Page 78 of The Golden Boys
When I repeat his response, he chuffs a quiet laugh before lowering his gaze again.
“Mike been staying in line?”
The question brings an eye roll out of me. “Mike is Mike.”
Hunter nods knowingly. “Sounds about right.”
Turning to peer over his shoulder, he makes eye contact with the guard who brought him to me, then scoots to the edge of his seat when he faces me again.
“Listen, Blue-Jay, there’s something I need to tell you, and I know you’re gonna be pissed, but you can’t react by asking a shit-ton of questions, okay?”
I’m reluctant, but I nod. “What is it?”
He does that shady glance over his shoulder a second time before I have his attention again.
“You have to be careful out there. I mean, lock the windows and doors behind you, keep an eye out for strange vehicles following you a little too long, people walking up on you in the street.”
My brow furrows and I quickly disregard his wishes to question him. “What are you talking about? Who wants to hurt us? Why would someone—”
“You gave me your word you wouldn’t ask,” he cuts in.
“Well, I’m sorry, but that wasbeforeyou made the job of looking after Scar a million times harder,” I shout, earning the attention of those seated at the tables around us.
Hunter gives a discreet glance sideways. “Don’t make a scene,” he whispers.
“Are you kidding me?” I’m still a little too loud, but it can’t be helped.
He reaches for my hands to calm me, but quickly draws back when he remembers that’s not allowed.
“Blue, I just … I know everything’s on you right now. I know Mom took off. I know Mike is more of a burden than a help. Trust me, I beat myself up about leaving you to hold everything down every day I wake up in this damn place. But I just need you to trust me,” he pleads. “I hate that the shit I’ve done always seems to hurt the only two people in the world I owe anything, but what’s done is done. Now, all I can do is protect you as best as I can from in here.”
I stare at him with burning eyes and tear-blurred vision. How dare he drag me here to dump even more responsibility on my shoulders, and not even tell me why.
When I stand, he forgets about the boundaries and takes my wrist.
“Riley,” one of the guards calls out, causing Hunter to release me abruptly. There’s so much frustration pent up inside him, but he’s trying to contain it. Trying to keep his cool.
“Blue, I just … I know you hate me right now, and you have every right to, but all I ask is that you watch your back.”
I stare down on him while he sits there, red in the face and fighting tears.
“Is it her family?” I finally manage to ask.
We don’t talk about her ever—the girl whose life he took—but it looks like we’ve run out of options. His eyes slam shut when I fold both arms across my chest.
“Answer me,” I seethe. “This is about Robyn, isn’t it?”
He winces when I speak her name aloud. “It’s not that simple, Blue. I—”
“I shouldn’t have come here.” The words leave my mouth at the precise moment the realization occurs to me.
“Blue!”
I don’t turn because I’m barely even able to walk right now. Everything hurts, inside and out. Life just keeps throwing me one hard blow after another and I’m not sure how much more I can take. As I put distance between my brother and me, I feel more fragile than I’ve felt in a long time. And if I’m going to keep from folding under the pressure, something has to give.
Fast.
Chapter 26