Desperate Victory, page 28
“Because I was one of the people who knew. Isla Cavendish was my mother.” I let those words sit for a moment, the shock rippling through his expression erased the scowl for the first time since we met. “She’d told me she was pregnant. I knew it. I saw her as often as I could. My father moved her many times, tried to put her farther and farther away. He wanted me to forget her, like he had, like so many others had…”
“That means…” Levi blew out a breath.
“I’m your brother. I’ve been looking for you for the past fifteen years. I knew you were out there. I didn’t know if you were a girl or a boy. But I knew you existed.”
“Holy shit,” Levi said, then scrubbed his hands over his face as he backed off a couple of steps. Truth could cure a lot of things. Didn’t always make the process pleasant. “How can you be sure I’m him if you didn’t even know if the baby was a boy or a girl?”
“Because you have her eyes.” Eyes I hadn’t seen in a very long time. “I thought I’d forgotten them. Little pieces slipped away, here and there, over the years. But when you charged out of your room—the look in your eyes. The determination. The fire. That’s Isla.”
“Is she…you keep talking about her in the past.”
“She died.” I suppose there were easier ways to say that. “She died and she left a letter with a family friend. It took a while for me to figure out what it was and who had it. But in the letter she detailed everything—and asked me to find you. One last quest.”
“And—the husband isn’t my father?”
“No,” I said, then shrugged. “As far as I know. We can certainly do a paternity test. The idea he lied all these years is plausible. Either way, we’ll figure it out.”
Levi paced away and then back. His hands opened and closed. I’d just dumped a lot onto him. Maybe I should have waited.
“So what happens now?” He stared over to where Lainey was cradling Andrea now. We needed to get them all out of here. It was cold, ugly, and the gothic horror show of this so-called school made me want to raze it to the ground.
“You come home with me.”
“Just like that?” He spun to look at me.
“You’re my brother.” I was finally talking to my brother and I didn’t know what to do with the tremulous emotion that kept trying to inflate in my chest. Anger kept it in check, but at the same time…
I’d found him.
“So, yes,” I continued. “Just like that, you come home with me.”
“You make it sound easy. I don’t even know where my passport is.”
“Doesn’t matter.” There were ways to deal with paperwork. “I’ll get you there. You’ll have a home, family, unfortunately school. But we can get you caught up. Do all the normal things.” Whatever the hell normal was.
“Whatever that means,” he echoed my own thoughts on it. When he looked toward Andrea once more, I took a chance and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Her sister lives with me,” I said. “You’ll still be able to see Andrea.”
One squeeze and then I turned to walk away. Better to give him time to process that. For all that we were brothers in blood, we were strangers. It would take time.
It would take all of them time.
Even as I walked I caught sight of Milo talking to Theo. He wasn’t alone, Doc was there with him. I must have missed when Doc arrived on the scene. Made sense to have him here though.
“Hey,” Ezra said as he jogged up. “We’re doing another head count.”
“Why?” I studied him.
“Cause we’re short a kid. I keep getting four boys, and four girls.”
I frowned, then scanned the area. Levi was where I’d left him. He watched me, though he looked away when I glanced at him. I counted.
Four boys.
With Andrea, four girls. The other three were huddled together in another car with a woman who worked for Margareta Waldemar.
“Dark haired boy, maybe 5’8,” I said. “Hundred and fifty pounds, maybe. Definitely in the ganglier stage. Darker skin, more olive in complexion. No scars or significant marks that I can think of.”
I’d let all of those kids out.
There was definitely one missing.
“Fuck,” Ezra said. “We need to get out of here. Get Andrea back to the apartment. I’m assuming Theo over there and your brother…”
I nodded. “I’m going to do another sweep. Just make sure he didn’t go inside to hide in a familiar place.”
“I’ll be here,” Ezra said.
I didn’t even make it to the first stairs to go up to the second floor before Levi caught up with me. “What are we doing?”
“One of the boys is missing. The one who was in 309.”
“That’s Kostya,” Levi said and he turned to go back to the door and stare out at the vast number of moving parts and vehicles out front. “Are you sure he’s missing?”
“Yes,” I said. “I’m going to sweep the building. See if he came in to hide.”
“So no one grabs him and sells him onward or worse, turns him over to the government.” From the way Levi said it, the latter was far worse than the former.
“Precisely. Do you know any spots he liked to hide in?”
“I can think of a couple.” Then he locked eyes with me. “What are you going to do if we find him?”
“Make sure gets home.”
Levi stared for a long moment, searching my face for the truth. Whatever he saw must have settled him, because he started up the stairs and took them two at a time.
“There’s a place on the fourth floor near the roof access…”
Chapter
Thirty-Four
LAINEY
In the kitchen, I wrapped my hands around the huge mug of coffee that Ezra had made for me. I hadn’t even realized there was an espresso machine in the place. It made sense, I supposed. Exhaustion draped me like a cloak, but there was elation amidst it all.
Andrea was with us. Doc had checked her out briefly at the site, but he advised a more thorough exam at home. I planned on that too. I’d broached a couple of uncomfortable topics with her. As much as she told me about the school, about the other kids, she was circumspect on so much else.
The only saving grace I received at all was the fact she hadn’t been raped. She promised. It had taken coaxing to convince her to leave and come to the apartment we’d rented. The guys were all on edge, they needed us out of the open. I needed us out of the open.
When Andrea realized two of her friends were coming with us, she relented. Margareta took charge of the rest of the children. I would call her later. She told me we were going to identify them, and see if we could get them back to their families.
“And if they don’t have families?” Levi did, but no one had known about his family before Bodhi found him.
“Then we will find them new families.” The absolutism in Margareta’s voice convinced me more than the words themselves. “Go on. Take your sister back. Get some rest. We’ll talk tomorrow.” She turned to go then.
“Margareta…”
She paused and glanced back at me.
“Thank you. Thank you for—” I motioned to the school then just spread my hands. “Thank you for everything.” We would never have located Andrea so quickly but for Margareta’s intervention.
“Get some rest, darling girl. We’ll talk tomorrow.” Her smile was gentle, but firm.
The drive back had been almost as exhausting as the rest of the day. Theo rode up front with Kellan. He’d refused to get in the back with Levi and Andrea. Despite everything, he was holding himself aloof from Pretty Boy.
It irked me, but Milo shook his head once at my questioning glance. Levi had taken the news from Bodhi with a kind of curious calmness. Theo was just angry. Frankly, all things being equal, who could blame them? Once back at the apartment, I stayed with Andrea while she showered, then helped her into my clothes.
After I tucked her in, I kept staring at her and she’d given me a plaintive look. “Lainey, I’m tired.”
“I know sweetheart and I promise to get over this need to keep my eyes on you soon, but I’m going to sit here for a few more minutes until you sleep. Okay?”
She groaned, but then reached for my hand and squeezed it tight. “I missed you too,” she whispered. “I missed you guys and Mom and Dad and everything.”
I pressed a kiss to her head and just stayed there holding her hand until she was asleep.
Adam ducked into a shower while I came down. Unsurprisingly, he’d been in the hall listening. When I slipped out of her room, he’d wrapped me up in a tight hug and I had to blink back my own tears.
We still had to tell her about Harper and Melissa. I just didn’t have it in me tonight. That brought me down here with the coffee and the standoff in the living room.
Theo had his arms folded, his expression mutinous and the hard line of his jaw did not belong on a teenager. Or maybe it did. He was in that awkward stage, lanky and a little awkward, like his body was too big for him.
Where Levi looked like Bodhi—the resemblance was clearer in actual light—Theo and Milo looked nothing alike. Theo looked like King though and even if we hadn’t had his identification courtesy of Hans…
“You should get some sleep,” Ezra said in a low voice, while running his knuckles up and down my arm. “It’s going to be dawn soon.”
Was it? “That explains why I’m so tired.” Leaning my head against his shoulder, I hugged the coffee to me. As weary as I was, I didn’t think I’d sleep if I laid down.
Too many loose threads. Far too many. Em’s show opened tonight too. I wouldn’t miss it.
Across the room, Levi frowned as he glanced toward Ezra and me.
“Look, I don’t care who you are,” Theo snapped suddenly, charging forward until he was chest to chest with Milo. “You can say you’re a fucking royal ass prince, and I still wouldn’t care. I don’t have a family. I don’t want a family. You can get fucked if you think I’m just gonna buy your bullshit and go back with you.”
Hostility wreathed the room around them. Theo was tall, but he lacked Milo’s bulk. Pretty Boy’s face must have given Theo confidence though, because he was all wild challenge and asking to have his ass handed to him.
“Theo,” Levi said into the charged silence. “Let it go. You don’t have to like him—but so far, they’ve done everything they said they would.”
“What? They rousted us and dragged us to some rental apartment in the city? That doesn’t mean much.” But he backed off from Milo. For his part, Pretty Boy hadn’t said a word. Instead, he studied Theo and the kid shifted under his scrutiny.
“Actually,” Bodhi said into the quiet. “The only promises we made were you would be able to still see Andrea and we would figure it out.”
Theo turned that contemptuous look toward Bodhi and I sighed.
“Kid,” Ezra said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “I cornered the market on shitty tempers and letting my mouth write checks the rest of me wasn’t ready to pay. Shut up while you’re ahead. No one says you have to like us or the situation. No one says you have to trust us yet, give Milo time, he’s probably one of the most trustworthy guys I know. But stop being a dick to just be a dick.”
Blinking, Theo jerked his head to look at us. I had a feeling he’d forgotten that Ezra and I were here.
“Who the fuck are you?” The demand almost made me laugh.
“A bigger dick than you are with a lot more practice. So zip it. Take the win, get a shower and go to bed. We can argue more about this later today.”
“That was almost mature,” I murmured.
“Keep it up, Kotyonok,” he half-growled under his breath.
“Promises, promises.” I hid the words behind my coffee and took another sip. As it was, I leaned on Ezra and soaked up his nearness.
The standoff lasted another thirty seconds and Theo backed down. Again. The kid was a fighter. Like his siblings, he was fierce and ready to fight for what he believed in.
Now, we just had to teach him he wasn’t alone anymore.
“Fine,” Theo said. “Where is my room?”
“Upstairs,” Milo said evenly. “Second door on the right. It shares a bathroom with the fourth door on the right. That’s Levi’s room.”
“Great.” Theo spun on a heel and stalked up the stairs. I was kind of impressed that he didn’t stomp his feet. Then a door slammed. Well, so much for that.
Milo dropped his chin and shook his head. His long sigh spoke to how exhausted all of us were.
“Theo’s… Theo doesn’t mean anything.” Levi offered. “It’s just, he’s had a harder time than some. Kostya was his best friend.”
Kostya. The missing kid.
“We haven’t stopped looking for him,” Bodhi said.
“What about when we leave to go back to the States? That’s what you’re planning, right?” The demand lacked Theo’s animosity. Levi just sounded worried.
“We can keep people on it,” I said. “We will keep people on it.” Margareta had her people looking. “If we find him, you three will be the first to know.”
Levi cut a look to me and Ezra again, his frown tightening and then he nodded slowly before he glanced at Bodhi. “I’m going to sleep now…”
It wasn’t definitive and despite the fact he didn’t seem to be asking, there was a hesitation and question in the air after the statement.
“Get some rest,” Bodhi told him. “We have time. We don’t have to solve everything tonight.” Once Levi was upstairs and we were alone, Milo sat abruptly like someone cut his strings.
Ezra kissed the top of my head as I began to pull away. Pretty Boy needed me. I crossed the room to where he was and he dragged me into his lap. I even shared my coffee.
Bodhi brushed his knuckles down my cheek and Adam eventually descended the stairs. The five of us should probably go get some sleep. But none of us moved.
We’d found all of them. But there was still such a long road ahead of them—ahead of us.
Sleep proved elusive, by lunchtime, I’d given up and went down to order food. When the kids woke up, I had a number of different offerings and food for us as well.
“I’m going to the theater,” I said after I finished a croissant sandwich that tasted far better than it had any right to. I flicked a look toward Andrea who frowned at me. “I’d prefer it if you stayed here, and got some more rest.”
“But Em is performing?” She looked crestfallen.
“Tonight and tomorrow. If you’re feeling up for it tomorrow, I’ll totally sneak you in.” The Vandals had all said if we wanted to leave with the kids, they’d support it. But Em was here and doing this show because of us.
“Promise?” Andrea perked up.
“Yes,” I said, easily enough. “But take it easy today. Indulge me for a bit more?”
Her long huffed sigh made me smile. “Fine.” She elongated that word, but a smile hovered around the corners of her mouth. It didn’t quite touch her eyes, but I had other reasons for keeping her here.
Bodhi caught me while I was changing. “You’re not going alone.”
“I’m not,” I told him. “Even if you just dropped me off, I wouldn’t be there alone. The Vandals are there.”
“That’s fine. They can all keep an eye on PPG. I want one of us there with you.”
Putting on an earring, I turned to face him. I’d gone for something nice but also comfortable. I wouldn’t be in the audience. I’d be backstage with Em. Still, appearances had to be kept.
“You and Milo should both stay here. Your brothers are…”
“Difficult. They’ll be fine. That logic says Adam should also stay and while I trust Ezra’s heart to be in the right place, I worry about his skills.”
Ezra’s heart.
The heart damage was still an issue too.
I met Bodhi’s firm stare and smiled. “I would love it if you went with me.”
“I’ll give Milo the option. He may not want to deal with his brother. But if he wants to stay. I’ll go.”
“I’ll enjoy whomever’s company is with me.” I could hardly fault them for being overprotective. Margareta hadn’t called with any news on Juraj Vedriš and he was one of the sponsoring hosts.
Another reason I wanted to be there with Em.
“Thank you for indulging me,” Bodhi said, cupping my face and I tilted my head back to meet his gaze. The gentle stroke of his thumbs soothed some of the worry invading my whole being.
“Any time I can,” I promised. “Any time I can.”
As it turned out, Milo wanted to stay with Theo even though the kid was making a point of ignoring him. I really couldn’t fathom what was going on in his head.
“Besides, if I go, I would want him to see Ivy perform. I don’t think he’s ready for that.” Translation, Milo wasn’t ready for Theo to give Em that attitude.
“Well, you could always put the boys in charge of him. I’m sure they’d handle that attitude.” I was only partially joking, but Milo chuckled.
“Something to keep in our back pockets.” He kissed me. “Be safe tonight, please.”
I didn’t scold him for worrying. I was armed. I would be surrounded by allies and I would also be doing my part to look after Em. Adam pulled me in for a hug.
With his lips pressed to my ear, he said, “Andrea’s still holding a lot back, isn’t she?”
“Yes, we need to give her time.” When he leaned back a little, I smiled and rubbed my hand against the center of his chest. “She’s off center. We need to let her get her balance back. But we won’t let her flounder.”
He nodded, dropped a kiss on my lips and then released me to Ezra who just wrapped me up from behind. “I’ll look after them all,” he whispered against my ear. “Be responsible and adult-like.”
I grinned. “Don’t pull anything.”
“Ha.” He bit my earlobe, just enough to leave a sting. “Come back in one piece, please. No bruises.”
“Do my best.” One more kiss and then Bodhi and I were at the door. I didn’t miss the gawping look Andrea wore as she stared at all of us or the narrow-eyed speculation on the boys’ faces.
