Groom Wars

39. What Wonderful Brothers

When we returned home, Leandro's dark affliction remained. As I took a small bag filled with toiletries from my suitcase, he rose from his bunk, hardly himself, pale as a ghost, haunted. I went out into the hall, so did he. I entered the bathroom, so did he. I stepped into a changing stall, and he entered the same one. There was no need to be on guard; I sensed no mischief from him. Only pain. "Do you want to shower together or something?" I asked, unable to understand his thoughts—his strange, ghostly maneuvers. His quiet tread. His muteness.

Some life entered his eyes; a smile crossed his lips. He tilted his head towards me. "Should we shower together?" he asked.

"No." Heat cursed through my face. I had been trying to hold back from showing him any emotion, and he had pierced my barrier with four simple words. Clenching my teeth, I reclaimed my cold face and stared at him evenly. "What do you want?"

Leandro drew the mustard yellow curtains close, blocking us from the view of any potential passerby. He studied my form silently, then said, "I'm sorry for bringing you into this. I got too caught up in the game, and I've put you in danger because of my stupid pride. I'm sorry."

"I don't understand. Why does the marquess scare you so much? Why do you think he'll follow through on his threat? People say irrational things when they're angry; we shouldn't take them seriously. He'll sleep on it. Calm down. Tomorrow will be a better day." I stepped close to him. "You don't need to worry about me, okay?"

Leandro said, "There marquesses are not bound by the same laws we are."

"Lord Columbia's still a man. He's still answerable for his actions."

"You remember Uncle Charlie? And how the staff helped him trick the three of you into that camera-less room."

I felt myself drifting back to that room. To the dimness. The palpitating fears. The hope that someone would believe us and that we wouldn't be punished for Charlie's wrongdoings. I had worried that I would wake up in the morning and have to face Charlie again, deal with his boiling anger and hate. Leandro's thumb rubbed circles on my cheek. He said, "I've gotten so used to having you around; I can't imagine life without you."

I swallowed and admitted, "Nor I, you."

He smiled, pulled me into his embrace, and cradled my head against his chest. My ear pressed against his shirt, and I felt the faint warmth of the skin beneath. He said, "I worry that the staff here can be bribed, and with Lord Columbia's wealth and power, I worry that may allow him to hurt you. Go home, Adriel. It's not safe for you to be here."

"And where will you be?"

"My brother wants to be a duke, so I'll help him get what he desires."

"It's alright for you to risk your life, but I can't risk mine? Perhaps, I would also like to be a duke, and maybe I want to stay here till the end. I don't need you to protect me."

"Adriel...."

I removed myself from his embrace, pressed his hands to his sides. "I don't fear him, Leandro."

"You should. There's nothing humiliating about being afraid; it is an instinct that prevents us from getting hurt. Lord Columbia is mentally unstable. He gets pleasure from hurting others. I don't want to see you hurt by him; I could never forgive myself if that happened."

"I understand your feelings and intentions in warning me, but I don't want to run. And I'm not leaving here. If I see signs of danger, maybe I'll consider fleeing, but these are baseless claims."

"If you don't listen to me, I'll guard you wherever you go till you leave."

"So, I have no choice but to obey you? How's that fair?"