Free Sticks and Stones by Madeleine Urban ; Abigail Roux Page A

and looked at him critically. “Shut up,” Zane said as he sat opposite him in an armchair.
    “You really think I’m crazy?” Ty asked him curiously.
    “Crazy, yes. Cuckoo off your rocker, no. There’s a difference,” Zane answered. “Ask your brother,” he tacked on. Ty raised an eyebrow at him.
    “Ask your brother what?” Deuce called as he thumped down the stairs into the living room. He had changed clothes into something more appropriate for the mountains rather than driving from Philadelphia in a Lexus.
    “Whether I’m crazy,” Ty answered as he leaned back and slumped into the soft cushions.
    “Completely certifiable,” Deuce provided without looking at either of them as he examined a bowl full of peanuts on the coffee table.
    “There’s a difference between crazy and cuckoo off your rocker,” Zane repeated.
    “That’s true,” Deuce agreed as he looked up at Ty and nodded. “Are these Dad’s?” he whispered as he pointed at the peanuts. Ty merely nodded, not looking away from Deuce. Zane glanced between the two, interested in watching them interact. There didn’t appear to be any rivalry. In fact, they seemed to be truly at ease with each other. Deuce deflated a little and abandoned the peanuts. He sat in the old wooden rocking chair near the fireplace and sighed heavily.
    “Zane thinks we’re all crazy,” Ty told him with a smirk.
    Deuce was nodding even before Ty finished speaking. “Right on, brother,” he said to Zane as he held his hand up in a fist and then smacked it down on the arm of the rocking chair.
    “See?” Zane shrugged. “I said it was a compliment. Deuce understands.”
    “I wouldn’t call it a compliment,” Deuce argued. “Doesn’t mean it ain’t true!” he added cheerfully.
    Zane couldn’t help but laugh and relax a little into the armchair. “Refreshing.”
    Deuce cocked his head and studied Zane. He looked remarkably like Ty when he did it. The whole family, even Chester, was capable of the same expression, like they knew something about you and didn’t plan on telling. The longer Deuce peered at him, the more Zane wondered what was up. “Something on your mind, Deuce?”
    “Not usually,” Deuce responded with a grin. “I’m just sort of curious,” he added thoughtfully as he looked over at Ty. “About you two,” he clarified.
    Zane’s eyes slid to Ty to check his reaction. His partner had narrowed his eyes at his brother, but he was still smiling slightly, like they were about to play a game he enjoyed.
    “Another interrogation?” Zane said, amused. This could either go well… or not. There was potential for all sorts of questions Ty might not want answered for him.
    “I don’t interrogate,” Deuce answered with an easy grin. “That’s my brother’s job. I just listen when you give me answers.”
    “I’m sure you listen very well,” Zane allowed after a long moment’s pause. But before he said anything else, he glanced over at Ty for some sort of comment.
    Ty rolled his eyes. “You don’t have to dance around it. He knows.”
    Zane’s brows jumped. “Knows… what … exactly?”
    Ty tilted his head and gave Zane a look that asked him not to make him explain. Zane leaned back into the chair and considered. He suspected Ty was talking about them fucking around. But if he wasn’t….
    “Interesting,” Deuce drew out with an obvious smile.
    Zane took his time speculating how this conversation might go. Deuce merely smiled at him widely and rocked. Zane shook his head; he hated playing head games with shrinks. It took a lot of concentration that he just didn’t want to muster. He was supposed to be on vacation, after all. “I just might learn to dislike you,” he said conversationally.
    “You won’t be the first, Slick,” Deuce responded easily.
    Even if he wanted to, Zane honestly didn’t know if he could manipulate Deuce. The man was too much like Ty. Zane shifted in the armchair and shrugged. “What are you curious