Free Virgil [Marius Brothers 8] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove) by Joyee Flynn Page B

People fear anything different.”
    “Like telling Abraham Dragos he wasn’t a logical man who didn’t appreciate his own people by saying women couldn’t be warriors,” Father drawled. “Virgil’s right and his logic was astounding but I could not believe he just started telling the man that.”
    “I know it was rude for a child to speak to an adult like that but part of me was just trying not to laugh. Did you see Abraham’s face?” Mother giggled, shaking her head. “But yes, like that. I know Virgil still doesn’t understand what he did wrong. He just sees we got mad at him for telling us the truth. Do you see how confusing that can be to a small boy?”
    “Yes, but we can’t just excuse the behavior or he’ll make enemies. Abraham was furious. Whether Virgil is eight or not, I thought Abraham was going to slap him across the room. If I hadn’t been there he might have. Virgil could get hurt and I’d never forgive myself. We have to figure out a way to teach him propriety. It’s not right and it’s not fair, it’s just the way of the world. I’m sorry it’s going to make him feel like he’s done something wrong or it’s his fault but it will keep him safe.”
    “But at what cost?” Mother whispered. “He’s special and gifted. I don’t want that crushed so he can fit the mold of a warrior and what our society says he should be as a child of a founding family.”
    “That’s for him to decide when he’s older,” Father said after a few moments. “For now, we protect him. He can be whoever he wants when he’s old enough to understand it all but if we don’t help him now he could damage his future in ways that can’t be undone.”
    “Right because we ever really understand life,” Mother drawled.
    “Amen to that,” Father snickered. He hugged her close and kissed her cheek.
    “You thought I was the good kind of special,” I whispered as we came back out of the memory.
    “Of course I did,” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. “You were my special little genius who saw the world in his own way. I assumed I failed you. And then it was just no longer an issue. I thought—I’m not sure what I did exactly. That was when Gabriel got hurt badly on a mission and then suddenly you changed. I supposed it was almost losing your brother that made you see the world differently. I never understood. I am so sorry you ever felt that way.”
    “Me too,” I mumbled, pulling away. I got that I didn’t take everything the way it was meant but it wasn’t just that one moment that left me feeling the way I did about my family. There had been comments over the years from my brothers, calling me abnormal or that I was odd, strange, and about a dozen other names. I couldn’t just let this all go. “I need some air.”
    “Please don’t leave, Virgil. We’re sorry,” Father said gently as he pulled my mother into his arms. “I don’t know what just happened but I know we love you. We can figure out whatever I’m missing here.”
    “I’m just—I need—I just want—” I stuttered, never having been able to tell my parents no or hurt them.
    “We’re just taking a walk outside and getting some fresh air,” Mareo said quickly before leading me to the terrace doors. “We’re not leaving.” Foma was right there and the moment we were outside I started shaking with silent sobs. “It’s okay, Virgil. Just breathe.”
    “I don’t know how to process this. I want to weep for the boy I was that thought my parents were so ashamed of me,” I whispered as I sank to my knees in the grass. “Riley doesn’t like me and I wonder which of my brothers think that. Hell, it seems the only people who do are the ones who barely know me. Or maybe they do know me. Caven and Patrick like me.”
    “We like you,” Foma assured me as he rubbed my back. “I think you’re amazing. You forgave us after seeing what happened. Do you know how rare that is? Most would have dragged it out and still