Page 13 of Sleeping with the Dark (The Righteous 3)
“Look, why don’t we just all calm down and talk about this?” Arek tried for referee status.
“Fuck you,” Trev yelled, and Arek took a step back. Those livid eyes found Cody once more. “I don’t need help from anyone, least of all from a common thug with no training.”
“A common thug? I am not a fucking thug.” Cody balled his fists.
“You were second in command to the leader of a gang. What would you call it?”
Arek’s eyes darted between the two men squaring off and didn’t know how to diffuse this situation. It was normally him getting into fights and Trev talking him off the ledge. He really didn’t like being on this side of the coin.
“You bloody well know I was trapped in that hell with Tyson. I can’t even believe you’d say that to me after everything I shared with you.” Cody clenched his fists, the muscles around his neck flexing as he did. “I suffered abuse you can only imagine, but I had dreams, you know. I had aspirations to do something great with my life, and I tossed it all away to be that sadistic fucker’s second in command for my sister’s sake.”
A soft sob sound came from Renee’s mouth, tears shimmering in her eyes as she covered her mouth. “Shit, Sis, I didn’t mean it like that.” Renee took off out of the room, and Cody was hot on her heels, calling out her name.
Arek closed the door, making a soft thud as it closed into place. He slowly turned to face off with his fuming brother. “And here we thought I was the one bad with relationships. I’m no expert but, I’m pretty sure you’re screwing this one up.”
“How many times do I have to tell you I don’t want a fucking relationship? Just because you’ve decided to play house does not mean I have to as well.” Trev took another swig from the bottle, and Arek watched as he chugged, a dribble escaping the corner of his mouth.
“You know I’d almost believe you if you weren’t so worked up. You’d only be this hot under the collar if he meant something to you, if you were worried.” Trev turned away with an annoyed get lost whisper under his breath. “Fuck Trev, Cody is not Mel.”
“Don’t you mention her name,” Trev spun and pointed the quickly emptying bottle at Arek. “Don’t you ever say her name to me again.”
“Or what? You gonna try and take me on? You know I’ll beat your ass. You’re out of shape.”
Trev snorted a short, bitter sound, but his eyes softened. “Have I ever mentioned I do not like it when you’re right?”
“Don’t worry, it doesn’t happen often.” Arek smiled and held out his hand for the bottle. “Mel was always a go-getter. Even when we were kids, she was jumping out of trees and swimming in dangerous waters. What happened to her was not your fault, she knew what she was getting into. You must know that.”
Trev sat down at his desk and took off the black ball cap—he ran his hand through his hair a number of times before his eyes lifted to meet Arek’s.
“I never should’ve been assigned to that mission, and she never should’ve been under my command. She never should’ve been there, I shouldn’t have chosen her for the team.” Trev stopped and held his head in his hands as his elbows found the desk. “She was my responsibility. It was my job to make sure she was safe, and I failed. I allowed emotion to get involved, and it got her killed. Those are the facts.”
Arek stood silently until his brother finally looked up at him. He took a deep breath and sat down. Neither of them needed to say anything to understand the ghosts that were laid bare in their eyes.
“Trev, you never said anything to me, and I didn’t ask, but I think I need to know. Did you love her? I know you to were shacking up, you had been for years, but I always assumed it was like a fuck friends kind of thing. Was it more than that?” Arek asked, and a shadow crossed Trev’s face.
Trev’s shoulders sagged, and Arek had never seen his brother so defeated. “I did, or at least I thought I did. How am I supposed to know? How can someone claim to love another and then put them in harm's way?” Rubbing his eyes, Arek kept quiet, waiting for Trev to continue. “I miss her every fucking day. Is that how it is for you? I mean, how did you know you were in love with Renee?”
Arek sighed as he tried to put what he felt into words. “I craved her, needed to see her, touch her, taste her, but more than that, I could picture a future with her. She is to me as that painting you love so much is to you.” Arek nodded toward the wall.
“She is your ‘Woman with a Parasol.’” The look Trev gave him was a cross between disbelief and impressed. “Well then, Mr. Parasol, you better go speak to Renee.”
“Nah, I will let them work that shit out, I have no interest in being in the middle of that convo. Besides, I have my own family drama to worry about. Sorry, you’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
Trev laughed, a short burst of amusement. “Too transparent, was I? Does this mean I’m the dramatic one now? How times have changed.”
“Tell me about it. I’m like a domesticated house cat now.” Arek smiled at his brother. “Well, as domesticated as I get anyway.” The snort from his brother made him laugh. “So, what were you up to anyway?”
“Nothing for you to worry yourself about.”
“You plan on shutting me out?” Arek grabbed the bottle off the desk and took a gulp. He smacked his lips and looked at the brand. Nope, this shit still tasted better with salt and lemon.
“No, I would never cut you out, but you were right. You do need to spend this time with Renee. Enjoy all the miracles you can because you never know when they will be gone.” Trev swiped at the blackout on his face and then stared at his fingers as he rubbed them together. Arek watched his brother closely. There was something that just wasn’t right. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but his twin sense was telling him that Trev was off his game.
“Arek, at some point, I’m going to need you, but tonight was not that night. I will ask that you not worry about what I’m up to. You know I can take care of myself.”
“Brother, it’s not whether you can take care of yourself that worries me.” Arek stared at his brother. He couldn’t have asked for a better man to be by his side from the moment they came into this world. Trev had been taking punches for him, covering for him, and emotionally propping him up for his entire life, but at what personal cost? What had his selfish, needy behavior cost Trev?
“You need to apologize to Cody.”
