Ten

Once we returned to our hotel room. Everyone had gathered and got the whole story from Jo.

After Lily left her in the restroom, Jo didn't want to wait and decided to explore. She went to look around each stall. Jo thought it would be fun without an adult by her side.

Then Jo saw ice cream and wanted to buy it, but she didn't have any money, so that is when Richard approached her. He started to flirt with her and seemed to find her childish behavior cute. He offered to pay for a cone, but Jo refused to speak with a stranger. When she walked away, Richard got handy. Grabbed her wrist as it made Jo cry. Ares was closed by and saw the commotion and started attacking Richard. Seth and Terry arrived five minutes before the frightened Jo, as she witnessed my brother pounding the guy.

Everyone saw it happen.

So, it ended once we arrived to stop the fight.

After Jo had explained and everyone had said their good night. Ares, who never looked back once at Jo, left the room.

I understand how much he wanted to apologize to Jo, but right now, he needs to isolate himself from her before he can.

The guilt hurts Ares, and I couldn't do much as an older sister to comfort a stubborn brother.

I embraced Jo as she sobbed and glanced at Ares sitting at the island table facing away from everyone.

"You're not hurt anywhere?" I asked her.

"N-No," she sniffles and wipes her eyes. "I want my Mommy and Daddy. When are they coming back?"

"Oh, sweetie," I pull her against my chest and rub her back. "They will come back soon."

"How soon?"

"Very soon," I couldn't make this promise because we still haven't returned her. And our vacation is ending soon.

Tomorrow will have the last few days on a private yacht, and if Jo isn't back to her usual self, then I will have to explain to her family what happened and be responsible.

I don't mind, but I'm worried about Jo not being Jo.

"Thea, can I sleep with you?" Jo asked adorably.

I glanced up at Rex and pointed at the couch as I mouthed the words 'I love you,' which shows how much I love the man for being understanding.

Since we arrived, we haven't once made love, and I know it's killing both of us with these urges. But with Jo's conditions, Rex and I have to pull back those kindled feelings once everything is resolved.

Man, I miss having sex with him, and I've been itching to leave the room and have sex with him on the couch. I would have to be quiet, but the way he plumbed me with his cock could make the whole world hear me.

I couldn't risk it.

No matter how much I want to make love, I can't leave Jo.

Ugh!

The following day, we all prepared to head out for our last few nights here in Hawaii before returning home. I helped Jo wear her swimsuit, which she felt uncomfortable with because it was a two-piece and the top piece barely covered her boobs.

She picked out the style for the trip. I shouldn't be responsible for something handpicked to dress sexy for a certain someone. I gave Jo one of Rex's oversized shirts that I regularly use for sleepwear, which was long enough to cover her and made her comfortable.

As we all headed out, with my mini backpack in hand, the driver drove us to the pier where Grandpa's yacht was docked. It wasn't a big fancy yacht, but it was big enough for ten people to board.

Rex got his boat license two months before the trip so that he would be driving the yacht out in the middle of the ocean.

I'm so proud of him.

We planned two days on the yacht with a few of our clothes, then returned to the hotel to grab our luggage before heading to the airport.

Sadly, Claire couldn't make it.

We had to leave behind the pregnant woman as her feet were swollen, she had backaches, and she got tired. I planned this trip for months, but learning about her pregnancy four months ago was a hard decision, especially for Claire.

I gave her the option of not going, but she insisted and didn't want to waste the ticket and miss out on all the fun. So before the trip, I have to dial down all the risky adventures to prevent my pregnant cousin from danger.

So, this time with her body aching all over, she decided to slow down and relax back in the hotel with Don by her side.

They have the whole room to themselves, and I know they will get freaky for two days without us.

Lucky bitch...But I still love her and Don.

Let them have their fun while we have ours.

While everyone is having fun chilling and having a good time, I spot Ares at the edge, alone and gazing at the water.

Turning my head to find Jo with the others, I approached Ares cautiously and surprised him with a headlock.

"Hey!"

"What's wrong, little bro?" I noggied his head as he let out a growl to get me off.

"What do you want?" He replied with little hostility but not too much to start an argument. 

"Geez, Mr. Grumpy, I'm only lighting up the mood because it seems you are not with the others," I say, crossing my arms.

Ares rubbed his face, then combed back his hair, frustrated. "I'm sorry," he sighs. "I want to be alone."

And he means it.

When something troubles Ares, he usually gets things done by himself rather than solving with others who care for him.

Ares will do things his way to make it right, like when I found out he has been fighting in rings to earn extra cash and buy new stuff for us. I've noticed the nice material things, but never caught on once I learned the truth. So, I made him retire.

My brother didn't argue and understood how much I hated seeing him or Effie get hurt. Ares explained that he was doing it for us and venting his anger. I respect that, but I was upset that he lied to me.

"Hey, Ares," I lean my back against the yacht's rail. "Yesterday, what was going through your mind when you beat Richard?"

My brother kept quiet and gazed at the vast ocean before us. The breeze blew at us as I waited for Ares to respond.

"How I fucked up with Jo."

"Ares."

"I didn't want things to be like that, but...I vent my anger on the guy because I was mad at myself for hurting Jo," he sadly explains.

"I know you fucked up, but Jo is in that state because of what happened to you two," I tell him. "You may have triggered that episode, but Jo isn't ready to escape that day. She was doing fine if you didn't approve of her dating that Duke guy."

"That fucker is no good for Jo," Ares hissed and clenched his hands into a fist. "He will pamper them, give them nice things, and after fucking them, will dump them with a new girl by his side. That is how his M.O. works."

Ares drops his head and sighs. "I've been trying to warn Jo about him, but she wouldn't listen, and she's trying to piss me off and..."

"So, that is why you kissed her?"

"Yeah, but I kissed her not only to shut her mouth but also wanted to..."

I gasped, almost scaring him. "Wait, are you saying that you...like Jo?"