“Now go. Shoo. Shoo..”

Roger:

“Mom wants a word.” Motioning for the guards to release the barrier, jerking back at the sudden fiery shock rippling through my lower back as Ben and Chris caged Elias inside a concealment box of ghostly orange wisps.

“Really, a cheap shot?” Looking over my shoulder, feeling the shadowy emotions swirling around our link as Elias exhaled into his meditation pose, nodding to our brothers to release him.

“Just stay alert.” Exiting the arena, quickly “poofing” back to the study entrance, learning quickly in our three years with this family that “poofing” unannounced, either resulted in getting knocked the Fuck out, or witnessing situations that were permanently burned into your retina’s.

Pick your poison..

“MY EYES!” Chris’ voice shouted out in mock agony as the door swung open, slamming just as fast as Chris jumped into my arms, burying his face into my chest.
“Serves you right.” Dropping his ass to the floor with a loud thud as Dad opened the door, looking healthy and well-satisfied as he wiped the thin layer of sweat from his perked brow.

“Well, that was fast. Good to see you boys alive and in one piece.” He chuckled darkly as Chris crawled into the study, flopping over to his back playing dead as we stepped over his body with “accidental” kicks.

“Right back at ya.” Randi waved his hand mockingly, patting dad’s chest with a cheeky grin sauntering towards the far sofa with Rex shaking his head in amusement, because let’s face it, no matter how inopportune his antics were, he still managed to get us to laugh and avoided being murder at the same damn time.

Shaking my head in wonder, but it was our family.

“Get up, you big baby.” Mom laughed haughtily, pointing a lazy finger at Chris pouting on the floor, smoothly pouring herself a bourbon tossing us a playful wink as we took seats along the sofas.

“You wanted a word with us.” Elias grumbled from his tensed position, exhaling slowly as our link pulsated with a panicky flutter, inhaling sharply at the sudden surge of overwhelming disorientation and anxiety.

“She’s having a panic attack.” Elias growled in our link as his fingers curled into tight fists, shaking violently against his thighs as dad placed a firm palm to his shoulder.

“Calm your emotions. Focus on her being “calm”, your calmness.” He coached him down slowly, feeling the surge of erratic emotions fade to a calm relaxation as Rex and Randi shared a curious side-glance.

“I don’t get it. Why is Elias effected more than you three?” Rex leaned forward with a lazy finger, accepting a bourbon from mom as Randi declined and grabbed a bottled water.

“Because I never allowed emotion to take root growing up. I had to stay unattached for my brothers, only exception to that was my bond with Max.” Elias exhaled another heavy breath as dad handed him a whiskey straight-up, gulping it down in a single breath as his lip curled over his teeth in a hissing sigh.

“So, in other words, he’s getting in touch with his emotional side.” Mom chuckled softly, winking back at Elias’ stink-eye as we laughed at his flustered expression.

“Aww, does my little brother need chocolates and a heating pad?” Dom chuckled darkly from the doorway, receiving a warning growl from Elias as he greeted mom with a kiss on her forehead, and quick nods to the rest of us as he poured himself a whiskey straight-up.

“Enough picking on Elias. I requested a word with you boys for a reason.” Mom paused quickly to refill her bourbon, smiling softly at dad as they clinked their glasses in a silent salute.

“I hate when she’s cryptic.” Ben grumbled in our link, causing us to snort out a choked laugh, fearing her calm mood could switch to homicidal any second now.

“Okay, so…Mama Eve called.” Mom trailed-off in thought, causing Elias to snap-up straight like a schoolboy eager to learn with his hands laced against his knees.

“Yeah?” We drawled out the word in unison, feeling our links sputtering and pulsating in excitement as she took a sip of her bourbon.

“This week has been brutal, on ALL of us, but there is good news.” Dad held our stunned gazes, feeling my heart flutter in a strange anxious-excitement as the couch vacated our asses, staring down at their calm demeanors. Casually poised in the matching wing-backs with the straightest poker faces I have ever encountered.

“Do you think?” Chris rasped out in our link as we waited for them to speak, which was psychological torture as they gracefully took sips of their bourbons.

“She’s home, BUT…” Mom pointed quickly to us to not say a damn word until they were done with their speech.

“But what?” Elias spoke coldly as his eyes, stared at the black and burgundy Persian rug centered between the sofas and chairs along the expansive mahogany paneled wall with the crackling fireplace seeping out soft waves of warmth.

“She just “appeared” out of nowhere. Mama Eve and Maxine were just turning in for the night, when they heard music playing from her room. They found her in the shower, all the lights off, curled up in the corner crying. She freaked-out when Mama Eve said she was going to call us, she wanted comforting, so they crawled in bed with her until she fell asleep.” Mom wiped away a few tears that trickled down her cheeks, smiling softly at us.

“Well, what are we waiting for. Let’s fucking go.” Elias barked out in a strange tone as his feet began the approach toward the doors, but dad halted him with his hand raised gently.

“Let her rest for a while, but you four, well, five, including Einstein from the grave over there, need to get your shit together and for fucks sakes, take a shower.” Dad shot Ben a perked brow with a crinkled nose, causing us to laugh at Ben’s pouty face as he sniffed his armpit with a coughing gag.

“I’ll agree to that.” He chuckled lowly, dashing out of the study with a quick wave before “poofing” from the hallway.

“You boys go clean up, and head “Home”. Mama Eve set-up some cots in her room, knowing you fools can’t be away from her for more than a second. Randi and Rex can stay in the guest room on the south end. I know someone will be very happy to see you, after she kicks the ever-loving-shit out of you for that little stunt you pulled. Don’t think I haven’t forgot the pain you put that poor girl through thinking you was shot. Psf! If it was me… your “Jollie-lollies” …” Mom circled her finger in a pointing gesture toward our manhood’s, gulping down the tumble-weeds that lodged in our throats with audible gulps.

“Now go. Shoo. Shoo..” Dad fanned his hands out for us to go, turning to mom with a sly smirk creeping along his lips as he gracefully cupped her hand, bringing it up to lips for a delicate embrace.

“Old Bastard has some game.” Chuckling with the guys as we quickly exited the study, heading to our rooms.

Now, Home.