Semper Mine (Sons of War #1)(63)

How can this be my sweet Petr?

“Petr!” I shout, horrified. “Stop!”

He pauses and looks up towards me, his face and upper body splattered with blood.

Harris isn’t moving.

My heart is pounding hard. I’m not sure which is worse: the sight of all the blood or knowing my brother would probably kill Harris, if given the chance.

Petr checks Harris’s pulse and then stands, walking towards the deck.

I pull lose from Riley and go to my brother, meeting him when he reaches the top of the stairs. Staring at him, I’m not at all sure what to say or feel. I hate violence, and he just beat the shit out of someone.

He offers me a quick smile and lifts his chin at Carson and Riley.

“Show’s over!” Riley calls to those on the deck. He starts waving people away from the railing. “Anyone want to call an ambulance?”

“Petr!” I don’t know what else to say. Gazing up at my bloodied brother, I’m horrified by what he’s done and amazed he did it. His features soften until he’s my Petr again. “What the hell -”

“Hush, Katya,” he says gruffly but quietly. “Let me defend my little sister in peace.” A note much firmer than any he’s ever used with me is present. “Okay?”

I nod somewhat uncertainly.

“I told him never to come back,” he adds. “No one is going to hurt my family, especially not a dickweed like that one.”

Tears fill my eyes. Despite the blood that’s grossing me out, I’m a little touched by his determination. I never really noticed how alone I feel in my own family, like I’m the one trying to take care of everyone else.

“Are you okay?” I venture, not yet sure if it’s safe to talk yet.

“Awesome. Haven’t gotten punched in a while. Almost forgot what it felt like,” Petr says cheerfully.

“You’re so weird.”

“And you’re so stubborn. If anyone ever bothers you again and you don’t tell me, I’ll be pissed at you, Katya.”

“You’re not my boss,” I fire back.

“I’m your brother.” He pushes me away to see my eyes. “We stick together. You beat up my girlfriends, and I beat up the guys bugging you.”

I’m not used to my brother being assertive. He’s a strong, good man. I’m surprised to find that I’m not angry for him standing up to me. There was a time when I’d be furious at him. It makes me think Captain Mathis was right yet again: Petr is so much stronger than I gave him credit for. Even missing a leg, he can beat the shit out of anyone. It shouldn’t make me proud, but it does.

“We need ice cream,” he finishes and takes my arm, walking towards the house.

“Is Harris okay?” I ask.

“He’ll live.” He doesn’t sound at all concerned.

Whether or not I should, I trust my brother and let it go.

The partygoers are already distracted by beer and s’mores. Carson remains by Harris while Riley looks like he’s entertaining people to keep their attention away from the horrible scene on the back lawn.

I take a seat at the breakfast bar and watch Petr pull ice cream out of the freezer.

“Things are gonna change around here a little, Katya.”

After his display on the lawn, I’m listening. He sets down the ice cream then peels off his bloody t-shirt, displaying his muscular upper body. He pulls on his sweater before washing his hands then dipping us both bowls full of ice cream.

This is kind of … strange. He kicks someone’s ass, walks away and eats ice cream. Is this what he did in Iraq? Why doesn’t almost killing Harris bother him one bit?

“I’ve always kind of brushed you off as the annoying little sister. I guess it never hit me until this year that you’re not her anymore,” he says, setting a bowl down before me. “I’m sorry if you felt left out around Mikael and me, or if we didn’t ever really take you seriously.”

Puzzled, I take a bite of ice cream and think about what I want to say. I don’t think I can stomach eating much. I keep glancing at the bloodied t-shirt and hoping Harris is okay. Not for his sake, but so Petr isn’t thrown in jail or something.

“I am very grateful for you in my life and for all you did this year,” he continues.

“I felt left out when you guys left, but not in a bad way. I don’t think. I mean, I didn’t blame you for going.”

“Everything changed this year.”

I nod, gazing at my ice cream. I push it away.

“I guess what I’m trying to say is that I want you as my friend. Not my caretaker,” he says. “I don’t need you to be my mother, and there are days, Katya …” He gives a growl of frustration. “Let’s just say it’s like you see me as broken, as someone who needs help. I’m neither of those, Kitty-Khav.”

He’s speaking gently, as if knowing he’s hurting me. I’m pretty sure he’s right. What he’s telling me isn’t new; I’ve heard it from a couple different sources. It doesn’t make it easier to swallow.

He’s waiting for me to talk.

I clear my throat. “I don’t think you’re broken or lesser because of your leg. I couldn’t bear it if I lost you, and everything I do is because I love you, Petr.”