Page 54 of The Crowing of Hell

“Look at me!” Fin shouted.

“I can see very well, Finn. My eyes weren’t injured,” Rooster said from outside my door.

“Brax, I’m going to brush my teeth and pee. Don’t drag me into whatever this is,” I warned Brax, who kept looking innocently at me.

“My Kenny,” he murmured, stroking my arm, and then dived under the bed.

Moments later, the door opened, and Rooster stuck his head in. There was a huge grin across his lips, which he wiped as he stared around the room.

“Brax?” he asked.

“I’m Switzerland,” I said, causing Brax to pop out.

“What’s that mean?”

“That means I’m neutral, and now your dad knows where you are,” I answered, shaking my head.

“Oh. Duh,” Brax said, and face palmed himself.

Rooster planted his body firmly in the doorway. “I’m going to ask once, Brax. Was that the end result you intended?”

“Nope. But I’m happy,” Brax replied.

I let myself into Rooster’s bathroom and shut the door on them. Until I had coffee, I didn’t care.

Most of my stuff remained downstairs, but Rooster had insisted I have his bed to sleep. He said it was the best thing for a battered body. Hell, my mattress wasn’t a slouch, but Rooster’s was heavenly. Rooster hadn’t pressed his advantage and had slept in my room, allowing me to heal, which was nice of him.

After brushing my teeth and having a quick shower, I pulled on some clean underwear, shorts and a tank top with a built-in bra and headed for the kitchen.

I went straight for my coffee and absentmindedly rubbed Kit’s bald head as thanks. I’d taken two sips before I realised what I’d done. Slowly, I turned to stare at Kit. Yup, he was bald, from top to toe, by the looks of it.

“Er,” was all I could manage to say.

Rooster, wearing shorts and nothing else, spoke, “Yup, completely bald. The little fucker got Kit’s shampoo and shower gel in one hit.”

My gaze focused on all the beautiful flesh and muscles on show, and I lost track of what Rooster was saying. He was even barefoot. I pressed my legs together to stop myself from jumping him.

“Kenny,” Rooster said, amused, and I realised he’d called me several times. With effort, I wrenched my eyes from his taunt stomach and to his face.

“You’re dead, you little fuck,” Finn growled at Brax from behind Rooster, making Rooster spin around and point a finger.

“As it stands, because I’m unaware of what’s safe to use and what isn’t, you ain’t getting your mouth washed out. But when Uncle Chance drops new shit off, you better get ready!”

“Dad, you gotta be joking. Look what Brax did to us,” Finn exclaimed. “We’ve got no hair anywhere!”

“Make that the three of them,” Shee announced, escorting Troy in with an upset Sallie-Anne behind him.

“Touch my Kenny, threaten my Kenny, and hell has no fury like a Brax!” Brax hissed at them.

“Dude, I guess they learnt their lesson,” Rooster said calmly as Sallie-Anne began to beat eggs, and Shee sat down at the island.

“Kit, coffee duty,” Rooster ordered.

“Seriously? You’re not going to punish him?” Kit demanded.

“Was you or was you not threatening to bash Kenny’s head in?” Rooster retorted.

“Because we thought Kenny was a zombie!” Finn yelled.