Remember When - Ace Merrill (BOOK 3)

Sorry Hero

AJ stood looking down at his baby sister and brother.

At first it had been him and his brother not being scared.

Salvatore had caved now. He was scared. He wanted his mum and dad. His mass collection of uncles and he wanted the safety of his own home.

Hero sat curled up next to Salvatore as his arm was wrapped around her while AJ paced in front of them.

"I can't take it!" He finally shouted.

Salvatore and Hero stared up at him.

"We can't stay here anymore!"

"But we're locked in?" Salvatore asked him quietly. "Mum and dad aren't coming." He whispered saddened as he looked down.

"They are!" AJ snapped down at him. "Remember when we took dads beer? He hunted us all night till someone gave us away." He looked down at Hero as she grinned happily up at him.

"How do you know?" Salvatore asked quietly.

"Because it's mum and dad. You saw them beat that guy up, they'll do the same with these guys."

"And if they don't?" Salvatore asked again.

AJ stared down at him. "They we fight back ourselves."

Salvatore and Hero watched as he kicked his feet about a bit before crouching down and rubbing his fingers in the dirt.

He stood up as he wiped the dirt on his face, creating two war paint marks on both cheeks.

"It's time we show these guys what happens when they mess with Merrills."

Hero giggled and pointed up at AJ as she saw his newly painted face. Salvatore on the other hand grinned up at his big brother as he moved forward, rubbing his fingers in the dirt.

He stood up as his fingers wiped down his cheeks. AJ and Salvatore gave each other a final nod as AJ began scanning the room.

"We have to take one down first." He mumbled.

"We're not strong like daddy." Salvatore mumbled cautiously.

AJ shook his head. "No but we are as annoying."

He rushed over to his sister and half yanked her up.

"War paint time." He said as he quickly grabbed more dirt.

"She'll cry." Salvatore mumbled matter-of-factly, knowing full well their sister hated getting dirty.

"That's the point." AJ snapped as he quickly wiped it down her cheeks, giving her the same marks as them.

Yet to their surprise Hero just laughed, staring up at them both with a proud smile on her face.

"Well that didn't work." AJ mumbled as he stared down at her giggling, pointing to the three of them.

"She thinks it's a game." Salvatore smacked his hand to his head.

"We need her to cry..." AJ mumbled as he looked about.

"Sorry Hero." He quickly blurted out as he reached down.

Grabbing her arm he yanked it up to his mouth and bit down hard.

Salvatore clamped his hands over his ears as Hero let out an ear piercing scream.

Tears instantly came down her face as she smacked out at AJ.

AJ ran from his sister over to the door as she tried to chase him, kicking and hitting out to hurt him the way he had.

Yet she didn't get a chance as the door opened and one of the guards came in.

Angrily he went to kick out at Hero but AJ quickly jumped on his back.

Salvatore realised the plan as he jumped ont thw guy.

AJ began attempting to punch his head with all his strength.

Salvatore yanked at his arms.

Hero stopped crying as she stared confused at her brothers.

Yet when she saw his fist swinging Salvatore off and into the wall, all anger at her eldest brother went out the window.

She fell forward as she dug her teeth into his legs.

AJ jumped off his back as he kicked the guy over.

Salvatore quickly raced back and yanked down hard on his arms as the man fell forward.

As Salvatore still had his hands holding his arms, he was unable to put his hands out to stop his fall.

With the pain of Hero biting down on his leg, his head went straight onto the wall as his body slumped down hard.

The three children stared down at him blankly.

"Is he dead?" Salvatore asked quietly.

AJ shrugged. "I ain't never seen a dead body before." He mumbled as he kicked out at the guard.

He didn't respond.

"You killed him!" Salvatore exclaimed.

"I didn't!" AJ snapped back defensively. "He's just... sleeping?"

"Night night." Hero said with a smile as she waddled up to him, gently kissing her fingers as she pressed them against his head.

The exact same way her mother and father did to her every night.

AJ bent down as he reached out. He unclipped the guards big gun and held it up, Salvatore stared at it wide.

"It's like Uncle Hugo's!" He whispered excitedly as he stretched his arms out to it.

AJ quickly pulled it back. "Mine!" I picked it up!"

"That's not fair! I want one!" Salvatore began to whine.

"No, I got it first and I'm the eldest so there."

"Well you're the ugliest." Salvatore snapped as he crossed his arms.

"Am not! I'm mum's favourite!"

"You're not her favourite!"

"Am too!"

"Are not!"

"Am too!"

"Are not!"

"And I'm dad's favourite!" AJ smirked confidently.

Salvatore scowled at him. "You're not! We all know that's Hero!" He pointed down at Hero as she stared up at them confused.

AJ was silent as he scowled down at Hero. "Fine. She's dad'a favourite. But I'm still mum's."

"Then I'm Uncle Eyeball's favourite." Salvatore scoffed as he crossed his arms over his chest.

AJ's mouth dropped. "Then I'm Uncle Salvatore's!"

Salvatore's mouth dropped in response. "Then I'm Auntie's Connie's!"

Hero reached out and yanked at both her brothers shirts, her eyes on the door.

They tried to shake her off.

"Then I'm Uncle Billy's favourite!" AJ snapped back as Salvatore continued to scowl.

"Well then I'm Uncle Austin's." Salvatore smirked at AJ.

Hero once more tried tugging at them.

But it was too late.

"And none of you shits are my favourite." The harsh gruff voice came from behind them as AJ jumped and spun around.