After Us (Next Generation #6) - J.M. Walker Page 0,104

was so they could have some privacy.

“Jaron.”

My back stiffened at the sound of Cyrus and Sammy joining me in the backyard. I knew this conversation wasn’t going to go over well, so I had to prepare myself for the fallout. But as much as I tried, I knew I wasn’t ready.

“What’s going on?” Sammy asked, walking up to an ashtray that sat in the middle of the patio table. It was a ceramic frog holding a turtle and the shell was hollowed out for the butts. It was an ugly thing, but Piper had seen two of them at a yard sale. She picked up both, gave one to my parents and kept one for herself. I only knew of this because Sammy had mentioned how ugly it was when they had come to see me in jail. It was a small thing, but I had appreciated at the time that little tidbit into my girl’s life while I couldn’t be with her.

“Jaron, what’s up?” Cyrus came up to my side, while Sammy stood by the ashtray and lit up a smoke. He had been trying to quit, both of them had been, but we all knew it would never happen.

I had no idea what I wanted to say, let alone tell them that I was leaving. It wouldn’t be for good. But it would be until I could get Brynlee and bring her home to Piper. The longer she was gone, the further Piper and I grew apart. Maybe it was selfish of me, but I needed my girl. I needed both of them. Along with the baby currently growing inside of Piper.

I caught Sammy’s gaze.

He leaned against the fence, puffing on that damn cigarette.

“Jaron,” Cyrus barked, pulling me back to him.

“I need you to watch Piper,” I told Cyrus finally.

“The fuck?” He stiffened.

I could feel Sammy’s gaze burning into me but instead of looking his way, I stared his twin down.

“Where are you going that you can’t watch her yourself?” Cyrus’s brows narrowed in the center. “What’s going on?”

“I need to leave for a little bit.” Fuck, I was thankful that Piper wasn’t around. There would be no way that I could do this if she was.

“Leave. Why?” Sammy butted out his smoke and came toward us.

“I just have to.” I went to walk back into the large house when a heavy hand cupped my shoulder.

“You’re not leaving without explaining what the fuck’s going on.”

I glanced at Cyrus’s hand on my shoulder, met his gaze, and waited. But he didn’t budge. I knew he wouldn’t. He wasn’t one who backed down easily. I had learned that he got that trait from his father.

Cyrus’s jaw clenched. “Explain.”

“I need to find Brynlee and bring her home to her mama before I lose Piper for good.” I shrugged him off. “Not that I have to explain shit to you.”

“Not that you have to…” Cyrus’s lips pressed into a firm line. “Listen here, Kid.”

The hackles on the back of my neck rose, knowing he only referred to me as kid whenever he was pissed at me. It didn’t happen often and when it did, it was usually warranted on my part.

“Kid.” I shoved him back. “I’m your fucking VP.”

“Then fucking act like it.” Cyrus gripped the collar of my jacket, lifting me onto my tiptoes. “You have no idea what she went through. The screams we had to hear. The crying. The anguish. Those walls bled with her tears. Still do. And you’re so damn selfish, you’re going to leave because you’re a fucking pussy.”

“I am not a fucking pussy. I’m going to find my daughter.” I waited for Sammy to step in. Cyrus was usually the levelheaded one. He kept his brother calm but when Sammy just stood back and watched, I knew that I had overstepped.

“You think going after Brynn yourself is going to make this shit better?” Cyrus shoved me back, roughly releasing me. “This will kill Piper.”

“She already blames me,” I confessed, not liking the bitter taste of pain on my tongue.

“She doesn’t blame you.” Cyrus shook his head. “For a smart guy, you’re acting fucking dumb right now.”

My stomach twisted.

“She’s upset. Should you have brought them here when you had the first run-in with the mayor? Maybe. But you also had Sammy and I watch the house. Someone was always watching. Add to the fact that you were run off the damn road and your daughter was taken then. That is not your fault.” Cyrus took a