Colin’s glare finds Dad, and he sneers. “I’m leaving. For now. But just remember who the better protector is. Who the better father is. You were in the kitchen making fucking pancakes. Where was I? That’s right, behind the scope of my AR-10. It was my .308 bullet that saved him. Not your spatula. Remember that, Sommers.” Then, to me, he smiles. “Come give your pops a hug goodbye.”
Her beer bottles make our trailer smell sweet. The mice don’t like her beer bottles, though. They always go for my food. They don’t poop on her things because they like to poop on mine.
“I said, come give your pops a hug goodbye,” Colin barks out, making me jump much like I do when I see a mouse run by. “Now, Son.”
I don’t want to hug him.
But it’ll mean he’ll leave sooner.
Quickly, I run over to him, let him hug me.
I hope he never comes back.
“You’re okay,” a deep voice croons in my ear. “I got you. He’s gone.”
I blink open my eyes, noting the wetness of my lashes and cheeks. Dad stands in front of me with Ryan to his side and Canyon at my back. For a brief moment, I allow myself to be cocooned in their safety. But, because reality is a bitch, it slips inside, eager to shred my insides with worry over what my future holds.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Dad assures me, his palms cradling my face and swiping at my cheeks with his thumbs. “Do you understand? Never.”
I don’t understand.
I never have.
How Dad could be a permanent fixture in my life. I’ve always wanted to believe it to be true.
“Keep an eye on him,” Ryan says to Canyon. “Both of you get some rest.”
As soon as we’re out of sight, halfway up the stairs, Canyon threads his fingers with mine, tethering me to him in a way only he can.
This is my home.
Canyon
A thousand questions sit on the tip of my tongue, but I swallow each and every one down. The last thing Alis needs is for me to demand answers from him.
No, he just needs me.
Alis is a lot of things—aggravating, competitive, mouthy.
He’s not weak.
Seeing him wilt and completely shut down under that man’s stare scared the shit out of me. I’d never witnessed anything like it. Like he was triggered. The last time I saw him like that was when he lost it on me before on the track. Back when I thought I hated him and took a swing at him.
Alis flipped his shit.
This time rather than tackling me, he folded in on himself, grabbed the lid of the mental box he’d climbed into, and slammed it shut.
Colin—his real father—is clearly a fucking monster. He admitted to shooting the man who attacked Alis. Didn’t even bat an eyelash at such a brutal statement.
It’s obvious Colin is a bad man. Alis’s mother wouldn’t have brought him to her brother if Colin was a good parent. Whatever he did or whoever he was is not someone you want to fuck with. As much as I’d wanted to knock that asshole out, I refrained. If he didn’t blink at murdering someone on the front porch, I seriously doubt he’d have a problem with shoving a gun in my face.
Dad and Quinn aren’t stupid. They’re not reckless either. It’s clear Colin stayed away all this time for a reason. Quinn’s loaded and could lawyer up in a heartbeat. If Colin really is the piece of shit I suspect he is, he would’ve never won in a courtroom with Quinn. Now that Alis is graduating this year, though, it changes things. He seemed convinced that Alis would actually choose to go back with him.
As soon as Alis is not in his zombie state, I’m going to make him block that prick’s number. Hopefully, Dad and Quinn can figure out how to make that man stay away.
“They won’t go to the police with this,” Alis murmurs when we reach his room, reading my thoughts without me having to say them.
“He admitted to killing someone.”
My argument earns me a scoff. “Do you know who he is? What he is?”
I shut the door and lock it behind me. Alis strips down to his bright orange briefs before climbing into bed. The muscles in his back and the swell of his ass have my mouth watering, but I ignore the heat making my balls tingle. After also undressing and flipping off the overhead light, I lie down beside him.
“No, but you’re going to tell me,” I finally say, pulling him to my side.
He wraps his arm and leg over my body, clinging to me in a manner that makes my chest hurt. It’s as though he thinks if he glues himself to me, he’ll never have to let go. Like maybe if he relaxes, even for a second, Colin will materialize and steal him away.
“I can’t tell you because I don’t know,” he whispers. “Not really. I can tell Dad really knows, though.”
“He’s gone now. Your dad isn’t going to let him come back.” I run my fingers over his arm. “Why are you afraid of him?”
“When I was a child, he was always threatening my mom because she was screwing him over in some way or another. I think he’s a drug dealer,” he says softly. “Not like some dude selling coke on the corner downtown. Like big time. Supplier even. I’m not sure. He’s changed since I saw him last. More put together. More established. Back then, though, he seemed to be working his way up the chain. He’d come over, rough Mom up a bit, and then terrorize me some.”
“He hurt you?” My body thrums with anger, pulsating through me like an electric bass. “Alis, did he?”
“Wonderland.”
I smile despite my fury. “Did he, Wonderland?”
“Nothing terrible,” he admits. “Mom always earned a smack by provoking him. He said some stuff that scared the shit out of me plenty of times and shoved me at times.”
“Why are you afraid of him then? You shut down…” And had a fucking panic attack. “I wanted to kill him.”
He sits up, straddling my waist, and strokes his fingers over my abs. My stomach clenches at the soft tickling sensation.
“Tell me,” I urge, squeezing his thighs.
“I’m afraid he’s going to take me away for good. My biggest fear…” He trails off and dips down to my mouth, capturing my lips in a hungry kiss. My palms slide to his perfect ass, and I squeeze each cheek over his briefs.
Fuck, I love his ass.
“Your biggest fear?” I murmur against his lips, trying like hell not to get distracted by his hot mouth and hard body.
“My biggest fear is that Dad will kick me out or disown me or encourage me to leave the nest. I…” His voice cracks, and a tremble quivers through his body. “I don’t want to be alone. I don’t want to have to go live with Colin.”
“Never,” I growl as I grab his throat, running my thumb over his pulse that’s throbbing wildly. “You’re staying here.”
“But if Dad ever—”
“With me,” I reiterate. “You’re staying with me.”
“And if they find out about this?” His hot breath against my lips makes me achingly hard. “What will we do then?”
“Whatever it is, we do it together.”
“Come on, Canyon. Be real.”
A grunt of frustration rumbles through me. “I’m being serious.”