him, the sense of knowing everything will be okay. But I know that’s a terrible idea. No matter Rex’s state, he’s never going to like seeing his sister with a King.
“Mackson is on his way. I don’t want any trouble when he gets here.”
Corey’s eyes widen and he goes to speak, but I beat him to it.
“I mean it, Corey. Mack’s only coming to make sure I’m safe. No fighting or accusations. Peace… even if it’s only this once, I will have it today.”
Corey reluctantly nods. “I’ll let the other guys know.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that,” I reply softly.
“You’re really one of them now?” Corey questions with a frown and a bitter tone.
“I’m not with them and I’m not with you guys. I’m me, Lana, sister to Rex, daughter to… a monster. If you or my brother had taken one-second in all these years to truly know me, then you’d both realize this war was never mine. That I would never fight for a man who treated me so badly. The fact that you guys have fought so hard for him has broken my heart a million times.”
Corey’s face turns ashen, but I don’t stay to work it out. Our friendship died years ago when all the lies began.
I reach Rex’s bedroom door and place my hand on the handle. As I twist it and open the door slowly, I hear the familiar rumble of Chevy pull up out the front. He’s here. My body relaxes all on its own knowing Mack has arrived.
And then I freeze. My mind is screaming. My heart is breaking. I’m unable to move my body past the entrance to the room.
There lies a man, but he isn’t my brother.
He’s too thin to be Rex.
He’s too scarred to be Rex.
His skin is too yellow to be Rex.
My healthy, strong brother is gone.
My world spins. Nothing could have ever prepared me to see my big brother lying helpless on his bed. Face, arms and legs covered in bloodied, scabbed sores. Dark circles under his eyes, and hollowed cheeks with yellowing skin.
God, is his body bruised?
Moving slowly toward my brother, I’m too frightened to touch him in case I’ll hurt his fragile body. I cover my mouth trying not to wake him with my heartache.
Muffled voices come from the living room and then Mack appears in the doorway. However, I can’t rip my eyes from my worst nightmare. So I don’t see the stunned look on his face, but I hear it as Mack sucks in a big breath and then in a pained voice says, “Christ.”
I gesture to Rex with my hands and try to quietly say, “What’s wrong with him?” However, my words come out unclear and high pitched.
“Dove,” Mack says softly and then stops speaking suddenly.
I know what he was going to say, what he’s thinking. He tried to warn me. He attempted to stop me and protect me from seeing my brother this way.
Mack tentatively steps toward me. I spin my head quickly to look at him. He’s being cautious, because I know he wants to get me out of here, and assumes I won’t go quietly or willingly. But I’m torn. I want him to take me away and help me forget I ever saw my brother this way, although I also want him to take charge, do something to make my brother better.
“Mack what happened to him?” I plead for answers. He wasn’t this way when I lived here.
He wasn’t this way two months ago.
“Don’t let his peaceful expression and ravaged body fool you. It took myself, Kodi and Reed to wrestle Rex to the ground yesterday,” Corey interrupts.
My eyes widen. “You need to explain what the fuck has been going on Corey because he was not like this two months ago. Not even close.”
“After learning it was Della who killed Jae, Rex grew distant and started pushing everyone away. The guys assume it’s because you chose not to come back, Lana. Kodi and Reed are the only ones who know the truth.”
“That information wasn’t for you to share.” Mack’s deep, angry voice rumbles throughout the bedroom.
“Yeah, well, fuck you, Mack,” Corey spits back. “Kodi and Reed deserved to know the truth. None of us wanted this war, but we supported our friend. I know and you should too, they wouldn’t do anything to harm Della.”
“You mean like ordering a drive-by that almost killed her. That was supposed to kill another woman?” Mack steps forward in an intimating manner.