Claimed by my Brother’s Best Friends (Alyssa) novel Chapter 68

"I was fifteen at the time," he continues, his voice low and steady. "One night, my mom got into a fight with her boyfriend. He took a knife and started cutting her, so I jumped in, and the fucker managed to get me. But it wasn't enough to stop me. I beat him half to death. My mom called me a fucking monster and threw me out. That's how I ended up joining the Crimson Reapers. I needed to survive, and that's exactly what Jax offered me."

Don't cry. Don't cry, I chant in my head.

I figured as much, but now I know just how much he has been through. Why he is the way he is. He's always had to be strong, even as a child. I know it's silly, but I have this overwhelming feeling to want to protect him, to show him that he can be vulnerable with me.

He chuckles, brushing his thumb across my check like he can read my mind. "You're doing a good job holding it together."

I give him a tight smile, blinking back the tears. He tilts my chin up, his thumb grazing my lip. "But seriously, I don't want your tears, kitten. Save them for when you're coming apart on my cock."

I laugh softly, the tension breaking, and I decide not to press any deeper into his past. Not tonight. He's shared enough with me.

"Can I really have both of you?" I ask after a moment.

He nods. "I realize that he can give you things I cannot. I can't take care of you and Zuri by myself."

I frown, shifting so that I can get a full look at his face. "Why do you feel that way? You've done nothing but protect us since we got here. Shit, you even put yourself on Gray's shit list for us."

His jaw tenses, but he doesn't say anything. The weight of my words seem to hang in the air between us.

"Go to sleep, kitten," he finally murmurs. "I'm sure the baby will be up soon and we'll have a shitstorm to deal with tomorrow. You'll stay here with Mason."