“Not yet. I don’t know how things will go and I don’t want to piss him off anymore than I already have.”
“Kat, you’ve got to stop doing that. Your feelings are valid. You’re entitled to feel how you feel.”
“I know. But I didn’t handle it well.”
“Diesel loves you, Kat. You’re his sister, his blood. He’s hated me for a long time, but when he didn’t know how to help you, he did the one thing he didn’t want to. He came to me. Do you really think he would have done that if he didn’t love you?”
Emotion swells inside me as I drop my gaze. But Styx is there, sliding his fingers under my jaw and tilting my face back to his.
“You know I love you, baby girl. Fuck knows I shouldn’t but I do. I’m done fighting it. I’m done pretending that me, you and Ryder aren’t exactly where we’re supposed to be. I’m in. All fucking in. And whatever happens with Diesel or your mom won’t change that.”
The brush of his thumb across my cheek sends a shiver through me.
“You’ve got this.”
“Yeah, okay.” I nod, my stomach churning.
But he’s right. I want to move forward. And I can. With Styx and Ryder by my side, I can face whatever life throws at me.
Hand in hand, we leave the building and find Diesel sitting on a bench surrounded by a small flower bed.
“I’ll wait in the car with Ry, okay?”
“Okay.”
He kisses me. Slow and sweet as if my brother isn’t sitting right there. But it’s exactly what I need.
Diesel clears his throat and Styx chuckles. “Get used to it, asshole.” He stalks off, leaving me with my brother.
The air crackles between us as I move to the bench and sit.
“Hi,” I whisper.
“Hi.”
“It’s really fucking good to see you, Kat.”
“I’m sorry, D. I’m so—”
“No, we’re not doing that. We both said things. Things I’m not proud of.” He trails off, heavy silence settling between us.
“Mom’s room is nice,” I blurt out, hating the distance between us.
“Yeah, I think she’ll be happy here. Comfortable. They can give her the care she needs.”
“It’s weird, I always knew this day would come but I never… Thank you, D. For always being there for her. For both of us. I don’t think I tell you that enough.”
“Because you’re a pain in my ass, Kat.”
“I’m done with all that,” I say, meaning it.
“Because of Johnson?”
“He made me realize some things, yeah. He’s a good man, D.”
“He is.” He runs a hand over his jaw. “I forgot that along the way.”
“Thank you… for asking him to come for me. I’m not sure anyone else would have been able to pull me out,” I admit, unable to meet his eyes.