Learning Curve

Finn

“Here,” Ty says, digging in the front seat of his car for both a long-sleeved shirt and my cell and handing them to me on the third floor of Dickson Garage. The walk here was made in silence, and unlike Ty, I’m not eager to break it. “Ace gave me these.”

“I can’t believe Ace called you,” I grit out, shoving my arms into the sleeves of my shirt and dropping my cell into my pocket. I know he was trying to help, but I’m still fucking angry.

Ty shakes his head. “Ace didn’t call me. Thatch did.”

I nod but avoid Ty’s eyes as he holds open the door for me to get in his car, and I step away from the vehicle instead. I’m not getting in, no matter how much he wants me to. Ty slams the door then, falling into step beside me as I walk. Everything about him is annoyingly sad and concerned, and I want to slap it right out of him.

“How long have you known the truth?” he asks, matching his pace to mine as I walk down the garage ramp toward the second floor.

I don’t have to ask for clarification to know what he means. There was only one shocked brother in that police station conference room at Jeff’s revelation, and we both know it wasn’t me.

“Too fucking long,” I answer honestly. “You’re the whole reason I came here, to Dickson. I wanted to see how the other half lived. To see what it was like to be one of the lucky Winslow kids who didn’t have to grow up with the world’s shittiest father.”

Ty’s head jerks slightly at my words, just enough for me to notice in my peripheral vision, but he doesn’t stop meeting me step for step as we round a corner yet again, taking the ramp to the first floor.

“Finn, I’m so sorry that you’ve had to deal with him.”

“You’re sorry?” I retort on a harsh laugh. “Well, that fixes everything, doesn’t it? I guess I can forget all about watching Jeff beat my mom more times than I can count or defending my siblings when he gets rowdy at night. Because you’re sorry.”

“Finn.” Ty’s lips turn down at the corners into a stupid fucking frown. “You and I both know that’s not what I meant. I know how fortunate I am, and I know I can’t take away your pain.”

He’s so sanctimonious. So fucking magnanimous. I can’t stand it. I stop in my tracks and spin to face him, putting a finger to his chest and letting it all fly.

“You have no idea what my life has been like. You have no idea what my siblings’ lives have been like,” I tell him harshly, and I can feel the blood pumping to my forehead and neck and ears. “That’s right! I’m not your only long-lost sibling from that fucking derelict drunk. There’s also Reece and Jack and Travis and Willow. Reece is in California, but Jack, Travis, and Willow? They’re still living under that son of bitch’s thumb every day. Right now, I have to worry about what he’s going to do when he gets home and takes this shit with me out on them!”

Ty’s green eyes fill with unease and pity, and my vision tunnels. All I want to do is punch the sympathy right off his stupid face.

Impulse control officially spent for the day, I wing a fist right at him, but he blocks it with a startlingly quick catch. My hand trapped in his, I can’t move, and he pulls me into a bear hug that makes it impossible for me to push him away. My feet scramble, but he holds steady.

“Get the fuck off!” I shout as panic overcomes me, but Ty doesn’t let go. He holds on tight as I thrash the two of us all over that damn garage, whispering in my ear the whole fucking time.

“You can stop fighting, Finn. I’ve got you.”

“Let me fucking go!”

“I’ve got you, Finn. I’ve got you. You’re my brother now. I’ve got you.”

I let out a scream as the dam breaks on my emotion, and tears stream down my face. Ty tucks me even closer, rocking me back and forth and shushing me softly. “I, and the rest of the Winslow kids, am your family now. You hear me? You’re not alone anymore—we’re going to fight like hell for you.”

My whole life, all I’ve felt is that I was fighting for myself and my mom and my brothers and my sister. Fighting against a man who only wanted to make our lives a living hell. Fighting against all of the obstacles he purposely put in our way. Fighting. Fighting. Fighting.

I’ve never had someone to do it for me.

Tears still falling, I grip Ty’s sweatshirt with my fists as he pulls me close.

“It’s going to be all right, Finn. I promise.” When he’s confident I’m pulling it together, he gives one hearty pat to my back and then steps away to give me space.

I step back and swipe a hand down my face. There’s a part of me that feels like a weak, pathetic fool for being so emotional, but deep down, I know that’s just my father talking.

I have nineteen years’ worth of being told I am useless and pathetic and weak by my father. Nineteen years of trying to protect myself and my mother and my siblings from a man who is so sick and twisted, he smiles when he makes his wife and kids feel pain. Nineteen years of being broken down as a man.

That takes time to get over.

“You’re my brother, Finn,” Ty says softly. “And everything you’ve had to live with until now stops right here.”

An unexpected wave of relief washes over me, and I nod. Ty’s face swells with pride.

“Okay, you said Reece is in California, but Jack, Travis, and Willow are still in the house, right?”

I nod, panic at what they’re about to face gripping my chest.

“Okay, first things first, we need to get them out,” Ty continues. “Your mom, too.”

“It’s not that easy. I’ve tried.” I run a hand through my hair. “But he always ends up scaring or manipulating my mom into not pressing charges against him.”

Ty shakes his head. “Don’t worry about that. We’ll find another way to pin down Jeff, but for now, let’s get our brothers and sister out of that house.”

It’s a powerful statement—one I never dreamed would actually sound good. I can’t believe how comforting it is not to be on my own.

He grabs his phone from his pocket and dials, putting it to his ear. “Rem,” he says into the receiver. “Emergency family meeting. Meet me at Mom’s, and call everyone else… Yeah, I’m good…but we all need to talk and pronto.”

He hangs up without any obvious argument from Remington and meets my eyes. “Get on the phone with Jack, Travis, and Willow and tell them to get ready. We’re getting them out of that house today.”

“But he’ll be back there any minute.” I shake my head. “And they don’t even know. I haven’t told anyone about this—”

Ty grabs the tops of my biceps and forces me to focus. “You don’t need to worry about anything but telling them to get ready and make sure they pack stuff for your mom. I will handle everything else. You have my word.” He nods. “Now, Finn. Get on the phone with them now.”

My hands shake as I dial Jack’s number. Willow is the most likely to answer, but there’s no way I’m dropping the responsibility of this on her shoulders.

Jack finally answers on the fourth ring. “’Lo?” It’s still early for him, and his voice is filled with sleep.

But I don’t have time to coddle him into waking up. I don’t mince words. “Jack, it’s Finn. I know this sounds crazy, but I need you to get as much of your shit together as you can in the next ten minutes. Get Trav and Willow, get Mom’s stuff, too. Be ready to leave the house as soon as you possibly can. Leave and go to the park if no one is there in the next ten minutes to get you, and then call me.”

“Finney, dude, are you high?”

“No!” I snap. “This isn’t a joke, Jack. Do what I said, and do it now.”

Jack’s voice shakes, but he still manages a pretty kick-ass, “I’m on it.” I don’t blame him for being scared. I’m scared too.

Ty’s smile is both loving and reassuring as I get off the phone, and he jerks his head in the direction we came. We both run back up the ramp toward his car.

Things are in motion, and there’s no stopping now.