Hott and Handled (The Hott Brothers #3) - Leah Sharelle Page 0,74
anything better knowing they are at my back every single day, no matter how I fuck up or piss them off.”
Strong emotions washed over me, this is what I wanted Dillion to experience, the support, but more importantly, the belief and love of my family. There was no initiation to be part of us, if we wanted you, then you were in. And in for life.
“I’ve never had that before, and I really want it, it is just kind of—" Dillion whispered, his hands now gripping onto my shirt sleeves, steadying himself.
“A little much to take in all at once? I get it bud, how about we go back to the Triple H and have some homemade treats then go pick up your mum. Movie night tonight and it is my choice.”
“Oh god, please can we not watch The Lucky One again. Seriously Nixx, I get the older woman younger man reference, but enough is enough,” Dillion groaned, breaking the intensity with some welcomed humour, even if it was at my expense.
More chuckles came from the peanut gallery behind me, and again I ignored them.
“Just for that, you are mucking out the stalls in the morning.”
“Happy to, shovelling shit is way better than watching you tear up when the chick leaves Zac, it’s kind of embarrassing Nixx.”
Throwing an arm over his shoulder, I walked us to the ute.
“You’re grounded you little shit,” I grumbled, but happy as fuck.
“Whatever you say, … Dad.” It was said with heavy sarcasm and in jest, but that didn’t stop me from wishing for the day when Dillion called me Dad properly for the first time. Until that day, I was more than happy to be his friend, his role model and the man he could come to when times call for it. Anything he needs, I would be there.
***
“Did you pick up a gun, young man,” my mum asked Dillion, cornering him the second he stepped inside the back door.
“No ma’am, I did not,” he answered truthfully, looking directly at my mother.
Good lad, never lie to my mother, she can smell out a lie before it even passes your lips. Where and how she acquired that talent, I could not answer, but there it was. Maybe it came with birthing a child, you know, widened hips and the ability to sniff out liars. Being a mother of triplet boys, I guessed that skill would be extra sharp.
“Good boy, now go into the lounge and protect your cousin from his sister.” Narrowing her eyes, Mum looked over Dillion’s shoulder and glared at Lenoxx.
“Noxx, that girl is the devil. A seven-month-old hellion with cute ringlets but born spawned from the dark lord himself.”
“Jesus Ma, what a way to talk about your own granddaughter, true but cold, Mother, very cold,” Noxx muttered, following Dillion into the lounge room, his phone that was clipped to his belt buzzing.
The phone reminded me I had forgotten all about mine. I’d left it in the car while we were at the range, and failed to look at it when we got in to head back home. Farron had to be ready to be picked up by now, surely. Five hours with Mallory was getting into the realms of punishment, any longer and she might end up hating her as much as Blake did.
Lucky for me, Mallory and I never crossed the line of friends to anything else. So hopefully, there wasn’t too much Mal could tease Farron with, not like she apparently enjoyed doing to Blake.
Turning around to go back outside to get my phone from the console in the car, I stopped when Noxx let out a bellow, the curse word echoing through the large house.
“What the fuck!” I yelled, looking at Hendrixx, a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach.
“Watch the kids, Dillion,” Noxx shouted and came running into the kitchen, his face pale, and what I saw was pure fear.
My heartbeat increased, too scared to speak. I knew that look, saw it once before and not that long ago when his helicopter landed at Waterford. Only this time he looked devastated not only for himself but for Drixx and me too.
“Don’t say it Noxx, please,” Drixx pleaded, his voice drier than gravel.
“The girls have been in an accident. Their car went down—”
I didn’t wait for the rest, I didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t want to think about what ‘accident’ implied.