The sight of a shirtless Jace with his pants unbuttoned, hanging low on his lean hips, welcomed us as we went inside. Raking a hand through his tousled hair, he grinned at me, his abdominal muscles highlighted against the neon lighting inside. Brian was solid, but Jace was in a whole different league. He had a lean build, dirty blonde hair, and piercing eyes. His eyes skimmed over me and settled on Tray. He stood there, studying him and as he did, as he breathed in and out, every muscle in his body rippling from that slight movement.
“Heya, Terry.” He flashed me a grin as he buttoned his jeans. He crossed over to us and gave me a hug.
Jace was the only one who could get away with calling me that name. Brian tried once and he got a swift kick in the balls. He’d never done it again, although he sneered every time Jace said it, which made him say it every time he could.
As his arms wrapped around me, a nostalgic feeling came over me. He and Brian had been my family. Each of them protected me for years. When he started to move away, I grasped onto the back of his arms and held him tighter. I just needed a moment longer.
He stayed there, wrapping his arms even tighter, tucking his chin into the crook of my neck and shoulder. I felt his lips brush against my skin as he murmured, “Missed you too.”
I nodded. I couldn’t talk. For some reason I was thankful Tray hadn’t heard him. I stepped back, brushed the tear that had escaped, turning away so he couldn’t see that either. I felt both of them watching me and swallowed the emotion. When I looked back up, I was all business. There was a reason we had come, but I couldn’t help myself from asking, “You and Cammy back on?”
“For the night.” He gestured to Tray. “Who’s he?”
“Not important.” I cleared my throat. I wanted to tell him about Brian and get out of there, before even more emotions came over me.
“Wait—” he murmured. A light of recognition sparked in his eyes. He snapped his fingers. “Evans.”
Tray looked at me and waited.
I laughed. “I didn’t mean it literally. You can talk. I guess he knows you.”
He winked at me before turning to Jace. “Yeah. I’m Evans.”
Jace regarded him with caution, but he shook his head. “You’re with Taryn?”
Tray looked at me. A jolt went through me at what Jace was insinuating. I shook my head. “No, no. Um...” I bit my lip, my cheeks warming, as both of them waited for my answer. “No. He’s friends with my sister.”
“The sister from your new family?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Her.” I grinned. “She’s popular, Jace. Can you believe that? I got one of those families.”
“Yeah.” He looked at me with fondness. “I can, Terry. You deserve it. You know I always thought that.”
“Yeah.” Other memories started to come to me, but I pushed them away. “Listen, we’re here because of Brian.”
“Aw. The real reason you came.” He shook his head. “What’s my brother done now?”
“He’s…” I hesitated. If Jace went after Brian, it could get nasty, but there was no one else who could reel him in. “He’s a little nuts, to be truthful. I’m scared of what he’s going to do. He saw me at Rickets’ Hou—”
“Wait.” Jace was startled. “You went to Rickets’ House?”
I nodded. “Yeah.” I glanced at Tray. “A bunch of people from our school did. Why?”
“Don’t go there anymore.”
“But—” This didn’t make sense. He had never cared before. It had been Brian who had been worried about me. “Why?”
“Just don’t, Taryn.”
He said my name. My eyes widened. I knew Jace could be serious and sometimes deadly, but he usually kept his lighthearted side for me. He was serious now. He was very serious. He said again, “I mean it, Taryn. Don’t go there. Changes are happening and it’s not safe.”
“What do you mean?”
He shook his head. “It’s not for you to worry about.”
“But—”
“Taryn.” He silenced me, moving towards me. “I mean it. I don’t want you there. I don’t even want Brian there.”
“You don’t?”
Jace gestured to Tray. “Drive her back.” As Tray took my arm, Jace said to me, “I’ll keep Brian away from you. I promise. Go back to Rawley.” He took both my shoulders in his hands and leaned forward to press a kiss to my forehead. “Go back to that new family. You’re better off.” He squeezed my shoulders. “Make something of yourself, Taryn. A chance like this don’t come along often. Grab it while you can.”