Souls Unfractured (Hades Hangmen, #3)(96)

On a long groan, Flame stilled, his mouth slipping away and his head tucking into the crook of my neck. And I held him as tightly as he held me. I held him so tightly as I gently floated from my high. Flame’s hard muscles bunched and jerked under my touch.

Silence descended slowly on the room, and a contented smiled graced my lips. Flame, tired and spent, rolled to the side, his large leg and arm automatically draping over mine. Turning to face him on our shared pillow, I stroked my hand down his face, this simple act conveying how so completely he held my heart.

Flame caught my hand, and holding it next to his cheek, rasped, “I’m gonna board up that hatch in my living room.”

My eyes closed and I sighed a relieved sigh. Flame’s hand clutched mine tighter. I opened my eyes, only for him to add, “And I’m gonna talk to Asher. I’m… I’m gonna talk to my… brother… at least I’m gonna f*cking try.”

And the tears did flow this time. They poured and they cascaded down my cheeks. Because I knew he had broken through. My Flame, my tortured boy, had broken through the last of his defenses. He had found his voice. Flame, my always and forever, had found his song, like I had found mine.

And through our love, he had finally found the courage to sing.





Chapter Twenty-Nine


Flame



“And so the psycho returns… again!”

I pulled my bike to a stop in the yard of the compound, Vike already smoking up the grill, and all the brother’s and their bitches drinking and having a good time.

I slid off my bike and lifted Maddie from the saddle. I placed her on the ground and, immediately, her eyes drifted off to the men sitting near Viking. I followed her line of sight, and there he was, Asher. Sitting next to AK. And the kid was already watching me, sitting on the edge of his seat.

Maddie’s hand landed on my chest and she said, “Go to him. I wish to say hello to my sister.”

My heart kicked into high gear, but I dropped my head to Maddie. “Okay.”

Smiling, she lifted to her toes and pressed a kiss to my lips. Then she pulled away, walking to the group of bitches standing to the side.

Hearing a whistle, I looked back over to my brothers. Styx was waving me over. Taking a deep breath, I headed to the group who were all sitting on chairs, eating and knocking back their poison of choice.

A bottle of beer was immediately thrust into my hand. I knocked the top off, just as Styx signed, “You get your shit sorted, brother?”

I read his hands and nodded my head. Ky sat forward and pointed to Asher. “Fucking good little brother you got here, Flame. Smart little shit. He’s got a f*cking brain, unlike some of the f*cks round here.”

Without looking at Asher, I nodded my head again. But a f*cking huge crash of pride ran through me. Asher was smart. Asher had a f*cking chance.

Ky sat back in his chair and shrugged at Styx when I didn’t reply.

Tanner walked toward me. I met eyes with one of the only brothers who matched my size, and he said, “Got Little Ash set up with new records, social security and all that shit. Your old man never registered his birth. Had no trace. But he belongs to the Lone Star state now, brother. Said he was homeschooled by his mama until she died. Styx told me to get a tutor to get him up to speed with what he’s missed, which by talking to the kid, will take about five f*cking minutes. I’ve got him in a good school nearby, when he’s ready. Private. Discrete. Small. Cash exchanged a few hands, not all of it entirely f*cking legal, but at least it’s all done. Your little bro’s here to stay, Flame. He’s the baby of the Hangmen now. We got his f*cking back. All good?”

My chest squeezed in gratitude, but I couldn’t find the words to f*cking reply. The kid had been taught shit. He’d actually been schooled. That was more than I ever had, and I was so f*cking happy about that fact.

Tanner flicked his chin at me and sat down. Then it went real f*cking quiet. I ripped the label off my beer as I built myself up. Taking a real long deep inhale, I looked up at Asher. I already had his attention. He was still watching me, his eyes looking so f*cking much like Isaiah’s and mine that it was surreal.

Someone coughed, causing me to snap the f*ck round and flick my head toward the line of trees. “Come with me,” I ordered. Asher’s eyes grew wide.

I didn’t wait for him to get up. Instead I took a swig of my beer and pounded through the circle of club * hanging around and onto the raised verge. From up here you could see right over the forest surrounding the compound and out to the empty acres beyond.

I heard the shuffling of Asher’s boots first, then his deep breathing. Without looking back, I flicked my hand. “Sit down.”

I counted six seconds until he dropped beside me. Not too close, sitting about a foot away. And he didn’t say shit to me, just sat there, head hanging low, eyes to the ground.

I pictured Maddie and me in that f*cking church. And I told myself that this kid, my blood, wasn’t going anywhere. That he was here to stay and that I wouldn’t f*cking hurt him. I thought it, tried to get it through my head, but it was real f*cking hard to believe.

Taking another swig of my Bud, I lowered the bottle and asked, “You doing good?”

Asher tensed, then nodded his head. “Yeah.”

I blinked, trying to think what to say next, when I asked, “AK treating you good?”