I rolled my eyes as my attention drifted to our older brother, Trent, who was smirking behind him.
And there was Trent’s son, Gage, jumping at his father’s side, all kinds of hope and light and every-fucking-thing that was right in this world.
Took a beat just to take in this messed up, beautiful family.
Our scars went deep.
Were ugly and brutal.
But here we were, forever fighting for the other.
“You’re gonna give him a one, two, three, kapow, right, Uncle Jud, right?!” Gage tossed his little fist forward and gave a good kick, giggling the whole time. My sweet nephew who nearly slayed me every time I looked at his adorable face. Kid too much. Had so much love for him, it hurt.
“That’s right, Gage in the Cage,” I told him, and the kid came barreling my way the second I said it.
Affection pushed hard at my ribs. Didn’t matter how many times I met him this way, the loss still screamed.
Begging to be filled.
I caught him just as he was throwing himself at me, and I tossed him onto my back the way I always did. I spun him around, pretending like we were in the ring.
“What? You think you’re gonna pile drive me! I won’t even let you, Uncle.” My favorite little wrestler scrambled around, locking his tiny arms around my neck like he was going to choke me out. “You might be big as a monster, Uncle, but I’m as wily as a coyote. You won’t even know what hit you.”
I was holding my laughter, and Trent rested back against the worktable, his arms crossed over his chest and his booted feet crossed at the ankles.
A chuckle rode from his mouth. “Pains me to admit it, but for once, Logan is right. We’ve been standing back here waiting on you for the last ten minutes. You didn’t even notice we were here. Now that is the shit that’s not safe.”
I glanced at the huge clock mounted on the wall while Gage kept trying to take me down.
“Sorry, lost track of time.” Honestly, I’d forgotten we’d planned a family meeting this afternoon. Had to blame it on my thoughts getting tied up on things they shouldn’t.
“No shit.” Trent grinned.
Gage slowed his attack, staring over at his father.
“Sheesh, Dad, doncha know you’re gonna get in trouble saying those kinda words? And trouble is really bad. Have you learned nothin’ yet? We have to get all the A’s and you keep gettin’ the F’s.” Could feel Gage shaking his head in stark disappointment.
Laughing, I flipped Gage off my back, kid squealing like mad as I set him onto his feet.
I straightened to Logan tossing me one of his smirks. “Think it’s your uncle Jud here who is getting the F’s, oh young Gage.”
Asshole widened his eyes at me like he was vexed.
“Here I was, just rolling in to remind him of our meeting, and he goes threatening me. Why so violent?” Logan blinked, his head barely shaking.
Dude was a nut.
Constantly goofing and throwing barbs.
Arrogant as fuck.
Still, he was good, through and through. It was the only reason I let him get away with that shit.
His hair was as black as the night, same as mine and Trent’s, but where Trent and I had eyes that were so dark they were basically coal, his were these sparkling emeralds that forever glinted with a tease.
My heart tweaked at the sight.
He favored our mom so much that sometimes it stung to look at him.
Dude stuck out in both the club and the shop considering the asshole might as well have been an Armani model, wearing his tailored suits and driving his flashy car.
A scoff rolled up my throat. “If I wanted to hurt you, you’d be hurt.”
“Can you believe this guy?” Logan hooked a thumb at me while talking to Gage. “Grizzly, I tell you.”
Gage cracked up. “Like a bear? He sure has enough hair.”
Sound that left me was close to a growl.
“Did you hear that, Gage? Proof. Right there.” Logan pointed at me.
I smacked his finger out of my face. “You point that finger at me again, and you’re going to lose it.” Warned it like he was a little kid, but hell, since he acted like one half the time, that’s what he got. Funny, considering he ran stocks and was fuckin’ flush. Smarts for days yet as heedless as they came.
Dude was a walking, talking mindfuck.
“Jud, man, come on. Lighten up. I’m just playing with you. And here I thought this one over here was the funsucker.” He tossed a mocking jab to Trent’s upper arm. “All thanks to pretty little Eden. Remind me I owe her.”
“Oh, oh, now that he’s gettin’ some, he doesn’t have to be such a d-i-c-k anymore, right, Uncle Logan, right?”
Little Gage was grinning way too big, and I was shaking my head. We were going to have to watch it. Kid was getting way too clever, and I was pretty sure one day he was going to surprise us by knowing exactly what we were talking about.