Page 51 of Ravaged By the Dark

“Trev is actually a marshmallow. He’s just protective, always has been. The two of you have that in common. If anyone threatened J.J., you would do whatever you could to protect him. Trev has the same instincts, and as long as you understand that, you understand him.” Renee nodded but didn’t say any more.

Arek stopped at the first door and flicked on the room’s light. “This will be J.J.’s room. Did you want to get him settled, and then I can show you to your room?”

“Arek, this room is bigger than my entire house. The two of us can stay in here together.”

“I’d really like to speak with you privately,” Arek said as he sat the large tiger beside the bed. He knelt down in front of J.J., who had been very quiet during the whole ordeal. At the house, Renee packed him a bag, and he didn’t complain. And then, in the car, he stared out the window, not saying a word.

“Do you mind if I steal your sister for a little while,” he asked J.J. He had to give the kid credit—he was brave for such a young age. He walked over and wrapped his arms around his neck. Arek returned the hug, not sure what prompted this affection. He’d figured that he would be terrified of him now after seeing that fight with Cody.

“You’ll keep Nae Nae safe from the monsters now?” J.J. leaned back, his eyes way wiser than a four-year-old’s should be. Arek’s heart melted into a puddle of goo.

“Yeah, little man, you’ve done a great job, but I think it’s time you were just a kid for a bit, and I’ll take over looking out for your sister. You okay with that?”

J.J. crossed his arms over his chest, his brow furrowed. Arek had to bite back his smile at the tough impression. J.J. touched the bruise on the side of his face.

“Tyson mean. He wants to hurt Nae Nae. He sneaks into the house to watch her sleep. I’m sorry I didn’t get him to leave.”

A sharp intake of air came from Renee, and he looked over J.J.’s shoulder to see the shock and terror in her eyes. Renee looked like she’d had one too many shocks tonight.

“Yeah, he is really mean. Did he sneak in a lot?” Arek prompted. J.J. lifted a shoulder. “Like, did he sneak in every night or just once and a while?” Not that either of those options made Arek feel any better.

“I don’t know. He did come visit more when mommy was there. He would sneak in her room when it was late, and they had sex.” Arek’s eyes went wide, and Renee looked like she might faint.

“How do you know what sex is, J.J.?” He was terrified for this answer.

His small shoulders straightened, and he smiled.

“I watch the Discovery channel. I learn a lot.” Arek bit his lip and tried not to laugh but also breathed a sigh of relief. “Tyson made Cody mean.”

“You remember Cody?” Arek heard Renee’s voice wavering.

J.J. nodded his head up and down.

“I don’t like him now. He left us. Mommy said he left ‘cause he didn’t like us no more.”

J.J looked down at his feet, and Arek looked up to Renee, who had tears shimmering in her eyes.

“J.J., I think your brother is pretending to be mean. You know how you pretend to be a race car driver?” J.J. nodded. “Well, he’s playing a part too. I know this is hard to understand, but Cody loves you and your sister, and he never wanted to leave, but Tyson forced him to.”

Arek couldn’t believe he was having this conversation or that he was defending Cody, but his sad brown eyes compelled him to try and make J.J. feel better. It was obvious this kid took a lot more in than anyone gave him credit for—he was a smart little dude.

“Did Tyson make mommy leave? Is she pretending?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t have an answer to that, J.J.”

The kid sighed like all the world’s problems weighed on his shoulders. “I’m not big.” J.J. looked over his shoulder at Renee, who was trying hard not to cry. “But I’m scared for my sister.” J.J. took a deep breath. “Okay, you look after Nae Nae. I’m sleepy.” J.J. walked away and crawled up onto the bed. Arek pulled the covers down and tucked him in tight, and it felt like the most normal thing in the world.

“If you need anything, just call my name, and I will come running. Here, I picked this up for you the other day.” Arek grabbed a smaller version of the stuffed tiger off the dresser and held it out to J.J. He smiled, taking the offering and hugging it tight to his chest. Arek flicked on the lamp on the bedside table before making his way to Renee and guiding her out to the hallway.

“Arek?” J.J. called out, and he turned to stare at the small boy.

“Yeah, J.J.?”

“Will you be my daddy now?”

“I…I ah…” Arek looked down at Renee for help, unsure how to answer this particular question.

“Arek is my really good friend, and he is more like a really protective older brother,” Renee offered.