Page 23 of Bones

Skull lets go of my hand and scowls at his brother. The two of them have a silent conversation for a few moments before he speaks.

“Let me get this straight… you bailed on our family trip, saying you were busy. But what you were busy with was kidnapping your therapist, who is now standing here in your T-shirt with some kind of Stockholm syndrome? What were you thinking? Kidnapping? Even Ghost didn’t pull that shit.”

Skull looks angry. He’s wearing a leather cut over a tight white T-shirt, jeans, and boots. I’m not going to lie, the idea of seeing Nate in his biker getup has me a little excited. Skull looks hot as hell, which means Nate is going to look even hotter.

“I don’t know,” Nate admits, wincing sheepishly. “I just wanted some time alone with Doc. And when I went to her office, I knew there was something there between us. I wanted to see what that was, and whether I could trust her. If we could trust her.”

“And can you?” I ask, and both of their heads turn back to me in unison.

Wow.

They are both a sight to see.

Perfectly sculptured mirror images of each other.

“Yes, I think I can trust you,” Nate admits quietly, taking my hand into his and squeezing it reassuringly.

“What the fuck, Bones? What if she calls the cops?” He looks at me with suspicion, his jaw tightening. “My brother is not going to fucking prison.”

“I’m not going to call the cops,” I promise, my brow furrowing. “I swear. He hasn’t done anything to hurt me. You don’t need to worry. Nate, you don’t need to worry.”

“Nate?” Skull chokes, a look of surprise etched on his face. “She calls you Nate?”

Bones shrugs, pulling me closer to him.

“What about—” Skull starts, but Nate cuts him off.

“We are only just getting to know each other.”

The two of them share a look, one filled with meaning and understanding.

They don’t even need the words.

“Okay, brother.” Skull nods slowly. “I don’t know what the fuck is going on here, but I hope you know what you are doing. And it really fucking hurts me that you’d rather be here with someone you just met than with your own family.”

“I needed to talk to her,” is all Nate replies.

Skull then turns to me. He opens his mouth like he wants to say something, but then shakes his head. He finally settles on, “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

I don’t, but it’s not like I came here of my own accord.

“I’m going to get back to my woman then. I’ll see you soon,” Skull all but growls. He claps Nate on the back as he passes him on the way out, but says nothing else.

He’s clearly unhappy with what Nate has done, bringing me here, but I think he’s more unhappy that Nate didn’t want to be with him.

He seemed hurt.

And confused.

“Didn’t think I’d be meeting the family so soon,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood.

Nate sighs and rubs the back of his neck. “I’m going to go walk him out. I’ll be back, and then we have a game of poker to finish.”

BONES

“She’s not going to call the cops,” I assure Skull as I follow him to the club car he’s arrived in. I see the car seat in the back and smile. I miss Natalia and can’t wait to see her.

Skull rests his hands on the back of his head. “I just… For the first time in our lives, I don’t know where your head is at, and it’s driving me insane. I’m worried about you, brother. And I don’t know what to do. I didn’t think that loving Isla would mean that I lose you.”