A Loaded Gun

Chapter 28

A/N Ma peeps I done messed up.  I posted the same chapter twice.  So here's the real chapter 28.  Sorry y'all

Brooke POV

I woke to the sound of pained groans and jerked my head toward the figure on the couch, adding in my own groans at the uncomfortable position I slept in.

I hurriedly checked on Lucas, relieved to see he was still asleep. In my experience, sleep was the best medicine. Whoever came up with that laughter BS must have been high.

Hopefully the others would sleep for a while, because I was not prepared to explain my medical knowledge. That would only lead to more pity, and I didn't want to punch injured people.

I bustled around the kitchen, pulling out ingredients to make waffles. I had just placed the first batch on a large plate when I heard footsteps.

I braced myself for the onslaught of questions and was shocked when Marcus casually greeted me. "Oh hey Brooke. Thanks for making breakfast."

I nodded slowly, still waiting for the inevitable interrogation, but it never came. He grabbed a waffle and some butter and sat at the table, not once glancing at me. He winced as he chewed the waffle, and I was suddenly acutely aware of his injured cheek.

"Are you ok? Do you need painkillers? I can check it again if you need–" He held a hand up, silencing my worried rant.

"Brooke, I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I know last night was a shock; are you ok?"

His gentle voice shocked me, and I was only able to nod in response. "I know you must have questions, but let's eat first. Then we can both get answers."

I laughed nervously. "Or...we could just pretend this never happened and go on with our lives."

"No, you deserve the truth. And so do we." I groaned at his last words, throwing my head back in exasperation.

"I SMELL WAFFLES!" A voice yelled from the living room. I had hoped Lucas would sleep longer so we could delay the super awkward questions.

I heard a thump, which was followed by a groan. I rolled my eyes wearily and beckoned Marcus to follow me to see whatever stupid thing Lucas did.

We stood over his slumped figure with identical glares and crossed arms. He grinned up at us sheepishly. "In my defense, I smelled waffles."

"So you decided to try to walk with a bullet wound? Marcus, we have Einstein as a brother," I remarked sarcastically.

Marcus didn't laugh, instead looking at me with a puzzled frown. "By the way, how did you know how to treat a bullet wound?" I rolled my eyes. "You'll get answers after I do."

He reluctantly nodded. I had some personal experience with guns. One gun in particular, belonging to a person I'd rather not remember.

"I heard a thump, is everything ok?" Daniel called down.

"Yeah, Lucas is just an idiot," I yelled back. I could hear his drawn out sigh from upstairs. My stomach dropped as feet pattered down the stairs.

I really didn't want to answer questions, but I was incredibly curious as to their reason for dripping blood everywhere.

Marcus and I's raised eyebrows were joined by Michael and Daniel, both rolling their eyes in exasperation. "Lucas, again? Come on man, stop doing this."

My head whipped around. "Again? He's gotten hurt before?"

They shifted uncomfortably. "Let's sit down, Brooke." We all got settled until a groan was heard from the floor. "Is anyone going to help me? No? Mmkay."

I gasped and jumped up to assist a forgotten-about Lucas while glaring at the others as they laughed at my struggles.

Finally Michael took pity on me and dragged Lucas by his shoulders back onto the leather couch.

"So," Marcus began. "Now that we're all settled, Brooke, I'm sure you have questions."

"I mean, I guess," I said reluctantly. I was super curious, but if I asked them questions they would ask me questions. Oh well.

"What happened last night?" Let's start off simple.

"We were planning to meet up with a business acquaintance but it was an ambush." Lucas cleared his throat. "Sorry, trap," Marcus corrected himself.

"What the hell do you guys do for work? Everyone keeps mentioning the family business but no one will tell me what it is."

"We own several properties and invest in many different companies. Also..." his voice trailed off. "Also...what?" I prompted him.

"We run..." he muttered under his breath, refusing to look me in the eye. "Marcus, I swear to God if you lie to me..."

"We run the Italian mafia," he breathed out with his eyes closed.

I laughed in disbelief. "If you're going to lie to me, I'm leaving."

Daniel leaned forward, his eyes pained. "We're not lying. We should have told you before, Brooke. I'm so sorry. We're the head of the Italian mafia."

I breathed out slowly. The mafia. I didn't even know that mafias still existed. I guess that's the point; no one knows about it. "So...you guys kill people? Sell drugs? Human traffic?" If they were in the sex trade...

"God no, we don't do human trafficking. But...yes to the other two." Daniel had a defeated look on his face. Ok. Ok. I might be able to deal with this.

Not really good with drugs, especially after what happened with Benny, but they were my brothers. And they were good people...mostly.

But still, they hid this from me. They expected me to tell them everything while they wouldn't even tell me what they did for a living?

Slowly my anger rose. They pushed me to reveal horrible secrets, ones I hated telling, ones that killed me from the inside out, and they kept this from me?

A slow, bitter laugh got louder and louder as I stood up in rage. "Oh, so I have to tell you all the crappy things that happened to me. All the things I would rather forget. We got past that; we're good! Then you pushed another sensitive subject. But no, I just had to forgive you like an idiot.

"I told you I needed time to trust you. You've slowly been building that trust back up. It all just came crashing down. What in THE HELL makes you think this is fair?

"The audacity to act all self-righteous and tell me it's for my safety when really you're the real danger? You know what? I can't even talk to you. You F*CKING hypocrites."

I ran out of words, absolutely floored at the hypocrisy presented in the form of lying worms standing in front of me.

"Brooke–" Daniel's defeated, pleading voice almost made me break. He reached his hand out, but I smacked it away and shook my head. "No. Stay away from me. Just...no."

"Brooke, please," but I was already running up the stairs and slamming my door. I locked it; I needed time to process and this was the only way I could get it.

Defeated, I leaned against my bookshelf, shoulders shaking at another betrayal.