Read Online My Brother's Keeper by Adrienne Wilder - Free Book Online Page A

balled his hands up in the back of Ellis’s shirt.
    “It’s okay.” Ellis inched back. “It’s okay. You did fine.” He glared at Lenny. “Leave.”
    Lenny sat, propped his elbows on the table, and leaned back. The soles of his boots scraped the gravel as he extended his legs out in front of him. “Free country.” His mouth twisted into a smile. “Which means, I have just as much right to be here as you and your retard. In fact, I would say more right, considering I’ve had dogs smarter than him.”
    “Shut up.”
    “Why? You know he’s just a waste of space. Someone ought to do the world a favor and make room. That goes for you too, Queer Boy.”
    “Keep threatening him and see how long you stay out on bail.”
    “I’m not threatening anyone.” Lenny inspected his nails. “Just stating the facts. Isn’t that right, retard? I bet you can’t even wipe your own ass. Probably wear diapers so you don’t piss your pants.”
    Rudy made a pitiful sound against Ellis’s back. “What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you doing this to us?”
    “Because I can, Queer Boy.” Lenny laughed. “That’s all the reason I need.”
    “C’mon, Rudy, let’s go.” Ellis pushed Rudy toward the open space between the barrels. Two other guys stepped into the walkway. They weren’t familiar, but the way they glanced at Lenny said he held the leash.
    “I’m scared.” Rudy sniffled.
    “It’s okay.” To Lenny Ellis said, “Tell them to get out of the way.”
    “Why? They’re just being friendly.”
    “Tell them to move.”
    Lenny rested his elbows on his knees. His smile was cruel. When he spoke, his words were barely above a whisper, but somehow they carried above the noise. “Just so you know, I’m going to kill the retard first, and when I do, I’m going to leave him in a ditch like road kill.”
    A darkness rolled through Lenny’s eyes.
    Ellis swallowed back the bile in his throat.
    “Ellis!” Jon shoved passed Lenny’s cronies. He got between Ellis and Lenny. “You okay?”
    “Of course Queer Boy is okay.” Lenny swept a hand through the air between them. “Everybody’s friends here. We’re just sitting around having a civilized conversation.”
    Jon drew his shoulders back.
    Lenny stood and raked his gaze over Jon. “What are you going to do, Marshal?” And Lenny said marshal like a stand in for dog shit.
    “How about I break you in half?”
    Lenny gave a dramatic look around. “In front of all these people? You sure you want to do that?”
    Jon’s hands became fists. Ellis grabbed him by the arm. “Don’t.” Jon didn’t back up. “Please, don’t.”
    Lenny mocked Ellis in a high pitched voice. “Yeah, better listen to your girlfriend, Jonny boy. Would hate for you to wind up in jail for assault. Then Queer Boy would be all alone.”
    “You motherfucker.” Jon dragged Ellis a few steps.
    Ellis got in front of him. “Jon, he’s right. You start a fight, they’ll take you to jail.” In jail, Jon would be defenseless against abuse. They could put him in a room like they did Rudy. Or worse.
    Rudy took Jon by the hand. “Let’s go home. I want to go home. Please.” He hiccoughed. “Please, Jon. We can play Go Fish and you can win. I’ll give you baseball cards. Don’t fight. Please don’t fight.”
    The heat in Jon’s expression cooled and he let Ellis pull him away. He petted Jon’s back not caring who saw them. They were almost to the end of the eating area when Lenny said, “I’m curious, Mr. Marshal. Did your brother off himself because he was a faggot like you?”
    In a sweep of muscle and rage, Jon tore away from Ellis and went right for Lenny. He scrambled back only to land on his ass on the picnic bench. Jon stopped inches from Lenny’s face and planted his large hands on the picnic table on either side of him. Lenny’s gaze went to his two companions, but they had backed up.
    Ellis grabbed Jon’s arm. Tall and moderately built, Jon was not a massive muscle