***Simi***

The rumble of bikes makes me run to the door. Opening up, I see the guys getting off while my brother parks his truck and gets out. Sico steps toward me and holds out his arms. Not even thinking, I rush forward and launch myself at him. He grunts but doesn’t so much as step back to balance himself. That’s my man, solid muscle.

“I missed you. Dammit. Gone all day with everybody. Why wasn’t I allowed to go with you, huh?” I grumble somewhat frustrated and yet I don’t want to complain because here he is...holding me. He held out his damn arms for me to jump in.

“Sorry, beautiful. From now on you’ll be right there with me, whatever and whenever, okay?” he promises me.

“Hey, you two, can I hug my sister for a moment? I need to head out because I have an early day at the shop tomorrow. Blue and I need to work because we don’t have a game room to decorate, you know?” Brandlee chuckles.

Sico kisses my temple and lets me slide out of his arms. Brandlee doesn’t wait but wraps me in a bear hug while taking advantage to whisper in my ear. “He’s a good guy, sis. Grab that sucker by the balls and don’t let go.”

“Jesus, Lee,” I choke.

“No joke, Everleigh. I gave him my blessing so take his ring when he asks. I assure you he’s more man than anyone. I admire that fucker...no shit, sis...that fucker will raise hell for you and will come out dragging the devil himself behind him. I can’t think of any man that would be more worthy.”

I pull back and look into my brother’s eyes. “Why the fuck are you getting all sentimental and weird on me? Did ya’ll go on some kind of team building survival shit or something?”

“Or something.” My brother chuckles.

“Well, next time I’m coming too so we can skip this weirdness.” I fake glare at my brother but he just hugs me tight again before giving me a kiss on the top of my head.

“See ya later, sis.” My brother punches Sico in the shoulder who slaps him on his. “Later, dude.”

“Night, Lee.” I give Brandlee one final wave before his truck disappears around the corner.

I watch how everyone says goodnight, C.Rash coming out of the house and getting his keys from Sico before he too leaves. Calix, me, and Sico stroll back into the house.

Ransom is watching TV when Calix taps him on the shoulder. “Can you stay up? I’m beat and would like to get a few hours of shuteye.”

“Sure, I’m good. Take the whole night. If something’s up I’ll wake ya, ‘kay?” Ransom waits for Calix’s nod before the TV gets his full attention again.

Sico laces his fingers with mine and pulls me toward the stairs. “Come on. I need a shower and you’re keeping me company.”

Okay then, no point in arguing with that. I let him take lead and after a long, and extremely hot shower and by this I’m not talking about the temperature of the water, we finally make it into bed. Snuggling close, we both revel in the comfort we’re giving each other while drifting off to sleep.

Loud knocking draws me out of my sleep. I hear Sico groan just before the bedroom door barges open, Calix is standing there with a hard look on his face. “Both of you get dressed and ready to go within five minutes.” He spins around and closes the door behind him.

Sico jumps out of bed and starts to get dressed. My mind is still trying to play catch-up when Sico urges, “Come on, Simi, get dressed, now. Something is going down, come on. Calix never messes around. Never. Whatever it is, it won’t be good.”

Sico grabs his gun and straps a knife to his ankle. His words make me jump out of bed and grab clothes, dressing with lightning speed. I’m rushing down the stairs right behind Sico but when we get to the living room and see the look on Ransom’s face, fear hits me hard. Pity. He’s looking as if he’s feeling so damn sorry for me. Why?

“What is it?” I whisper.

“Can you please sit down first, Everleigh?” Calix says in a soothing tone.

“No,” I snap. “Tell me, dammit. What the hell is going on?”

“I’m sorry, Everleigh. So, fucking sorry to tell you that your brother died a little over an hour ago.” Calix’s words enter my ears, flow through my brain, and yet don’t make any sense.

“No,” I tell him. “You’re full of bullshit. He’s at work, I just saw him yesterday, he’s at fucking work. He has to be, he is.”

Sico puts his arms around me but I shove him away. “Don’t touch me,” I seethe and turn my attention back to Calix while I grab my phone from the table. “I’ll call him and then your sick and twisted story will backfire because he always answers.”

I punch speed dial and wait for my brother to pick up. I wait and wait till it goes straight to voicemail. I hit redial and wait...he’s not answering. “That doesn’t mean shit,” I growl at the faces who are all looking at me with guarded expressions.

“What happened?” Sico asks Calix.

“We’re guessing the Cape Town crew threw a grenade similar to what they used on Pokey’s house. Remember how it trashed the living room but didn’t do extensive damage? Yeah...Blue and,”

I gasp. Oh God, Blue...she’s pregnant with twins...oh God.

Calix clears his throat. “And someone threw the grenade inside when Brandlee just opened the shop. Blue was in the back along with Brandlee. Blue didn’t know what was happening until Brandlee lunged for her and brought them to the ground. He threw himself over her and that right there saved Blue...but...there was a piece that sliced through his jugular. Other shit lodged in his back. If it wasn’t for him...Blue, hell, even the fucking unborn twins would have died.”

Calix looks right at me when he says, “He’s had my respect for years. A fucking good guy. I’m proud to have known the man. Your brother died a damn hero, Everleigh.”

Again, his words reach me and yet they don’t process. Total numbness takes over as I drag myself toward a chair and fall into it, staring at the ceiling while my thoughts show me a picture of my brother...my brother who I’ve just been told isn’t alive anymore. I’m trying to get a grasp on the situation, on my feelings, but I can’t.

Time seems to merge together, numbing me. I’m being guided out of the house in a truck. As I’m looking out the window at the blur of colors that flash by, everything is meaningless. I feel like my lungs have shrunk, I can’t seem to get enough air inside me.

It’s unrealistic and yet here I am, about an hour after I’ve been told. I’m staring down at his body. Sico is behind me with his arms wrapped around me, and in this moment, I lean on his strength to pull me through.

I should blame him, should think it’s his fault for pulling the Cape Town crew’s attention on to us, except the reality is that he was already connected with Areion Fury. And besides, why should the blame be placed on someone who didn’t pull the pin from the grenade? Someone who didn’t throw the grenade, or didn’t order this, didn’t want this in any way.

In the end? Nothing matters, because I’m here staring at my brother’s lifeless body. Nothing will ever change that. I want to cry so bad and yet my eyes and cheeks are dry. I feel empty and lost. No family left, it’s just me now. Brandlee has always been there for me, even when I closed myself off after what happened to me because of my ex, I pushed him away but he wouldn’t let me. He even dragged me back to him, to move and work at his tattoo shop. Work...his store...everything is lost. Like me.

“Come on, sweetheart, let’s go.” Sico’s soft voice flows through the cold room as he starts to guide me out.

I don’t want to leave. If I leave, then it’s final. I will never see him again and yet I know he won’t ever be there for me to talk to, to laugh, to punch his shoulder if he’s being an idiot. My brother...He’s gone. He’s...

“Noooooo,” I scream.

Sico’s arms tighten around me as I fight with all that I have.