“What the fuck is wrong with you three?” Charlie barks at us, matching Mom’s anger. He looks at me next. “And you. Was this your idea?”
“Stop it, Dad,” Declan snaps. “You two are being fucking dramatic.”
“Dramatic?” he yells. “We just caught you two fucking your sister, and I am being dramatic?”
“She is not our sister,” Darian says. “We didn’t grow up together as siblings. You two didn’t get married until after we had graduated high school. You are turning this into something it isn’t.”
“You three should be ashamed of yourselves,” Mom says with a frown. “I thought it was just a rumor that something was going on, but I guess you all are as sick as I thought.”
“Do you know how embarrassing it is to get a call saying that your sons are sleeping with your stepdaughter?” Charlie asks.
“Is that why you showed up unannounced and didn’t knock? What happened to giving us privacy?” Declan asks.
“I own this fucking house, and don’t you fucking forget that Declan,” he says, still yelling.
“I’m sorry,” I say through tears. I back away from everyone slowly. I can feel the vortex of panic inching closer, ready to make me spiral. I have never seen Charlie or Mom mad before. “I’ll go. I’m sorry.”
“Mia. Wait,” Mom calls out. I shake my head before turning and running to my room. “Mia. Stop.”
I race to my room, and I can hear someone following me. It feels like my lungs are trying to collapse as I throw open my closet and try to find a bag through my tears. Arms wrap around my body, pinning my arms to my chest, and the panic slams down on me harder than I expected.
“Let me go!” I scream through my growing sobs as I drop my weight to try to slip away.
“She’s having a panic attack. She needs her medicine,” Mom says as she frantically searches for it. Charlie looks dumbfounded in the doorway.
“Both of you shut the fuck up or get out of the goddamn room,” Declan yells at our parents. “This is your fucking fault, so just stop.”
Darian pulls me into his lap, against his chest. He has a firm grip on my arms so I can’t move. “You need to breathe, baby,” Darian says softly.
“I c-can't. I c-can't breathe,” I stammer through my cries.
“Yes, you can,” Declan says as he kneels in front of me. He takes my hands and Darian moves his arms to band around my waist. “In through your nose. Out through your mouth. Come on.”
“I’m trying,” I whisper.
“Not hard enough, Mia. Take a deep breath,” Declan encourages.
“You’re going to make it worse,” Mom says.
“What the fuck did I just tell you?” Declan says curtly. “Just stop it.”
“I’m sorry,” I whimper.
“No, ma’am. None of that. You have done absolutely nothing wrong. You hear me?” Darian asks and I nod, trying to breathe.
“We have talked about this many times, Mia. We love you and you know that. I don’t care what anyone has to say about it. They can die mad for all I care, but we are not going anywhere. Do you understand?”
I nod again. “No, say it,” Darian says.
“I understand,” I say quietly as my breathing starts to level out.
“Good girl. So, we are going to get off the floor and tell our parents to fuck off. If we have to move, we will move. Jared hasthat whole basement apartment that he’s offered us if shit blew up. Okay? The three of us will be just fine.”
“Thank you,” I say, sniffing back my tears. “Both of you... thank you.”
“No thanks needed, babe. You are not fragile, so we won’t treat you that way. Get up,” he says as he pulls me up to stand, then hugs me tightly. “I love you, Mia.”
“I love you too,” I say when I pull away and wipe my face then hug Darian. “And I love you. I’m sorry I screamed at you.”