Back in my SUV, Alec speaks up.
“We need to move her. Her apartment isn’t safe. That guy is a fucking lunatic,” he says, running a hand through his hair.
“I know, but neither of our places are safe either. He’s clearly done his research on us already. He knew you were younger than me,” I think aloud, pulling the car back onto the highway. We need a place not on the books.
Alec says the very thought that I just had. “Axel’s place.”
I hold my fist out and he raises his, meeting me in the middle. “My thoughts exactly, brother.”
He pulls out his phone to call our little brother.
Shit, I forgot to text Lissa. Sliding my phone out of my pocket, I toss it to Alec. “Text Lissa. Tell her we’re fine, on our way back, and she needs to pack a bag.”
Alec scoffs as he types out the message. “A bag? This chick’s high-maintenance; she’s going to pack her whole fucking closet.”
I consider this for a minute, but no, I don’t think so. She may give off that vibe to the outside world, but she’s not like that at all. Not when she’s out of the public eye. “Nah, fifty bucks says she has one suitcase ready to go when we arrive,” I bet my brother.
“You’re on.” He laughs.
He drops my phone in the cup holder between us then goes back to his own, calling Axel. It connects through the Bluetooth, and Axel answers with our customary greeting, “S’up fuckface?”
“Make sure your spare rooms are made up. We’re coming for a visit, fuck knuckle,” Alec replies.
Axel chuckles. “And to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”
“Kalista’s in it deeper than we initially thought,” I tell him.
The humour evaporates from his tone instantly. “Right, on it. You need Gabe and Kai on this?”
I don’t even have a fucking plan yet, but saying no to the extra hands would be a stupid move. “Yeah, brief them on everything you had in those files. We just left Bradford’s estate; guy is still obsessed with Gina. His eldest son, Michael—he’s Gina’s.”
“No shit,” Axel breathes down the line. “So you were right—this has nothing to do with business.”
Alec stares at the side of my head until I look at him. “When were you planning on telling me that bit of information?”
“I only figured it out when we got there. He has the exact same eyes as Kalista, and she has her mother’s eyes. It just kinda clicked while we were sitting there,” I tell him and Axel.
“How do you know she has her mother’s eyes?” Alec demands. “You could be wrong.”
Shaking my head, I smirk. “No, I’m right. I’ve seen a couple of pictures of Gina with Kalista when she was younger. And you saw Bradford’s reaction when I brought up Gina, and asked if Michael knew the truth. He was livid.”
Alec is quiet, he must be thinking because it’s the only time he ever shuts up. “Shit, I didn’t even see it,” he reprimands himself.
“Dude, I only picked up on it because of my relationship with Lissa,” I tell him.
That’s when Axel pipes up. “So it’s a relationship now? You stepped up your game? I thought you were waiting for this to settle first.”
Rubbing my jaw with my free hand as I manoeuvre through traffic, I admit, “Yeah, well, that didn’t pan out. Turns out denying myself isn’t my strong suit when it comes to her.”
Both my brothers laugh at me, but fuck them. They have no idea what it was like to be around her all the fucking time with a constant hard-on and not being able to do anything about it. My hand got more of a workout in those couple of weeks than it did when I was a teenager. “Ha ha, so fucking funny.” Sarcasm is thick in my tone.
Axel sobers first. “I’m just bustin’ your balls. You know I get it. No fucking way I could keep my hands off Ashlynn after our first time. You did good to keep it on lockdown as long as you did.”
“You two are fucking pussies.” Alec laughs. “Whipped, you’re both whipped.”
I glare at him. “Your time will come, brother, and when it does, I won’t let you forget this.”
He snorts. “Yeah, no, that’s not going to happen. When I get a woman worth keeping, she’s going to be the one wrapped around my little finger, not the other fucking way around, like you two pansies.”
I shove Alec’s shoulder as I drive. “You hear that, Axel? I do believe he just laid down a challenge. Five grand says you will be on your knees for your woman when the time comes, Alec. Put your money where your mouth is, ’ey?”
Axel chimes in, “No, no, let’s make this more interesting. We’re not short on cash; it’s not going to hurt him coughing up five K,” he says. Alec frowns and shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “I’m thinking something demeaning.”
I like where this is going, and I love the sweat that’s covering Alec’s brow. “Go on, I’m down for a little public humiliation to pull the smug schmuck into line.”
Laughter fills the car. “Yes!” Axel exclaims. “How about a naked declaration of love in front of both our crews? Make a big event of it.”
Yes, I like this plan very much. “Done. What do you say, Alec? If you are as much of a pussy-whipped pansy as you say we are, when you finally get yourself a worthy woman, you will give a heartfelt declaration of your love completely starkers in front of all our nearest and dearest.”
Alec chokes. “That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think?”
“Nope,” Axel and I say at the same time.
“Fucking fine.” He pouts, crossing his arms and looking out the window.
Back to business. “We’re rolling out this afternoon. Be at your place tonight. Have Gabe and Kai there to meet us, and we can come up with a game plan together.”
“No worries, brother. I’ll have everything ready on my end,” Axel confirms.
“Thanks,” I say, and end the call.
Walking through Kalista’s front door, I turn and punch Alec’s shoulder. “You owe me fifty bucks, sucker,” I declare pointing to the single suitcase sitting by the door.
Kalista comes flying out of the lounge room, straight into my arms. “Hey sweetness,” I greet, wrapping one hand into her hair. The other holds her waist. “You want to spend a couple of days with Ashlynn?”
Her head pops up. “Why? What’s going on? You didn’t reply to my texts,” she says. Worry and apprehension cloud her pretty eyes.
Pulling her back into my chest, I guide her to the lounge room. “We need to get on the road soon. I’ve got some of my other guys bringing a couple of cars around. And we’ll do a car swap on the way as well.”
Gnawing on her bottom lip, she asks, “Why? Why can’t we stay here? And car swaps? What’s happening, Abe?”
We sit on the twin-seater. Tugging her into my side, I tell her the truth, “I can explain more later—I’ll tell you everything you want to know. But for now, here are the basics, Bradshaw’s grudge extends to you because of your mother. I don’t know why he’s waited all these years to decide he wants to hurt you. Maybe it’s taken this long for him to fully lose his fucking mind to his obsession.” I pause, letting her absorb this bit of new information.
When she’s ready, she whispers, “Go on.”
“The guy is fucking crazy, Lissa—you’re not safe here. He was just trying to scare you before, but that’s not enough for him anymore. We need to go somewhere he won’t come looking, not right away. He’ll find us eventually, but this gives us time to come up with a plan,” I explain.
She holds onto me tighter. “I don’t understand. What have I ever done to him?”
Rubbing circles on her lower back, I try to comfort her. “You didn’t do anything, sweetness. He’s sick in the head. We can talk more on the drive, but we need to get going,” I tell her as my phone beeps with an incoming text from Jessa. “They’re here with the cars.”
Kalista takes a minute to gather herself, then she straightens her spine and looks me dead in the eye. “Let’s do this. Get this shit over with.”
We travel in three separate vehicles; each car is a different model as not to draw attention. Alec in front, Kalista and I in the middle and Zak and Red at the rear. Keeping Kalista in the middle is the safest way to transport her.
We’ve been on the road for fifteen minutes when my phone rings. An unknown number flashes on the screen. Michael. I knew he’d ring, but wasn’t expecting it to be today.
I haven’t told Kalista yet. Glancing at her, I pick up my phone and turn off the Bluetooth before answering. I don’t want her to hear his voice. Not like this.
“Jamieson,” I answer.
The sound of him clearing his throat fills my ear. “Umm…” He clears his throat again. “This is Michael Bradshaw. You told me to call if I wanted to know about my mother. I’m calling.”
Glancing at Lissa again, I hope she isn’t listening. “I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon. I can’t talk right now,” I tell him. “I’ve got your number now; I’ll call you when I can.”
Dead silence greets me from the other end of the line, then, “You better not be fucking with me.”
“I’m not. You have my word,” I promise. If we can get him to come across to our side, he’ll be an asset.
“Good,” he mutters, then the line goes dead.
Dropping my phone back into the cup holder, being the only two traveling in this vehicle I decide now is as good a time as any to broach the topic with Lissa. Placing my hand on her thigh to get her attention, I ask, “How you doin’?”
She shrugs. “Okay, I guess.”
She sighs, still looking out the window, watching the fade away over the horizon. “How is this my life? What did I do to deserve this? Why did my poor beautiful mother get involved with these kinds of men? I don’t understand any of it. And I can’t even ask her because she’s gone.” She sniffles quietly.
“Hey, look at me,” I instruct, glancing from her, back to the road ahead then back to her again, waiting for her to comply. “You didn’t do anything to deserve this; it’s just the hand you’ve been dealt. But we’re going to end this, then you can choose the life you want to build for yourself.”
Blinking away her tears, she wipes under her eyes, then entwines her fingers with mine on her leg. “You think?”
“Yeah, I do. I’ll help you. I get that you don’t want me to give you everything; I understand why now. But I will help you find what makes you happy, and I’ll support you while you do that,” I vow.
Another round of tears starts. “I’m not a crier; I swear I’m not. But I can’t stop,” she hiccups.
Squeezing her hand, I lift it to my lips and kiss the back of her knuckles. “You’re going through some really heavy shit, sweets. It’s normal to be emotional.”
I swallow. Now is the time, I know it is, but I’m worried about how she will react.
“I have something else I need to tell you,” I say. She lifts her gaze to mine as I shift my focus between the road and her. “Your mother had a child before she married your father,” I say, and wait.
Turning fully in her seat, she faces me straight on. “She, what? You said she was with Bradshaw before my dad.” She pauses. “I have a half-sibling that’s Bradshaw’s child,” she concludes.
I nod. “Yes, an older brother.”
A frown falls over her face. “How long have you known this?”
“I only put it together today, when I was at Bradshaw’s estate. His son was there; he has your eyes, your mother’s eyes,” I tell her.
She’s breathing hard. “It’s him, isn’t it? Michael.”
“Yeah,” I confirm. “He doesn’t know. He has no idea his father has had him harassing his own sister.” I pause, taking a deep breath. “If he had known, he never would have done it. I’m positive. His family is everything to him. Well, his brothers are.”
Kalista tilts her head back, leaning against the headrest, looking at the stars through the roof window. “Are you sure?”
“Of what? That he’s your brother, or that he wouldn’t do anything to hurt you if he knew?” I ask, unsure of what she needs assurance of.
She releases a shuddering breath. “I saw his eyes that night when he looked at me. I knew those eyes. I just didn’t make the connection.”
Squeezing her fingers, I assure her, “He’s your brother, and he would never hurt you. In fact, when I tell him that you’re his sister, he’s going to walk away from his father. I just know it. You should have seen him today when he found out Bradshaw had sent his youngest brother to deliver the letter at the luncheon.”
Tears pool in her eyes, but she blinks them away and takes a deep breath, “What did he do to make you so sure he’ll wouldn’t hurt me?”
“He was livid, Lissa. I thought he was going to kill his father right there. He doesn’t want William involved in any of his father’s shady dealings.”
Running her fingers through her blonde locks, she lifts her eyes to the side of my face. “Okay. If you say so,” she nods to herself, “I believe you. When are you going to tell him?”
Picking up my phone, I hand it to her. “The call I took—it was Michael. I can call him back and tell him now, or you can talk to him if you want?”
Her baby blues widen. Shaking her head, she says, “No, I’m not ready to talk to him. But you can. I mean, you can call him back. Thank you for telling me first.”
I nod. “Of course.”
I turn the Bluetooth back on, and hit his number in my recent calls.
He answers on the second ring.