Brotherhood

ARDEN

“Holy shit, Rain’s house is…incredible,” Arden exclaims, his eyes nearly popping out of his head as he takes in the towering gray structure. Aiden is just as awestruck, his gaze fixed on the modern architecture.

“Told you so.” Alex grins, holding out his hand to Arden. “Pay up. You said if it was as big as I claimed, you’d owe me fifty.”

“Can you three idiots get a move on?”

Alaric grumbles, leaning against his car. He’s supposed to be at work, but he wanted to swing by and check on Rain.

They’d heard she was sick and thought it would be a good idea to show some concern by visiting her in person.

“Dude, I’ll pay you after school. Go knock on the door before Alaric loses his patience.”

“You better pay up, Arden, or I’ll kill you.” Alex makes a V with his fingers, points it at his own eyes, then at Arden, who playfully kicks him in the butt and shoves him toward the door.

“Get a move on, dumbass.”

He rubs his backside as he knocks on the door a few times. When no one answers, he looks at Aiden, puzzled. “Maybe they left already.”

“No way. An would have told us.”

“Yeah, but I’ve been trying to call him all morning. It keeps going straight to voice mail. His battery must be dead or something.”

Aiden scratches his forehead. “Just try again.”

Alex knocks again, then Aiden balls up a fist and follows suit. Finally, they hear footsteps approaching the door, and Aiden steps back, shrugging his shoulders smugly.

“You weren’t knocking hard enough, baby-knuckles,” he teases.

Alex gives his brother a flat look, his eyelids drooping. “That was so fucking lame, dude. Your jokes are always lame. You should just stop trying.”

“Can I help you boys?” Jeff now stands at the door, arms crossed over his chest as his eyes scan the brothers.

Alex quickly looks at the man, then glances over his shoulder. “Yeah, sir. Good morning. Is Rain here?”

Jeff narrows his eyes, a clear look of annoyance on his face. “And what do you want with Rain?”

He reaches out to grip the doorknob, making it clear he doesn’t plan on chatting with these boys for long.

“We just need to see her, that’s all.” Arden shrugs, shoving his hands in his pockets.

Jeff gives them a judgmental look, taking in their clothes from head to toe. His eyes drift to the gates, where Alaric leans against his Chevelle, casually smoking a cigarette.

He rolls his eyes. “I suggest you boys get off my damn property.” He starts to close the door, but Aiden stops it with his hand, sighing apologetically.

“Wait. We’re sorry if we’re bothering you, but Rain is important to us, and we just want to check on her.

“We brought a few things for her too. So if you could let her know we’re here, we’d really appreciate it.”

Arden and Alex dramatically gape at their brother, and Aiden looks at them, confused. “What?”

“You sounded so smart.” Arden gapes.

“Yeah,” Alex agrees. “Like, you spoke a whole paragraph without swearing.”

Aiden smirks confidently. “Well…”

“Don’t waste my fucking time, you bunch of delinquent assholes. Leave my house, or I’ll call the damn police,” Jeff threatens, pulling the door shut again. But this time Alex blocks it with his foot.

“Whoa, short fuse much? Look, we don’t want any trouble. But slamming a door in our faces is asking for it, sir.”

“Are you her uncle?” Arden asks. “Where did you get this rude gene from? Rain is sweet. But you? You’re something else, mister.”

“Uncle?” Alex scoffs. “Definitely not. I think Ansel told me that he’s her mom’s boyfriend. But someone’s a little too possessive for his own good.”

Aiden sighs. “We don’t want to waste your time. But if you don’t let us see Rain, we might just have to hang out here all morning. Would you like that?”

“We could even throw a party out here if you want,” Arden teases, spreading his arms wide. “Got any beers in there? No? Well, soft drinks are fine too.”

“She already left for school, so don’t waste your time here,” Jeff states, his jaw clenching.

Suddenly, Ansel and Rainey start coming down the stairs, and the sound of their footsteps catches everyone’s attention.

Jeff narrows his eyes at the scene, a muscle twitching in his face as he watches them with a villainous glare.

Aiden smirks, tilting his head as he looks at Jeff. “Well, look at that. Turns out he’s not only weirdly possessive, but he’s a liar too.”

“Qualities of an asshole,” Arden mutters under his breath.

ANSEL

My brothers have a special fondness for Rain. When they told me yesterday that they would stop by to check on her today, I thought they were just bluffing.

But seeing them here, I realize they genuinely care about her.

Jeff looks furious as he stands off to the side, his eyes boring into mine with a malicious glare.

He hates the fact that I spent the night in Rain’s room. And knowing this, I can’t help but smirk.

A muscle twitches in his face as I shift my gaze from him to my brothers.

“I thought you guys were already at school.” I wave to Alaric, who is leaning against his car with a cigarette between his lips.

“No, we needed to see Rain before we left,” Alex says. “Plus, Ma gave us something for her.”

Rainey’s smile is genuine, her face lighting up with gratitude. “Thanks for coming, guys. I really appreciate it.”

“How are you doing?” Arden asks her.

“Yeah, when I heard you were sick yesterday, I couldn’t sleep all night.” Aiden grins, leaning against the doorframe.

Arden rolls his eyes. “Don’t listen to him, Rain. This jerk slept like a baby last night.”

Aiden shoots him a glare, and Rainey starts to laugh. I watch her, filled with admiration. Her laughter is beautiful, better than any music I’ve ever heard.

The sound of an engine pulls everyone’s attention as a sleek, black BMW pulls up behind Alaric’s car.

A man with brown hair, dressed in a jersey and pants, steps out of the car.

From where I’m standing, I can see him sizing up Alaric from head to toe, a look of disdain on his face as he walks past him.

Alaric just smirks, then takes a drag from his cigarette. He doesn’t care what others think of him.

The man shoves his hands in his pockets as he walks up the driveway. “Who are these guys, Jeff? You throwing a party or something?”

I hear a soft sigh from Rain, and I glance at her. Her expression is troubled. Whoever this guy is, she doesn’t like him.

I lean down to her ear. “Who’s that?”

She sighs, wrapping her arms around herself. “Jeff’s friend,” she whispers, staring at the ground. “Greg Taylor.”

The name rings a bell, and I frown as I look back at the man.

Greg Taylor. Jeff’s accomplice in the assault of that thirteen-year-old girl in 2006.

“Party?” Jeff scoffs. “These people are about to get off my property, because I’m calling the damn police.”

Jeff goes back inside, and Greg glares at the boys, who are staring back at him with equal dislike.

One thing I know for sure is that my brothers can sense bad vibes, and Greg Taylor is radiating them.

His eyes land on Rain, and a clear look of lust flickers in them. “Rainey. Thought you left for school already. I’m glad I got to see you.”

She flinches as he reaches out to touch her, but I grab his wrist to stop him, glaring at his audacity.

“What do you think you’re doing, Greg Taylor?”

His eyes drop to my hand around his, and he smirks, sliding his free hand in his pocket. “And you are?”

“Her boyfriend,” Aiden says, his eyes darkening. “Which means you should keep your hands to yourself.”

Rain looks a little surprised by Aiden’s response, and I decide to play along.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t touch her,” I say. “If you want to live in peace, that is.”

Rainey looks at me as I let him go, and Greg laughs, his gaze returning to hers. “Ah. I’m disappointed, Rain. I thought we had this discussion. A kid is no match for a man.”

She glares at him, and he smirks at me. My hands clench into fists, but Alaric steps in, tossing his cigarette aside. “Something going on up here?”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “No, we’re just about to leave.”

I take Rain’s hand in mine, and my brothers shoot Greg threatening looks as we walk down the porch steps. I can feel Greg’s eyes on Rainey’s back as we walk to the cars.

Alex brought me a fresh uniform, so I change in his back seat while my brothers talk to Rain. I get out of the car, and Alaric waves me over. “An, can I talk to you?”

I nod as I follow him to the corner of the street, away from everyone.

“Yeah?”

He looks a bit worried as he runs his hand through his hair. “Um…what was the name of that school Rainey used to go to?”

I cross my arms. “Freetown High. Why?”

He sighs. “Well, the thing is, I don’t know if it’s her, but do you remember Ron Moretto?”

I nod. “Yeah, how could I forget Ron Moretto? That guy betrayed Dad and almost got us killed.”

“Yeah. He’s coming into town soon.”

“Okay…?”

“And he’s looking for this girl who had a fight with his niece. I heard she used to go to Freetown High, and she’s about Rainey’s age.”

I narrow my eyes, looking over at her. She’s laughing as she talks with my brothers. The thought of someone wanting to hurt her makes me uneasy.

“Damn,” I mutter, turning back to him. “Are you saying it could be her?”

“I don’t know. Has she ever told you about anything happening at her old school?”

I chew on my lower lip as I think back to the first day I met her. We were talking in the cafeteria about our literature text, ~To Kill a Mockingbird~.

Aiden had called me in the middle of our conversation to tell me that Arden had gotten into a fight with Ken about the money Alaric owed.

I had to rush to the police station to help get him bailed out.

My brothers had been in trouble with the law quite a few times: community service, house arrest—you name it.

And that day, while the officers were flipping through the list of juvenile files to find Arden’s, my eyes caught a familiar name.

Rainey Slate.

A small photo was stapled to her brown folder, confirming it was her.

…The girl in my math class, the girl I talked to at lunch about the cafeteria’s curry, the girl I caught looking at me from her locker mirror.

When we finally found my brother’s file and left the police station, Arden nursing his hurt arm, I saw her. She was standing on the sidewalk, looking like she’d been frozen in place. It had to be a coincidence—or maybe it was fate.

She was staring at me, her eyes full of questions. I stopped and stared back, my mind racing back to the file I’d just seen. I had so many questions.

~What’s her story? Why did she leave Freetown High? Why does she have a file at the police station?~

I remembered the night she’d stayed over at my place. We’d had a deep conversation, and I’d asked her about what happened at Freetown High.

I knew she wouldn’t tell me everything, but I was hoping for a clue, something that would help me understand her better.

She’d told me she almost killed someone. She didn’t give me any details, and I didn’t push her, but her words were heavy with unspoken truths.

“So?” Alaric asks, breaking into my thoughts. “Did she ever mention anything about her past? Something that happened to her?”

I sigh. “She hinted at something happening at Freetown, but she didn’t tell me what.”

Alaric nods, looking as worried as I feel. “Okay, just keep an eye on her, okay? I’ll do the same.”

I rub my face with my hand. “Yeah, thanks for letting me know.”

“I really like Rain. I don’t want anything bad to happen to her.”

I let out a heavy breath. “Yeah, me neither.”

RAINEY

Aiden and Arden are play-fighting in the middle of the street like a couple of kids. Alex and I are watching them, laughing at their antics.

I keep looking up and down the street, hoping they don’t get hit by a car.

“Are they always this childish?” I ask, chuckling.

Alex nods. “Every single day.” He takes a sip of his beer, and I glance over at Ansel. He’s deep in conversation with Alaric, looking a little anxious.

Alex follows my gaze and smirks. “So…how was last night?”

I look at him. “What do you mean?”

“Ansel stayed over. How did that go?” He raises an eyebrow, taking another sip of his beer.

I feel my cheeks heat up. “Well, he got me medicine…made me chicken soup…and slept next to me.”

Alex grins, licking the beer off his lips. “Sounds interesting.”

He turns to lean against his car, looking at me. “You know, I like seeing you two together.”

I look at him, and he taps his fingers on the roof of his car, nodding his head. “I think you two are perfect for each other. You just don’t realize it yet.”

I stare at him, my cheeks burning. I think about Lea. She’s pretty, and they did look good together, even if it hurts to admit it.

I look down at the ground, shrugging. “Was Lea…perfect for him?”

Alex takes another sip of his beer, then looks at the label, licking his lips. “No. Lea betrayed him. And I know Ansel. He’ll never get over that.”

“Okay, guys. Time to go! My boss is going to kill me.” Alaric interrupts us, coming over with Ansel.

We say our goodbyes, and the boys all take my number, promising to check on me later. Aiden and Arden get in Alaric’s car, while Ansel and I get in Alex’s.

As we drive down the road, a Kendrick Lamar song playing on the radio, I glance at Ansel in the side mirror. He looks lost in thought, staring at the trees as they pass by.

I remember the anger on his face when he looked at Greg. Does he know something? Or am I just overthinking things?

“Oh, there’s a bag on the seat next to you. My mom said it’s for you, Rain,” Alex says, smiling at me in the rearview mirror.

I smile back. “Really? What’s in it?” I pick up the bag, unzipping it to look inside.

“I’m not sure. I think it’s some kind of herbal tonic. And she made you lunch,” Alex says.

I smile when I see the thermos and the plate of food. “Thanks.”

Ansel’s family is so different from mine. They remind me of Riley’s family.

I realize I haven’t talked to Riley since my mom took my phone. I put the bag down, slide to the edge of my seat, and look at Ansel.

“Um…can I borrow your phone? I need to call Riley.”

Alex smirks. “You can use mine. I’ll just save her number when you’re done.”

Ansel laughs, shaking his head as Alex pulls out his phone and hands it to me. I sit back, smiling, as Alex turns down the radio.

I dial Riley’s number and press the phone to my ear, bouncing my legs as I wait for her to answer. But it’s not Riley who picks up. It’s her mom.

Her voice is soft and tired. “Valerie speaking.”

“Hey, Aunt Val. Is Riley at school yet? My mom took my phone, and—”

“Oh dear…” Her voice breaks, and she starts to cry.

I feel a chill run down my spine. I grip the phone tighter. “Aunt Val?”

“Something…something happened to Riley, Rain. Oh God…”

“What?” My heart does a somersault, and I press a shaky hand to my forehead. “What do you mean? What are you trying to say?”

“She was beaten up pretty badly yesterday,” she sobs. “She’s in the hospital. She’s not waking up.”

My phone slips from my grasp and clatters onto the car floor. My eyes sting with unshed tears as I stare at the device lying there. I must have misunderstood, right?

Alex shoots me a worried look in his rearview mirror. “Hey…you okay?”

His question makes Ansel swivel his head, his eyebrows knitting together as he takes in my expression. “What’s up, Rain?”

A single tear breaks free and splashes onto my thigh, and I cover my eyes with my hands. I start to cry softly, my body shaking with each heart-wrenching sob.

“Damn. Is she okay?” Alex’s head swivels between me and the road.

Ansel takes a deep breath. “Pull over, Alex.”

Without hesitation, Alex pulls the car over to the curb. Ansel opens his door and circles around to my side. He squeezes into the tight space next to me as I cry into my hands.

“Rain…” He places a comforting hand on my back. “What’s wrong?”

Alex shifts uncomfortably in his seat, his gaze softening with sympathy as he watches me. Ansel, realizing I can’t speak, wraps an arm around me, pulling me against his chest.

I bury my face in his neck, my tears dampening the collar of his dress shirt.

“What happened?” he asks gently. “Tell me.”

“Riley,” I manage to choke out. “They…they hurt her.”

“What the hell? Who?” Alex’s eyes widen in shock. “What happened to Riley?”

Ansel swallows hard, but tries to keep his voice steady. “Who, Rain? Who hurt her?”

“That girl. I know it was her.” I shudder, clutching his shirt in my hands. “I know it was Kendra. Riley’s in the hospital. She’s not waking up.” I squeeze my eyes shut. “She’s not waking up.”

Alex runs a hand through his hair and slumps back in his seat. He buries his face in his hands. “Shit.”

Ansel takes a deep breath, then tries to comfort me. “Don’t worry. We’ll go to the hospital right now and figure this out, okay? It’s going to be okay.”

He gently lifts my head, his thumb tracing my cheek. “I promise it’ll be okay. Please don’t cry, Rain, okay?”

He pulls me close, rubbing my back, while he and Alex exchange looks of shared sorrow. Despite his plea, I can’t stop the tears of grief that stream down my cheeks.