Page 114 of Five Brothers

Asshole.

I spin around and head inside, throwing my shoes into the living room as I search for a phone. Mine is still in my car, but one of them always seems to leave one behind in the house. I rummage through the living room, checking chargers, and then into the kitchen, but the light over the stove and the one in the hallway bathroom suddenly go out. I look around for any other sign of light.

The electricity has died. I look outside the living room window, seeing that the lights on the street and the ones across the road are dark, as well.

“Krisjen!” Army shouts. “Check the breakers!”

Nope.I don’t live here.

I find a lighter and flick it to life as I head around the pot of water on the kitchen table that’s filling up from the leak in the roof.I walk upstairs instead, going for Iron’s phone, which is probably still in his room. He couldn’t take it to prison.

I stalk down the hall, his door dead ahead, but a sound hits my ears, and then I notice something under my feet.

I lower the flame and see water on the floor.

What the hell?

I hold the flame above my head, but I don’t see any leakage from above.

And then I hear the sound again. The crying.

Dex.

Peeking my head into Army’s room, I see Dex standing in his crib and walk over, making sure he’s okay. I touch his head full of straight brown hair and feel his pajamas, making sure everything is dry.

I caress his little cheek. “I’ll get you something to drink, buddy.”

Leaving his door open, I grab towels from the closet in the hallway and lay them over the water.

Then I notice where it’s coming from. I walk toward the bathroom, my feet stepping on the stream that flows out from under the door.

I hesitate a moment, knowing something’s not right.

I push it open.

Macon sits on the floor, his back against the tub, and the sink is lying on the tile. Water from the broken main gushes out of the pipe, and I can smell the vomit. My stomach coils. What happened?

He has one knee propped up, his arm resting over it, and his head turned away. I drop down in front of him, checking for blood or any sign of a broken bone.

He just sits there, though. Eyes open. Calm breathing. “Krisjen!” Army calls for me.

I don’t move.

A cup from the sink rolls over the water, and I pick it up, holdingit under the stream spilling from the pipe. I fill it and then twist the valve, shutting off the water. I set the cup and a clean hand towel on the little table next to the tub.

I breathe hard, taking his face and trying to turn it toward me, but he gently jerks away.

I lean in, smelling him. I don’t think he’s been drinking.

What the hell happened? Did he do this?

I feel him watching me, and I look up. “What happened?” I ask in a whisper. “Are you hurt?”

He doesn’t reply.

“What can I do?”

“Leave.”