Leaving Denver

ALEX

Mom’s voice echoed from downstairs, sending tremors to every inch of the house. Another fight session with my Dad — I'm getting sick and tired of watching my parents fight every day. I ignored them. I needed to check on Nicky.

"Is Mum and Dad fighting again?" Nicky asked in a trembling voice as I walked in, his face still pale from the cold. His eyes are partly shut, and he was curled like a ball.

This has been the routine for days now. The arguments never seemed to end and they hurt Nicky so bad.

"I'm sorry," Tears hazed my eyes as I bent to kiss his cheek. Nicky was only seven years old, way too young to experience the trauma of growing up in a chaotic home.

I'm nineteen years old and legally a consenting adult. More than that, I've seen far worse things than a couple fighting. That's why I'm not very much perturbed by my parents' endless fights. But not Nicky. He always cries his heart out when they fight, and right now, he has a fever, and I'm scared crying would make his condition worsen. I was glad I had taken some money from Gilda, the drugs would help. I loved my brother more than anything else and these arguments weren't good for him.

I wish my parents thought this through before they started this fight tonight. Any other night would have been okay, but not today. Nicky's condition was fragile and needed attention, not the chaos they were brewing downstairs. Speak of bad parenting!

Nicky started sobbing hard, clutching his pillows and burying his face in it.

"Hey, don't do that, please," Tears dropped down my eyes as I joined him on the bed, soothingly rubbing his back.

"I hate that they always fight. Why can't they just be happy? I thought they loved each other," He said between tears, wrapping his hand around my waist and placing his head on my lap.

"Yes, they do. But sweetie, feeling love isn't always enough," Saying that made my heart knot in pain. It made me recall how hard I loved Noah, and yet, I caught him fucking my best friend. It feels like Love is never close to being enough. I learned that the hard way.

"Then what else do they need?" Nicky asked again, shuddering slightly.

"Money." I sighed, running my fingers through his brown, curly hair, just like our father's. Nick could be young, but he was a striking replica of our father.

I, on the other hand, got a bit of both our Dad's and mom's looks. Red-haired. A few freckles on my skin. Curvy as fuck, Just like our mother, and amber eyes, just like our father.

"Money?" Nick looked up, staring at me with wet eyes.

"Yes, dear. Money. For your treatment. For my schooling. To get us a better apartment. A better life. You name it," I puffed, feeling dejected.

I heard Dad's phone ring, and he walked out of the house. I heard the door close. The silence that followed was heaven.

"I'm sorry, Nicky, try and sleep now," I said, plopping down on the bed beside him. I kissed his cheek and ran my hand over his neck. Damn it, he's burning up. "I got you some drugs."

"Am I gonna die, Alex?" Nicky asked, wincing in pain and dragging up his duvet.

I smiled, but it was a sad one. As sad as my life. "I won't let you die, baby. You'll be fine. I promise." Kissing him one last time and leaving the room to get some water. If I could have it my way, I would give him the world..

I snuck out of the room and into the kitchen with my bag, unnoticed. Mom would complain for hours if she knew I was there to listen and I didn't want that.

I sat down in the Kitchen and let the tears flow. It was hard keeping the tears in check in front of Nicky. Nicky hated seeing me cry. That's why I had to act fucking strong in front of him. If only he knew how badly his big sister was breaking inside

Two weeks passed in a rush and eventually I went back to work and there was no sign of Noah Wyatt anywhere close to me.

He wasn't stalking me. He didn't follow me anymore. It was almost like he'd forgotten about my existence.

The men vanished too. A few times, I had snuck up the stairs and hovered around their suite. One time, I dared to open it, but it was starkly empty, like it wasn't harboring three sinful hot men days back.

I had to reprimand myself. Stalking a couple of full-grown men, old enough to be my uncles or guardians, was out of my character. I had to get a grip and force myself to forget I had ever met them.

Tonight was just like every other night, and I was getting ready for my shift. I was having a midnight shift. Would be on the clock from 10 pm till morning.

A knock came to my door the second I grabbed my bag. "Alex?!"

"Coming, Mum!"

"Hurry up. We're waiting downstairs." And then her footsteps followed, indicating she was gone.

I hurried out of the room and came down to the living room. Dad was seated on a double couch with Mum. Nicky was on a single couch, and the empty single couch was for me.

I sat on it, crossing my legs and getting ready to know what this sudden meeting was about.

"Listen carefully, kids. Your father and I have something important to tell you both," Mother began with a serious tone.

I glanced at Nicky, who looked as terrified as I was. My fingers were crossed. Dear God, I hope they were not announcing their plans to get a divorce. There was no guarantee that I would take the news like a sane adult. Not to mention what it would do to Nicky.

"Tell them, Conor," Mother said, rubbing my Dad's thighs.

He nodded and stared at Nicky and me. "I have made a decision that would change our lives forever,"

"What's that, Dad?" I was itchy to hear it, no matter how detrimental it would be. Tears were already clogging my vision.

"My father, your grand father, has died. We will be attending his funeral. And.."

"Go on." Mom nudged.

"We'll be leaving Denver tomorrow. I've decided to reunite with my family and my half-brothers." Dad sighed.