tongue, but he swallowed eagerly, stalling. For what? More time? In some ways he hadn’t had nearly enough. In other ways he’d had far too much.
“You know I planned to join KGI. We talked about it.”
Donovan nodded. “Yeah, we did. When you and Joe got out. But that was before. I don’t know much about what you’re thinking these days at all.”
“My plans haven’t changed. Just delayed a little.”
“Okay, that’s fair enough. Got a time frame on your delay?”
Nathan’s mouth quirked up. Right now Donovan sounded like a pushy, heartless son of a bitch. His brothers had probably argued over who got to come over for this little come-to-Jesus moment. Garrett would have wanted the task. Sam would have said hell no. For all Sam’s anal hard-assedness, he wouldn’t have wanted to push Nathan too hard. He took his responsibilities as the oldest Kelly brother way too seriously, and as a result, he tended to get a little carried away with the idea he had to take care of his younger siblings.
Donovan would have gotten disgusted with Sam’s and Garrett’s bickering and told them what morons they were right before coming over to do the dirty work himself.
“No time line. There’s just something I have to do before I can commit,” Nathan finally said.
Donovan’s brow went up. “Like what?”
Nathan lifted one shoulder. “Just something I need to take care of.”
“Anything I should know about?”
Code word for can I help.
“No. It’s personal. Something I have to put to rest before I can give a hundred percent of myself to KGI.”
“Fair enough. But don’t take too long, Nathan. We worry about you. I’m only going to be able to keep Sam and Garrett off your ass for so long.”
Nathan grinned. “I figured as much. You’re so self-sacrificing, man. You hit me right here.” He put his fist to his chest in a dramatic gesture.
Donovan flipped him off and then snatched the beer can out of Nathan’s hand. “If you’re going to be so goddamn rude, you can get your own beer.”
Nathan lunged for Donovan’s hand, but Donovan raised the beer over his head. Nathan laughed and reached up to grab Donovan’s wrist.
“You’re not tall enough to pull off that move, big brother.”
“Fuck you,” Donovan said rudely. “I may not be as tall as the rest of you Neanderthals but I can still take you down.”
With a challenge laid down like that, there was no way Nathan could let it go. The two brothers went down, laughing and cursing as each wrestled for advantage over the other.
While such activity might ordinarily get them into trouble with Mama Kelly, she looked relieved to see her sons conducting business as usual. Frank grinned from his position at the grill, and Rusty let out a whoop that could be heard across the yard.
Their brothers gathered around, grinning like fools, while Nathan and Donovan rolled in the grass like two ten-year-
olds.
Nathan flipped Donovan over his head and then rolled to his knees about the time Donovan caught him in a scissor lock. Nathan broke the hold and dove on top of Donovan, determined to pin him.
Donovan was smaller, but he was also a damn good fighter. Nathan didn’t really expect to get the better of him, but it sure felt good to let off some steam.
One of Donovan’s muscled arms snaked around Nathan’s neck, and Donovan twisted so he was atop Nathan, holding the head lock while Nathan wheezed for breath.
Suddenly Nathan was disoriented. His surroundings blurred and spun, but not as bad as they had several nights earlier. There was a vague sense of mugginess, heaviness dragging at his limbs, but his mind was sharper this time.
Nathan.
He went completely still, his brother atop him, holding his arm around his neck.
Nathan, are you there? Please, be there. I need you.
Nathan started struggling, and when Donovan resisted, Nathan started throwing punches, kicking, pulling, anything to get loose of Donovan’s hold.
He was dizzy, and fear and panic overwhelmed him. Her panic and fear.
I’m here, Shea! Don’t go. I’m here. Talk to me. Don’t leave.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Donovan burst out when Nathan almost connected with a right hook.
Ignoring his brother’s bewildered demand, Nathan slung off the concerned touch of another of his brothers and broke away, his only thought to get as far away from everyone as he could.
When Sam stepped in front of him, Nathan curled his fingers into Sam’s shirt and shoved him out of the way. Sam’s eyes widened at the sheer strength