Page 11 of Savage Monster

He snickered. “You mean from the thousand and one times you called me?”

I rolled my eyes.

He nodded. “Yeah, I have it. I’ll call you if I need you. I promise.”

Sighing, I released him, dropping my arm back to my side. Dad pressed his hand to Korain’s upper back. They were almost to the door when Pops stopped Dad. He gripped a handful of hair at the back of Dad’s scalp and crushed their mouths together in a kiss that wasdefinitelyinappropriate, especially in front of their kids. I grimaced.

“Fucking gross,” I muttered.

“Like we didn’t just watch you play tongue hockey with your little boyfriend,” Sabbath muttered. I sneered at him. He dropped into the recliner and pulled his feet up, crossing his legs. Waving his hand at the bloody living room floor, hesmirked. “Well? Get to cleaning, Onyx. This is your mess, after all. We just brought the supplies.”

I scowled at him. “Fuck you.”

“All of you get to cleaning,” Pops snapped. He looked at Sabbath. “And you stop egging them on unless you want to help.”

Fucking baby.

Sabbath huffed but kept his mouth shut. Ike stuck out his tongue at Sabbath, earning a scowl from our little brother. Pops pointed a finger at Ike. “Stop egging him on, Ike. I swear, you all are fucking toddlers.”

Rolling my eyes, I headed over to the front door where all the cleaning supplies I needed were sitting. Vargas came up beside me and roughly elbowed my side, a teasing smirk tilting his lips. I grunted.

“So, is his mouth as good as it looks?” he asked.

I pushed him hard enough to knock him on his ass.

“I’m going to shove my knife in your throat, too, if you don’t fuck off somewhere,” I growled.

“Enough!” Pops barked, his patience gone. We immediately went silent. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “JesusfuckingChrist,” he growled before stomping off to the back porch, his phone in his hand.

“Look what you did,” Sabbath grumbled. “Now, he’s going to be a dick all day.”

“Not once Dad gets his hands on him,” Wraith said. We all grimaced.

“Seriously?” Sabbath groaned, glaring at our brother. “I think I need bleach for my brain.”

The house was quiet when I got to Dad and Pops’s place, though the lights were on. My brothers headed upstairs to their rooms to shower and change, and I went in search of my boy. It wasn’t hard to find him. He was on the back patio with Dad. Both of them were sipping from mugs of coffee, and they had turned on the TV behind the bar, their eyes glued to whatever adult cartoon was on.

“Hey,” Korain breathed, turning to look at me when he noticed my presence. Dad muted the TV and turned to look at me, as well.

“Hey, yourself.” I looked at Dad. “Pops is heading for the shower, I think.” He got up without a word. I looked at Korain. “Wanna come upstairs with me?”

“Hold on.” I glanced behind me at Pops, who was stepping outside. He wrapped an arm around Dad’s neck when he reached him, and both of them looked at us as Korain stood, coming to stand beside me. Sensing his trepidation, I grabbed his hand, linking our fingers together. Pops looked at Korain. “You’re family now, Korain. And we protect family.”

I could sense the but in there, and I clenched my jaw.

“But if you betray this family,” Pops continued, “we will do what’s needed to protect ourselves.”

“Pops—” I growled, taking a step in front of Korain. I’d kill him before he ever hurt my boy.

Pops held up his hand. “I’m not threatening him. I’m reminding him of his place. He has a home here—and family if he wants it. But I will not let him bring harm upon you, your brothers, or your dad.”

“Sir—”

“Winston,” Pops corrected Korain.

Korain cleared his throat. “Um, Winston, I don’t have any urge to do anything that would harm you guys.” He looked up at me then, nervousness shining in his eyes. “I… I think I love Onyx. And I don’t want to be without him.”

Dad sighed, a small smile tilting his lips. “You do know my son may never be capable of loving you back?”