Page 21 of Yours on the Canvas

I smile. “Good to be back.”

He throws his keys on the hall table and guides me into the lounge, lowering me carefully onto the couch.

“You need anything?” he asks.

I shake my head, letting my body sink into the cushions, and close my eyes.

* * *

I wake with a sharp jolt when the front door slams against the frame with a force that can only belong to a ten-year-old, and I hear Hale screaming my name. I watch as he races into the room, heading straight for me, before coming to a sudden, screeching halt as he sees my injuries.

His face bunches up, and he starts crying. Crying for me.

“Hey, buddy,” I say quietly, lifting an arm. “Come here.”

He walks slowly over, standing in front of me, waiting for permission to touch me. I take his arm lightly, pulling him onto the couch beside me.

“Be careful of his ribs, Hale,” Silas warns gently.

I pull him a little closer, but ribs screaming, but I don’t say anything, because I know Silas will pull Haze away, and I need to hold him.

“He’s fine, aren’t ya, Haze,” I say as he grabs my arm and gently lays his entire body against my side.

He melts into me like he’s been holding his breath since I left. “I was so scared, Jax,” he whispers.

The nickname breaks me apart, and I fight to hold back the tears stinging behind my eyelids. I blink rapidly to clear them, but a couple escape and fall down my cheeks.

I open my eyes to find Silas watching me carefully. I look away because I know exactly what he sees: a broken man. Damaged not only physically, but emotionally and mentally. So I do what I need to do right now. I ignore him.

“I’m okay, just sore, but it’s nothing time won’t fix,” I murmur against the boy’s head.

I watch as Eli walks in, coming and sitting on the coffee table in front of me. “Hey.”

“Hey,” I mimic, because I don’t know what else to say.

“How are you feeling?”

“Meds help, but the trip was still rough. But I’m grateful I’m here.”

CJ walks in and stands next to Silas, who now wears a heavy frown on his brow.

CJ’s eyes flick over my injuries, then move to Silas, before coming back to me. He’s not saying anything, but the look on his face tells me he has questions, though he goes with an easy one.

“How are you doing?” CJ asks.

“Okay. Ribs are the worst, but it’s not like I haven’t had this happen before,” I say with a small shrug.

From when I was eight, my father and uncle made sure the fights they entered me into were always against bigger, heavier opposition. The more blood, the more money they collected. So these injuries, agonizing as they are, are nothing new.

Silas grunts, turns on his heel, and heads for the kitchen. “I’m putting coffee on,” he says, his voice gruff.

I frown after him and sigh.

“Ignore him,” CJ says. “I’ll go see what’s wrong.”

He leaves, and I’m left with Hale and Eli. I shift Hale slightly so my arm rests securely around his shoulder, my fingers lightly threading through his hair, offering him the comfort he needs right now. I listen to him, watch his tears dry and his breathing soften as he settles against me.

“What happened?” Eli asks softly.