest could speak to Ty, to give him some guidance the way he helped me. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I didn’t know the dude’s name. I didn’t even pay attention in church. I just bit my nails and prayed the same silent chant of terror over and over. Going every day was a superstition for me, a charm that I thought would protect my family. For an entire year, I went to church every single day.
At this point I have my anxiety under control. The structure and discipline in the military worked wonders. The only concession I make is a daily, one-time check on the location of my brothers. Except in this case it made me pinch the bridge of my nose against a tension headache that roared to life. Because I hadn’t figured on two of my brothers being in Jasmine’s room past midnight.
Knowing my bros, they weren’t in there playing Monopoly. I reminded myself they’re all consenting adults, and it seemed that Ty and Drew decided to have a threesome with our indispensable assistant and close family friend. I suppressed a groan and opened the group chat.
Ty, Drew, let the woman get some rest.
Ty replied instantly. WTF? You got tracking devices on us now?
No, ur careless w your phones and share location is on.
I smirked as Ty switched off his location feature.
Eli popped up in the chat, Ty and Drew r boning Jas? I wasn’t invited.
I answered, Go to sleep Eli I’ll handle this
I rubbed my forehead in irritation.
11
ELI
I wasn’t scheduled on a job till mid-afternoon, so I hung around the house until Jasmine woke up. Usually she walked to work from her apartment, but we lived farther away so I volunteered to drive her in to the office. I had finished my workout and breakfast, and I was checking my emails when she wandered into the kitchen, fresh from her shower. Her hair was wet and twisted on top of her head in a messy looking knot. She looked at me and shook her head.
“How are you so bright-eyed this morning?” she asked.
“Easy, I went to bed alone. Got tons of sleep. Unlike some people.”
“If you’d been in on it I’d understand the shit-eating grin, but I’m confused. Shouldn’t you be jealous or giving me crap about this?” She looked genuinely off balance.
“Why?” I asked. “I’m a grown man, Jas. I’m not jealous of my own brothers, and I’d never give you crap about something like this. You’ve known me a couple years now. Have I been judgmental about anything other than the tofu nonsense?”