A Subtle Breeze by Bailey Bradford (libby ebook reader .txt) 📕

“Oh. Oh, God,” she murmured. When she started to reach for Zeke, she hesitated, and Brendon felt himself soften just a bit toward her.

“It’s okay.” He nodded. Whatever had driven her away, it seemed to Brendon that it had hurt her, too. Elizabeth touched Zeke’s shoulder, gently caressing her way to his cheek. Her quiet sob as she leaned in to place a soft kiss on Zeke’s cheek had Brendon’s eyes tearing up again.

“I’m sorry, baby brother, I’m so sorry.” Elizabeth seemed stricken by the sight of Zeke bruised and battered, and Brendon knew just how she felt.

“Elizabeth?” Zeke’s voice was barely a whisper. Brendon started to speak, but Enessa caught his eye and shook her head. Okay, he could do that. He could sit back and allow Zeke and Elizabeth a few minutes together. But, swear to God, if she did anything to hurt Zeke, Brendon was going to have her tossed out, sister or no.

Epilogue

Zeke felt like an idiot as he made his way into his house with the assistance of Brendon, and of all people, freaking Sheriff ‘Just-call-me-Laine’ Stenley. What, the man feels guilty and now we’re buddies? Zeke didn’t blame the sher—Laine, and wished the man didn’t blame himself, either. There was plenty of fault to go around, most of it belonging to Zeke, Eva and John Calencia. Him for not taking action years ago, and them just for being evil…people.

Elizabeth opened the door for him, her bright smile never letting on that she’d suffered both physical and psychological abuse at the hand of Eva when they were growing up. When Elizabeth had told them why she had left and stayed away—it was the only way she thought she could escape her abuser and tormentor, her sister—Zeke had been hard pressed not to go to the jail and confront Eva. Not that he could have, anyway. He’d been a little too busted up. Every time he thought about Elizabeth having to share a room with Eva throughout her childhood, it just about brought him to tears. He understood now why Elizabeth had retreated into her head, why she had finally fled from McKinton. From Eva, really.

“Welcome home, little brother,” Elizabeth teased, rising up on her toes to give him a kiss. She pulled the door open wider, and Zeke made his way in—and froze. What the hell? Brendon nudged him from behind, moving him further into the living room. There were flowers everywhere, cards, fruit baskets…fruit baskets?

Zeke became aware of the fact that his mouth was hanging open and snapped it shut. He turned to Brendon, choosing to ignore Sheriff Stenley’s snicker at his befuddlement. It would serve Laine right if Zeke just accidentally crutched the man in the crotch.

“What’s that evil grin for, babe? ’Cause it’s causing my ba—” Brendon cut himself off with a guilty glance at Gloria and at Zeke’s sisters. The girls started laughing, Brendon turned pink and Zeke thought his lover was just the sexiest damn thing ever.

Brendon glared back at Laine, who was almost doubled over laughing. “Shut up, you dumbass.” He turned his attention back to Zeke. “All this…stuff…is from different people in town. You know, ‘hoping you get better’, ‘sorry your sister is a psycho’—whoops, well, the oldest one, ladies. That kinda stuff. Probably a healthy dose of ‘we’re sorry we didn’t intervene years ago’ in there, too.”

Oh. Oh hell. Zeke felt the water works wanting to start up. He looked away and blinked a few times, then turned back and faced Brendon. The love he saw reflected back in those warm brown eyes settled into Zeke, filling him with peace. So, he’d been a little wrong about the people in town. Zeke figured he could live with that. He’d rather be wrong and feel happy than right and afraid.

Zeke leaned down carefully, not wanting to topple himself or his lover, and took Brendon’s mouth in a sweet kiss. Here at home, surrounded by his family, his partner and, though he’d rather not admit it out loud, his new friend, Zeke felt so overflowing with love, he thought it must surely be pouring out of him. Ending the kiss, he buried his face in Brendon’s neck, holding his lover with one arm as Brendon held on tight in return.

“Thank you, babe, for everything. All of this, all of this good, it’s because of you.” Zeke pulled back to look in Brendon’s eyes, wanting him to know how much he meant it, that every word was true. Brendon’s smile could have melted the coldest heart, but he shook his head at Zeke.

“No, love. It’s because of us, our family and friends. And we can’t forget…” Brendon closed his eyes, drew in a deep breath. Zeke did the same, and heard a muttered curse from Laine. Yes, Brendon was right—they couldn’t forget. As he felt the nudge on his shoulder, watched Brendon’s eyes open big as saucers, heard another resounding curse from Laine and squeals from the girls, Zeke burst out laughing. Yeah, like any of them could ever forget Mama.

* * * *

Six months later…

It took months for Zeke not to hurt so bad he wanted to punch something when he first woke up or after a long day’s work. Brendon, God bless him, never lost his temper when Zeke turned into a snarly bastard. He just listened to Zeke bitch and massaged as much of the soreness out of Zeke’s muscles as he could.

Zeke was an ass sometimes, and Brendon deserved better, but he wasn’t giving Brendon up. Even if he’d thought to try it, Brendon wouldn’t have let him. It was a good thing Zeke was smart enough to know he had a treasure in Brendon.

And it was time he did something to make sure Brendon knew how much Zeke appreciated him. Besides, Zeke was done being a cranky shit. He didn’t need his mama there to tell him he was acting like a fool and he needed to stop it.