<b>Chapter </b>107
<b>We </b>stayed like this for several minutes, soaking up each other’sfort and strength. Drew finally took a step back. “OK, let’s get our stull <b>packed</b>, and then we <b>can </b>see what Connor had to say to Patrick.”
We all broke apart except forke, who was still <b>gripping </b>my hand like I was the only thing keeping him afloat. Since Jake’s stuff was also in my room, I decided to pack my stuff first and then take care of Patrick’s room. I turned to <b>Jake </b>once we were inside my room <b>and </b>hugged him.
“I feel so lost and scared,” Jake said, voice trembling with emotion.
“I know you do, honey, but we are <b>all </b>here for each other and will get through this together. Come on, I said. I led him over to the <b>bed </b>and sat down, pulling him with me so I could hold him. He cuddled up next to me as close <b>as </b>possible and rested his <b>head </b>in myp. I ran my fingers through his hair as he silently cried.
When Josh walked by my door and <b>saw </b>us sitting on the bed, Jake still wrapped around me, he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. Without saying anything, he came over to us, <b>nudging </b>me <b>so </b>he could sit<b>, </b>and wrapped his arms around me, resting his hand on his twin’s shoulder
I don’t know how long we stayed like this, but I had been humming random <b>tunes </b><b>as </b><b>I </b>continued <b>to </b>soothe fake for a while when he finally shifted and sat up. Rubbing thest tears from his eyes, he gave us both a grateful smile.
“Thanks, guys. I’m sorry I broke down like that,” Jake <b>said</b>, squeezing his brother and kissing me on the <b>cheek</b><b>. </b>
“Never apologize for showing your emotions,” I gently scolded. This is what families are supposed to do for each other. I love you and will always do whatever I can to help.”
“Yes, mam,” Jake said, giving me a small smile. I could see some of Jake’s happy personality returning
“And <b>I </b>am way <b>too </b>young to be called man,” I scolded, trying and failing to sound serious.
“Yes, you are, sweetheart. I love you.” He said, giving me a quick kiss before climbing off the bed.
“Love you to Jake. You ready to start packing?” I followed him off the bed, went to the closet, and began pulling out our clothes.
Josh <b>had </b>followed me off the bed. After kissing me and whispering thank you, he picked up his bag <b>from </b>the other hallway and disappeared. After packing, we brought our bags to the front door, and I returned to Patrick’s room. I quickly packed up his things before getting his bag to the door.
When Patrick returned from talking to his dad, Drew and Mike were loading the SUV. I was standing on the front porch enjoying the cool breeze when he stopped beside me and wrapped <b>an </b>arm around my waist. I leaned my <b>head </b><b>against </b>his chest.
“How did the talk with your dad go? I asked, looking up at him.
“Good. I will fill everyone in once we get on the road, Patrick told me, kissing the <b>top </b>of my head and then letting me go so he could <b>help </b>load the
SUV.
It didn’t take long before we were <b>on </b>our way back to the city. Drew was driving
riving while Patrick began telling us what Conner had told him.
“You know our dads were associates in some of the shadier sides of our business,” Patrick told us. The brothers <b>all </b>nodded, and I shrugged. I didn’t know much about it, but I was starting to suspect that my stepfather had gotten in over his head.
“My dad had warned him that even talking to the heads of the bigger drug cartels could be very dangerous, even deadly. They operate differently than other <b>crime </b>familles <b>do</b>. <b>They </b>have no respect for other families, and they react with violence first, not carrying who they hurt. Your father swore he had <b>only </b>contacted one member about a possible campaign contribution, which ended there. But Dad thinks he might have contacted the cartel again while
on vacation.”
Patrick turned in the pasanger seat to <b>look </b>at the rest of us, and we all shrugged. Drew just shook his head<b>, </b>not taking his eyes off the road. I knew Dad <b>could </b>be a ruthless bastard when it came to his <b>political </b>career, but I didn’t think we would be dumb enough to get involved in drugs. <b>Your </b>dads dont allow their people to sell or use it <b>for </b><b>a </b><b>reason</b>. No one wants the cartels to get a foothold in the city.
“I could see my mom not giving a damn <b>who </b><b>it </b>hurt and pushing your <b>dad </b>into something dangerous like that, and I know <b>she’s </b><b>a </b>heartless bitch that only cares about <b>herself</b>.”
Yeah, there was no love lost between mommy dearest and me.
“<b>Thats </b><b>another </b>angle we are looking into, Patrick told me.
now we just hurry up and wait? I asked Patrick.
<b>ne </b>information right now, Patrick said, teaching back and patting my leg.
there is no me
“Thank you to everything, you have doww, Patrick, M means a lot, 1 <b>full </b>lúm.
We are toy, and I would do anything for you gays. The said with a shrug.
After that,
dove was pretty quiet. The tutel on the <b>ads </b>to some noise, but we were each lost in our thoughts. Since we left early in the alternoon, we were able to miss the sky bom wall, and it only took a little over an hour before we pilled into the gatedmunity. Drew pulled
foto the gouage, mud we all got und, stretching, and grabbing, um hugs. As sur walked up the stairs toward our wing, a sense of Deja Vue washed over nie.
This was the <b>second </b>time in less than a week that we had returned <b>from </b>a <b>tip </b>with bad news. I used the news would be better this