Finding Forever - REVISED

Chapter 16: XX + XY + XY = Forever Right?

REAPER

I watch Smoke looking into his glass of brandy as if it holds the secrets of the universe. I feel a tug in my chest that I haven't been able to shake since he dropped the bomb on me that Angel is His Macey.

"Did Bones finally get Trojan locked down?"

"Shit that old timer still has the strength of a raging bull. It took four of us to hold him down for Bones to sedate him. His ass is out like a light pulling z's in the bed next to Skull."

I feel a shiver of dread slither down my spine as I imagine how I would feel losing little man and Angel at the same time.

"A man isn't built to bury his rib, child, and grandchild at the same time. We have to keep a close eye on him."

Smoke growls out, "We are in the eye of a shit storm and I don't know when it is going to end."

"I'm feeling you like braille brother."

My brother's posture wails with sorrow and defeat. I expect to find his room empty except for a note any day now.

"I am hitting the road after we find the killer."

There it is again. A hard tug in my chest right over my heart. Guilt always is its follow up companion, but I am not noble enough to do the right thing for the man sitting in front of me. I feel crushed whenever I imagine letting her go. I play stupid hoping that I am wrong. I refuse to play a hand in my brother going Nomad again.

"Nobody will blame you if you need to chase the wind for a few weeks when this is all over."

"You need to find a new VP. You get me?"

Tortured eyes stare me down. I break away first because it is eating a hole in my stomach like cancer that I play a major part in planting the seeds of his torment. I can't help but think of the saying Pop drilled into our heads as soon as we hit puberty. Great pussy can either make you feel like a king or destroy your world. It all depends on the type of woman it's attached to. In this case Angel is the perfect woman for both of us.

"Did you mean it?"

Smoke drags in a harsh breath and hangs his head. "Every fucking word."

The lost look on his face takes me back to when we were kids, and my parents took him in as their own. Finding his parents slaughtered by a rival gang at the age of 7 broke something vital in him. My family's love healed it. It cuts me to the quick to know it is back again because I stole what he thinks is his chance of having a family of his own again. "I hope you believe me when I say I didn't know, but I can't give her up."

His head whips up. My truths are haunting his face and leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Swallowing down guilt feels like swallowing mouthfuls of glass.

"I know. You would be a fool too. That is why you need to decide on a new VP ASAP."

"I am fine with the VP I have."

I see a tick in his jaw and his hands curl into fist. Fuck it. No more beating around the bush.

Smoke barks out a laugh colored in pain, "Not even you can make me sit by and watch the love of my life build a life with another one of my brothers."

Yup, it feels like glass with razor sharp angles ripping into throat.

"There is another way."

"You giving up your right to claim her?"

I evidently didn't make myself clear the first time. "Never. She is mine until I go into in the ground."

His eyes search mine trying to see what game I am playing.