Chapter 16

URIAH

“Cade and I never had anybody else. It was always just us. Even when we were kids, the only friends we had were just each other.

“When we started to get older, things didn’t change much. We were out on the streets. We did our best to hustle to make ends meet. I worked. Nothing fancy but I didn’t care. I never dreamed of living in a giant mansion or driving a fancy car. I just wanted to live an ordinary life.

“Cade though… He always had big dreams. He always thought that there was something more for us. Riches that were promised to us because of everything we’d been through.”

Bryce was lost in his thoughts but he didn’t have to think hard to give me all the details.

“What about Brickstone?”

“The result of a lot of saving,” he said. “Cade… He made his money. He never told me how but I never asked. It was just assumed that he was doing something that cops like you wouldn’t be too happy about. That’s how he founded the Chargers.”

“Who are they?”

“His group. You can’t make it in the West Bay if you’re not part of some gang. It’s tough trying to hustle your way on the streets when some other group is trying to push you around. It only made sense that Cade formed a gang of his own.”

Bryce looked at me from across the table and sighed.

“Cade has done some things. Some things most people wouldn’t be proud of. And getting involved with Rivera… That’s not an exception. But he’s my brother. I know him better than anybody else. I know he’s not a bad guy. He’s just getting mixed up in something and doesn’t understand it.”

“I believe you.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I… I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who Cade was in the first place.”

“You don’t have to apologize for something like that. You were put in an impossible situation. Cade is your brother. If anybody else was in your shoes, they would’ve done the same thing.”

“But it wasn’t the right thing. I shouldn’t have kept the truth from you. I should have told you right from the start.”

“If you told me right from the start, I doubt things would be any different. I still have a job to do. And your brother seems intent on going through with this deal with Rivera.”

Bryce sighed another deep breath and smiled at me. The kind of smile that you gave when you were trying to hide how you really felt. There was some exhaustion on his face. Everything that happened would’ve taken a toll on anybody. The last thing he needed was all of that to pile on him while he was pregnant.

“I don’t know what to do,” he said.

“You don’t have to do anything. I don’t matter. Your brother doesn’t matter. The only thing you should be focused on is your baby.”

“Our baby.”

“Come on. You can’t let something like this distract you. You still have to eat. I don’t want all of this to go to waste.”

“Well, when you put it like that…”

A generous portion of meatloaf on the table along with enough food to feed an entire shelter stacked on all of the plates. Despite everything going on, my mouth watered and my stomach growled with hunger. I helped myself to the food and almost forgot about everything stressing the both of us.

“This is good,” I said. “It’s not too sweet like a lot of meatloaf I’ve had.”

“I’ve had some time to think about it. Since I’m not working at the bar, I decided to look into what I’m already doing. I know you say you’d be happy with whatever I cooked but I figure I would make it even more special than before. Better than wasting my time sitting around and waiting for the baby to come.”

“You should be proud of this, Bryce. It’s good.”

I smiled at him. He hid his blushing face by taking another bite of food into his mouth. It was nice to see that he was a little more relaxed. For a moment, it felt like all of our problems were gone. But I knew that the food wouldn’t be enough to completely distract us, no matter how good it was.

“It was on the news,” Bryce said. “There was an explosion. Some warehouse. When it happened, I knew you had to be involved.”

“I’m sorry for worrying you like that.”

“Don’t be. You’re safe and you’re here now. I won’t worry about something that already happened.”

Bryce ate with the gusto of a man whose stomach was growing with a child inside of him. His ravenous appetite put a smile on my face. It made me forget for a moment about what I had to tell him.

“I can’t lie to you,” I said.

“About what?”

“Rivera is a dangerous man. After what he did tonight, it’s clear he’s intent on doing anything he can to make sure his plan goes through.”

“I know that you can deal with him.”

“I think so, too. The captain is giving me all of her support. We’re doing everything we can at the station to take him down. All of the evidence we’ve gathered…”

“Uriah?”

“I recorded Rivera making a deal with your brother. The police can use this evidence to take Rivera down.”

“That’s good. Rivera needs to be stopped.”

“I’m not giving it to them.”

“What?” he exclaimed. “Why not—”

“If I give them this, then it implicates Cade, too. I won’t let them take your brother down, too.”

“But you have to. You have to get rid of this guy, even if my brother is involved.”

Bryce said it without any hesitation. It was clear what he was feeling. I smiled at him, knowing that he was on my side.

“No,” I said as I shook my head. “I know you’re only saying that because that’s my assignment.”

“I’m saying it because it’s the right thing to do.”

“I know you’re not adamant about taking down your own brother. Even with all of his faults, he’s still who he is. Nothing will change that.”

“But there’s no other way.”

Damn.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized how complicated the situation was. The answers weren’t obvious and I didn’t imagine any amount of time would help me find them.

“Maybe there’s a way,” I said.

“And what way is that?”

“I don’t know,” I said, shaking my head. “I just… I know there’s a way to get your brother out of this. I just have to…”

The concern in Bryce’s eyes reminded me of everything I was working for. I stopped talking and just smiled at him. The scent of all of the wonderful food filled my nostrils and my stomach rumbled with hunger.

“No,” I said. “I won’t let this case, this situation ruin my time with you. This food is good. Your company is always enjoyable. Let’s just enjoy the rest of the night together, Bryce.”

“I don’t know if I can do that.”

“It’s all weighing on my mind, too. But I know you spent a lot of time on dinner. That’s all I want to think about right now.”

Bryce smiled softly at me and picked up one of the plates. He heaped some of the potatoes onto my plate until it was completely full.

“These are good,” he said. “I think I got the seasoning just right.”

I poked my fork into one of the potatoes and bit into it. All of the flavor on my tongue made my eyes widen in surprise.

“Wow,” I said. “That is good.”

“There’s more where that came from. Help yourself, Uriah.”

“I think I will. Everything is so good… I wonder what you’ve got prepared for dessert…”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

He gave me a wink then jabbed another piece of food into his mouth.

I was always in a good mood around Bryce. Even after what happened tonight, things hadn’t changed between us. I wanted to be with him now more than ever. Everything else could wait.