Page 144 of Meant for Mayhem

Colton threw his hands up when I didn’t say anything. “I should have known you’d make this a whole thing. Dad just wants to see you.”

“You mean he needs money.”

“Who doesn’t need money this time of year, right?”

Mikko’s hand tensed in mine, and I knew he was about to jump in, to rescue me from this situation yet again. But I squeezed his hand, silently taking his strength while I reassured him that, this time, I could do this.

I could stand up for myself the way I so easily stood up for everyone else.

“No.” I shook my head. “I’m done with him.”

“That’s it?” Cash scowled. “You’re going to walk away from the only family you have left?”

“She said no,” Mikko said, his voice low and hard.

Colton’s attention snapped toward him. “This is a family matter. It’s none of your business.”

“She’s my family. That makes it my business.”

Cash stepped closer, squaring his shoulders like he stood even the slightest chance against Mikko. “Are you going to let him talk to us like that, Shannon?”

My first instinct was to say yes. To let Mikko stand between me and the people who’d hurt me.

He’d do it, too.

He’d send them away and never ask me to explain why my hands shook in his. Then he’d take me inside, put Leena in my arms, and stay close until I could breathe again.

The same way he’d held me on the balcony last night.

The same way Emmy had checked on me this morning.

The same way Lori had loved me when loving me was never her responsibility.

Behind the door, laughter rose from the living room. A child shrieked. Someone yelled something about the pig eating wrapping paper, followed by a crash and three different voices blaming Harper.

That was my family, not the two men standing in front of me, demanding something because we shared DNA.

The people inside that house had never made me earn a place with them. They didn’t keep a running total of every meal, every favor, every moment of kindness so they could use it against me later.

They loved me, and I loved them.

For one dizzying second, the truth of it pressed against my ribs so hard, I could barely breathe. I’d spent months pushing everyone away, only to realize how deep they all were under my skin. How permanent they all were in my life. And I was done allowing anyone to convince me I didn’t deserve that.

I squeezed Mikko’s hand.

“No.” I moved in front of Mikko before he took matters into his own hands. “I think it’s time I stick up for myself.”

Both of my brothers looked a little confused, but then again, I was the only Wilder who didn’t spend the majority of their freetime actively killing off braincells.

“I’ve tried to cut you a lot of slack over the years because you were kids too. Dad went to prison, Mom was gone, and the people who were supposed to step in didn’t. We were left behind, and that wasn’t your fault.”

Colton’s jaw tightened. “We kept a roof over your head.”

“You left me alone for days. You didn’t pick me up from school. You forgot to buy me food. Half the time, I think you forgot I even existed.”

“We did the best we could,” Cash said.

“I know.” The words came out sharper than I intended, my throat burning around them. “Every part of me knows you did, and that’s what makes this so fucking hard to walk away from. You were teenagers and had no fucking idea how to raise a kid. You never should’ve been put in that position in the first place. You were scared and angry and probably as desperate for someone to save you as I was.”