Five Brothers

by Penelope Douglas

“Someday,” he says as he squeezes my throat, “when you look, act, and smell like a pristine pair of fifteen-hundred-dollar heels, and you’re married to a lawyer or a banker who tastes like glue and parades you around like his little trophy…” He flicks his tongue over my ear, taunting me. “I can wonder if it’s my son he’s playing Daddy to.”

“If you had bothered to seduce me instead of taking for granted that I was a sure thing, I would’ve let you tape up my wrists, too.” I bite my bottom lip, watching his eyes drop to my mouth. “Because, Iron, my favorite part isn’t the fucking. Color me shocked that you’re the one who understands that the least. What a disappointment.”

“Just don’t ask me to wait for you, okay?” “Not me,” he says, letting me go. “But…you will be a Jaeger someday.” I look at him. “You feel it, don’t you, Krisjen?” His eyes light up. “You belong in that house.”

Because beauty is in the small things and character is in the flaws, and learning that fact can’t be taught or told.

“I guess I’ll forget the things I love, too.” I go back to sanding. “Life takes you over like that. You lose yourself. Who you were when you were five was the real you. Before everything started to kill you.”

“It’s going to be one of us,” he tells me. “Not Jerome Watson. You’ll be ours, or I’ll make sure we all fuck you before we give you back, so nothing compares. So you always regret leaving us.”

He grabs a soda and sets it on the counter, turning to me. I jump when he takes my face in his hands, and I watch him with wide eyes as he comes in close. But then he turns my face side to side, and I realize he’s checking my bruises. “If this ever happens again, I’m going to make an assumption about who was responsible and deal with it, you understand?”

“Touch me.” I rest my forehead to hers. “And kiss me and come to bed in pretty things, or nothing, or my fucking sweatpants, for all I care, because God, you look good in them.” I trail my mouth up her cheek to her temple. “And smile at me when you’re happy, and yell at me when you’re mad, and ride with me on the back of my bike in the rain.” I come back to her eyes. “Drag me to dumb shit like plays and couples’ game nights and stick your tongue in my mouth whenever possible.”