Page 46 of The Family Pet

Uncle Bowie only rolled his eyes.

Ridge sucked in a deep breath. “Are they removing a bullet?” he whispered, almost like he would make the injury worse if he said the words louder.

Uncle Bowie shook his head and snagged Ridge’s hand when he got close enough. “No, it’s wood fragments, actually. The force of a bullet going through the stairs sent shards into me. Honestly, I’m pretty lucky the rounds missed me and this is all I’m dealing with.”

“Rounds? More than one bullet was fired at you?” Horror washed over Ridge’s face and despite all their struggles, he swooped in and hugged Uncle Bowie. I wanted to hug him, too, and thank him for keeping me safe from being dragged off by my dad. He’d left me once, and I didn’t want to be abandoned somewhere else where I really didn’t know anyone when my family got sick of me.

“Daddy, I love you,” Ridge said.

“I love you, too.” Uncle Bowie held Ridge closer.

They were sweet together, but I began to feel like I was intruding on a private moment between them, so I shuffled back out the door and to the side. Exhaustion swamped me as I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall to stare at my feet while I waited for the sounds of crying from inside to subside. I spotted an empty chair a few steps to my left and slid over to collapse onto it, then dropped my face into my hands. I couldn’t help but feel somewhat responsible for everything, even though Uncle Bowie and Ridge had definitely started all the craziness between us.

Or had my father?

The mess was a tangled familial knot.

Or had Uncle Bowie started the ire between him and my dad by not wanting to sleep with my dad again?

A sick jealousy boiled in my gut. I hated that Dad had ever had Uncle Bowie’s dick in him, but then again, I shouldn’t want that, either. But I did. And I didn’t want Uncle Bowie to ever be with anyone except me and Ridge.

Tears gathered in my eyes and I swiped them away.

“Hey, kid, are you all right?” A deep Southern drawl had me glancing up. The man leaning against the wall had on a long-sleeved red thermal shirt under a black T-shirt with a buck on the front, and the cap on his head had an American flag patch stitched to it. His beard looked fluffy, like he’d recently washed it, but it wasn’t something I personally enjoyed.

I forced myself to smile. “Yes, thank you.”

He nodded and tapped the tip of his black hiking boot on the floor. I frowned at the boots. Or were those for something else? They were the type that tied in the front and people wore to ride motorcycles and do other things where you definitely didn’t want to be losing a shoe.

“Well, your uncle said you want to live with him. Johnny Godfrey said you’re a sex slave for his demented brother. I can help you if you need it.” He lifted the hems of his shirts, and I noticed a black gun in a holster.

My heart almost stopped as everything he’d said processed in my mind.

“Say the word and we’re out of here, buddy. No one will stop me.” His lips thinned and he shot a look at the hospital room. “Your father doesn’t seem to be exactly who I thought he was, and that burns my ass because usually I’m very thorough with my research before I accept a job, but he was in a panic when he got ahold of me. Johnny seemed very genuine. You don’t have to go with your mother, either, if you worry she would be as bad as him. There are options.”

“What did you do to my father?” I murmured.

He shook his head, and I knew he wouldn’t say anything more on the topic because he squared his shoulders and gave off a don’t fuck with me vibe.

Groaning, I sat up and rested my head back against the wall. “Is this the day for people to rescue me? I could’ve used it a while ago.” I couldn’t help my sarcastic tone.

The big man shrugged. “I’m here now, and I’ll help, like I said.”

“We’re doing something most people would call wrong, but. . . I want it. Them. I want to be with them.” I shrugged a shoulder.

“You’re sure? We might not cross paths again after this.” He pushed away from the wall and planted both feet firmly.

I nodded.

He patted me on the shoulder and sauntered away, as if he wasn’t in any hurry at all. I didn’t run after the man, even though my muscles tensed. That was what I should want, right? A new start somewhere else, where no one would know I’d ever been a pup for my uncle and cousin, craved their dicks and company?

I should’ve asked his name. Oh well.

The hospital room was quiet. I couldn’t hear Ridge crying or Uncle Bowie comforting him, so I stood up and peeked around the doorjamb. My heart warmed at the sight. Uncle Bowie’s right side was injured, if the bandages visible under his hospital gown were anything to go by, but he had Ridge snuggled up against his left side. They looked content. Uncle Bowie smiled down at Ridge, murmuring something to him. Awkwardness washed over me. Maybe they didn’t need me. Maybe I should’ve left.

Uncle Bowie kissed Ridge’s forehead, and a sick yearning started up in my belly. I wanted to be over there with them. I walked closer to the bed, and Uncle Bowie glanced up at me.

“I need to say this,” I said.