The kids around had all laughed and then the quarterback had appeared, slipping his arm around her waist while everyone snickered and called him names. Damen never knew it, but Demarco had witnessed the whole thing.
The incident had so humiliated Damen, he’d retaliated by stealing the girl’s wallet and spending her money on hemorrhoid cream, which he’d put in her locker along with her empty wallet. Everyone had known Damen was the one to put it there.
The quarterback had followed Damen home from school one night, and before Damen reached their place, jumped him and beat him up. Their mom had taken him to the doctor and Damen had refused to press charges. So Demarco had taken matters into his own hands.
He’d followed the quarterback home with two of his biggest friends and they’d beaten him up. Before leaving him, Demarco whispered into the quarterback’s ear, “If I see you within ten feet of my brother ever again, I’ll kill you.”
He’d been alarmed that he’d possessed the darkness to say those words, and had not said them since. But the quarterback had not bothered Damen again.
His brother began to stir on the bed.
Demarco rushed over to the side of the bed. Damen blinked the one eye groggily. He was slowly coming to.
Demarco waited for him to look at him and for him to focus.
“Where am I?” Damen asked in a raspy voice.
“Pagosa Springs hospital. Do you remember why?”
His brother screwed up his brow, and that turned into a wince. “Maguire.”
Demarco felt a strong impulse to retaliate against Korbin. His love for his brother compelled him. Or was it a conditioned instinct? He’d protected Damen for so long he couldn’t react in any other way. He could almost forget about Collette.
“I told you not to cause trouble with him, Damen.”
His brother managed a weak laugh that made him wince. “Demarco. Always looking out for me.”
Demarco put his hand on his shoulder briefly. “You’re my brother.”
His one good eye blinked. “Even after I punch you, you come here for me?”
“I’m trying to help you.”
“Haven’t you been listening? It’s time for you to stop protecting me.”
Frustration and sadness pushed tears into his eyes. “I don’t want to see you get hurt. I’ve always hated that, Damen. I only wanted you to be happy.”
“I was happy before Korbin did this to me.” His cut and bruised mouth curved into a swollen smile.
Demarco laughed. “Stop joking about this. I want my brother back.”
“I never left you, Demarco.” He lifted his hand and put it on Demarco’s. “It’s going to be okay.”
No, it wasn’t. Didn’t he see that? How could he think anything would be okay after he killed someone?
“Why did you go after Korbin?” he asked. “He’s going to be arrested. Isn’t that enough for revenge?” He didn’t let on what he knew.
Damen’s smile faded.