Eli drummed his fingers watching Otis and Wayne. He wasn't sure what had them both so worked up. He'd only came by to get his sister and now he regretted it. Daphne was dragging her ass and now he was watching these two foam at the mouth.

"The nerve." Wayne complained. "He should have respect for you."

Otis looked over at Eli and sneered. He was use to it. He'd been use to it since he was a child and it no longer bothered him. No it was the crease between the man's eyes and the slight tremble to his hands, now those had Eli's attention. For all that he hated the man and thought he was a crude piece of shit he'd never seen him like this.

"Are you sure that's him?" Wayne questioned.

"Don't be fucking stupid Wayne!" Otis thundered, blowing spittle everywhere. "HE LOOKS JUST LIKE ELI!"

Eli met his eyes and tilted his head. Leaning forward and bracing his elbows on his knees. He knew that he had a brother out there. He knew for a fact that his bitch of a mother took him when Eli himself was just a little over a year old. He had no memories of him in the slightest but enough bullshit from the man in front of him to know that he was furious about more than just her leaving with a kid.

He'd stupidly asked when he'd been younger if the kid was even Otis's. He'd had a broken arm and bruised jaw after that. He learned quickly to not question the man. Wayne was a good little soldier for him.

"Who looks like me?" Eli stood.

He wasn't the same broken armed boy as he use to be. Otis glowered at him. He knew the look and knew that talking back meant a fight. He wasn't going to shy away though. If his brother was here he had a right to fucking see him.

"Eli don't you fucking push me." Otis threatened.

Eli rolled his shoulders and stared right at him. "Where?"

Wayne shifted and glared at him. He could hear his dull thoughts from here. He was surprised he wasn't drooling on himself. He'd need Otis to clean him up if he did. He didn't have the mind to do shit himself.

"You will not speak to him until I say." Otis snapped.

Eli smiled and Otis shifted fractionally. "You stopped getting to speak for me years ago."

The chill in the air crept over everyone and the tension thickened. Otis looked ready to start a fight. Wayne ready to jump in right behind him and Eli sneered baring his teeth. Daphne chose that moment to walk in. Her long blonde hair swung behind her and she smiled at Eli.

"I'm sorry I'm late. I had to walk." She shot Wayne a dirty look. "Someone forgot to come and get me."

She tossed a bag onto the couch and caught Eli's wrist. Otis tried to grab her but she dodged him while making it look like she didn't. She waved over her shoulder and Eli climbed onto his bike. Daphne climbed on behind him and the bike roared to life just as Otis yelled for Daphne.

They were on the outskirts of town when she nudged his ribs telling him to pull over. He done that and killed the engine. She hopped off and stared right at him.

"I heard the fight."

"My brothers in town."

Daphne's smile was wide. "Are you positive? I know you were waiting to hear back from-"

"Something happened today. I think Otis might have ran into him and started a fight."

Daphne pursed her lips and looked towards the road. "Eli what will I do though if you leave here? Why would your brother come here if not to get you? Who would stay here? You're all I have. IF you leave he's..." Eli bristled. Daphne huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "We both know what will happen."

"Fuck him. If I go you go."

Daphne met his eyes. "Promise."

She clambered back onto the bike and her arms wrapped around his torso. He could feel the tension in her body. She hated being around Wayne or Otis. He didn't blame her and she usually ended up at his place. Hell most of her stuff was there.

"You know even if I go he's going to fight it. We're not related and he's going to accuse you of something."

"He won't." Eli assured. "He don't want people to know he'd fuck his own daughter if given a chance."

Daphne sagged into his back and he started the bike. He wasn't sure where to start looking for his brother. He did know that if anyone hated Otis Early as much as him it was Preston Cornett. With that in mind he whipped a u-turn and started towards Preston's house in hopes he was home. If he wasn't there then he would check his shop.

When he drove by the house was dark and he just kept going. It wasn't but a ten minute drive to the shop and he'd check there before heading home. Town was busy for tonight and he put it to the fact that stupid fucking fair was here. Which meant Otis would be out licking boots and making more connections.

He pulled into the shop and was greeted by a dark haired woman. She turned her head towards him and Daphne was off the bike before he'd even full cut it off. She bounced over to her and started talking. He scowled darkly and eyed her since his sunglasses covered his eyes. She was smiles as she spoke to Daphne but something about her whispered danger. It was a quiet feeling but it was almost like he could smell it on the air.

"ELI!"

Turning his head he was greeted with Preston stepping outside. He stepped off the bike but turned to Daphne.

"Daph don't go anywhere."

She waved him away and kept talking to dark eyes. The woman looked at him and her eyes ran over him, appraising and sizing him up before she smiled at Daphne again. She was trouble. Just what kind he wasn't sure.

"Just the man I wanted to see." Preston greeted clapping him on the back. "I actually called your place not but a few minutes ago."

"I had to go get Daphne." He shrugged.

He liked Preston. When Otis was on a binder and worse than usual he could always count on him. Preston was close to his mom before she pulled her shitty stunt and disappeared. It fucked with them all he knew that. It made Otis and Wayne both worse. Preston wasn't the same either. He'd never had the nerve to outright ask the man if he'd had more than friendship with the bitch.

Stepping inside he could see someone in Preston's office. He sighed knowing he wouldn't get to talk till whatever business the man had was over. Preston shot him a warning look and stepped into his office holding the door open. He followed with a raised brow and pushed his sunglasses up.

The man in question had his back to him and Preston stood close by.

"Mac."

The man turned and Eli felt his heart rate increase. It was like looking into a mirror. No, that wasn't quite right either. Something about this Mac was different in a very primal sense of things. Eli stood staring at him as Mac done the same to him.

"This is Eli." Preston's voice was amused.