Jey hadn't spoken to Jimmy or Solo in days.

He needed space. Time to process. Time to feel whatever the hell he was feeling without his brothers standing in front of him, trying to make it right.

They had all been through hell together, stood side by side in battles that tested them, but this? This was different. This was personal. This was betrayal in a way he hadn't seen coming.

So, he stayed away. Ignored their calls. Avoided the family group chat. Kept to himself.

Except for Natalia.

She had been patient, never pushing, never forcing him to talk before he was ready. But tonight, as they sat on the couch in her living room, the weight of his silence finally cracked.

Natalia curled up beside him, her fingers lightly tracing over his knuckles. "You can't shut them out forever, Jey."

His jaw clenched. "I ain't ready."

She nodded, as if she understood, and maybe she did. "I get that," she said softly. "But talk to me. What's really going on in your head?"

Jey exhaled, running a hand over his face before leaning back against the cushions. "I don't know, Nati. I feel... I feel stupid. I really thought that little girl was mine. I let myself believe it. And now?" He shook his head, his voice tightening. "Now I find out my own brother was the one who-" He stopped, pressing his lips together.

Natalia stayed quiet, giving him the space to find the words.

He finally sighed. "I just keep thinkin', what else don't I know? Who else gonna blindside me?"

Natalia shifted, turning to face him more. "Jey, Solo didn't know. He didn't hide anything from you. And Jimmy? He's just caught in the middle of it all."

Jey let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "That don't make it feel any better."

"No, it doesn't." Natalia reached for his hand again, squeezing gently. "But shutting them out isn't gonna make it hurt any less, either."

Jey stared down at their joined hands, his thumb brushing absently over her skin. "I don't know how to move past this, Nati." His voice was low, raw. "That's my own blood, man. And I can't even look at him without feelin'-" He stopped himself again, his throat tightening.

Natalia shifted closer, pressing a soft kiss to his shoulder. "Then don't force it," she murmured. "Take your time. But don't stay stuck in this anger, Jey. You don't have to figure it all out right now, but don't let it break what you have with your family."

Jey sighed deeply, his head dropping back against the couch. He knew she was right. As much as he wanted to stay mad, to hold onto this bitterness, he also knew he couldn't live like this forever.

Natalia gave him a soft smile. "You're not alone in this, okay? No matter what happens, I'm here."

Jey looked at her then, really looked at her, and for the first time in days, the weight on his chest felt a little lighter.

"I know," he murmured, squeezing her hand. "And that's the only thing keepin' me sane right now."

Natalia smiled, leaning into him, her warmth grounding him in a way nothing else had.

Maybe he wasn't ready to fix things with his brothers just yet.

But with Natalia by his side, he knew he'd get there.