Chapter 6
BRUCE TRIES TO MAKE AMENDS
BRUCE HAD been heading for this moment for a few years now. The realization that he’d been a monster to his brother had led him, step by step, to right now, when he could finally apologize. If he did it right, he and Josh could start again without their history coming between them. Except now that he was here, he had no idea what to say.
So he started at the beginning.
“I was an ass to you, and I’m sorry.”
Josh jerked backward a half step. Clearly he hadn’t expected an apology, and his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “O-kaaaay,” he said, drawing out the word. “Care to be more specific?”
Not really, but Bruce supposed beggars couldn’t be choosers. “I was a horrible big brother. I was supposed to look out for you. Instead, I hurt you every chance I could.” He wanted to give excuses. He wanted to explain about what their father had said about Josh, that he was a monster and it was up to Bruce to keep his brother weak and off-balance. But that didn’t change the facts. “I’m sorry,” he stressed, wondering if Josh knew how hard it was for him to say those words.
“I heard that. I just don’t believe it.”
In all the times that this moment had played out in his head, it had never occurred to him that he might hear those words from Josh—that his brother wouldn’t see, wouldn’t feel how genuinely sorry he was. Josh had always felt things. He teared up at those “save the animals” commercials, and he used to do a happy dance whenever he made their mother smile.
“I…,” Bruce protested. “How can I convince you?”
“Start by admitting the real reason you ate that cherry.”
Shit. “If you don’t believe I’m sorry, then you’re not going to believe I did it to protect you.”
“Bull. That was all about getting power. You saw that I had something, and you wanted to get in on it.”
“I saw that you’d joined a cult and the only way to get you out was to go in myself.”
“Do you even hear how ridiculous that sounds? I’m doing important things here. I’m trying to save the fucking planet.”
“And I’m just trying to save you,” Bruce said, leaning in so he could speak quietly. “That fairy bastard still has his eyes on you. He said so.”
“I can handle Bitter. And even if I can’t, how could you possibly help me? You don’t know jack about anything.”
“I’m a fast learner.”
“No, you’re not.”
That stung. Maybe he wasn’t a mega-brain like Josh, but he was smart and resourceful. And becoming a paramedic wasn’t exactly chump work. But he’d never win in a verbal war with his brother. He took a breath and blew it out slowly. “I’m here to help—to be the brother I wasn’t when we were kids.”
Josh threw up his hands. “Oh wow! How nice. Except you’re ten years too late. I don’t need a brother, and if I did, it sure as hell wouldn’t be someone like you.”
Bruce set his jaw and shoved his fists deep into his sweatpants pockets. He would not revert to acting like the kid he’d been, who would have punched Josh by now. “Lots of people value someone like me.”
“Not me,” Josh said in a hard tone. “I was recruited, Bruce. They need brains, not brawn. You’re just another meathead.”
“Really? Because it looks to me like I’m the only medical skill you’ve got.”
That was a true hit, and Josh knew it. His eyes narrowed and his jaw worked, but he didn’t lash out like he’d done when they were kids. Instead, he rocked back on his heels and spoke with the cold authority of someone who knew what the hell he was talking about.
“Yes, you are,” he said. “And that’s the only reason you’re still here.” He lifted his chin, and his words came out like tiny stones that hurt. “I’m the one who figured out how to defeat the demon. I’m the one who negotiated with a fairy prince and came out ahead. All you’ve done is piss in your own cage.”
Bruce felt his face heat. How many times had he had to slap down a new firefighter who thought he knew more than everyone else, just because he’d finished fire training? The newbies were always high on arrogance and low on real knowledge. He’d taken great pleasure in knocking some reality into their thick heads before they got themselves or someone else hurt.
Josh was right. All he’d managed to do so far was to come back to human. He hadn’t a clue about being a werewolf, much less fighting a demon. But he’d come in hot to save his brother. When he’d heard the menace in Bitterroot’s voice, he’d felt like he had no choice. Josh was in over his head. So even though it might take some time before Bruce figured out his head from his tail, he was here to watch his brother’s back. And that was always a good thing, even if all he did was give Josh the chance to fight back.
“I’m here to help,” he said, because all those other words weren’t going to come out right.
“You’re here because you’re jealous of me.” And then Josh’s eyes widened in surprise, his expression softened, and his lips curved. “Holy shit. You’re jealous of me.” He let his head drop back as he looked at the ceiling. “Why didn’t I see that before? All those times you beat me up. All those things you did to make me feel small. It was because you’re jealous.” He grinned as he looked back at Bruce. “I’m smarter than you. I’m
