“Sure did.” Bram chuckled. "We're in a good place now; all we need is to find out why they were drugged and left out in the woods to die.”
“Yeah, that’s some serious shit. I’ll background the father and see what I find.”
“Thanks.” Bram closed the call.
“Let's get washed up, and I'll make you something to eat. You need to keep your strength up." They whined a little and then rolled out of bed and headed for the bathroom. Bram watched them and felt every cell in his body react to their naked beauty. He was so lucky.
Bram prepared sandwiches and soup along with orange juice and bottled water. The provisions at the station were sufficient but not great. He would make sure they had a proper meal this evening.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Are they dead?” Margret’s demanding tone vibrated through the phone. Brad looked at Hank and shrugged. He was used to her harshness, but her willingness to kill her own sons had been a shock. Once the job was finished and their business was attended to, Brad planned a quiet, speedy divorce. He didn't want Margret to decide he was taking up too much room.
“There has been no word, and I haven’t reported them missing yet. They were nearly incapacitated when I last saw them, and the temperature dipped below freezing last night. By all accounts, they should be dead by now." Silence fell, and the tension was building. Deep down, he was afraid of his wife.
“Go out there and make sure they’re dead, and then call the police. I want to receive a call before nightfall letting me know my sons are dead. Do I make myself clear, Bradley?”
“Yes, ma’am." She closed the call, and Brad turned to regard Hank, who looked as uncomfortable as a man could look.
“On second thought,” She barked. “I’m on my way. I’ll meet you two at the Lodge. I want to be there when their deathsare announced." With that, she abruptly closed the call. Brad tucked his phone into his pocket and drew in a long, deep breath.
"We need to get this done, sell the dealerships, and disappear," Hank said with a strain in his voice. He knew Margret and knew what she was capable of. People who disappointed Margret tended to disappear, and they didn’t want to join their number.
“I’m not going out there to look for them. They’re dead guaranteed. If they weren't, they would have made it to the main road by now and called someone." Brad theorized. Hank nodded, looking relieved.
“Yes, they would have called. They didn’t know it was us who left them out there. They would have called looking for help." Hank smiled. "I think you can alert the authorities soon, and we can get this show on the road.”
Brad slapped him on the back. “Let’s go have a drink first. We’ll make the call from the Lodge.”
Casey finished washing up after Kyle, and they slipped into the navy blue sweats that Bram had provided. They were a little large, but they would do. "Can you believe we've bagged a guy like Bram Ferdinand. Even his name is drop-dead sexy."
“I can’t believe how easy I fell for him. The guy has taken up residence in the middle of my heart, and he fills my every thought." Kyle remarked, and Casey chuckled.
“Never thought I’d see you lose it over a guy. Your cold, one-and-done philosophy isn’t working with this one.”
“There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him apart from murder, but that's still a possibility, depending on the circumstances." Kyle shook his head and smiled softly. “I alsoknow he would do the same for me. I don't know how I know, but I know."
Casey stared at him for a moment. “I feel him in my chest under my skin, making himself at home. He became a part of me. I feel him, and I know he feels me. It must be a bond thing. What did Sean say about beloves? Do you remember?”
“A beloved was the most loved, most cherished, and that vampires had leveled continents in the defense of their Fated love. It was intense, and Sean almost seemed a little jealous of their absolute dedication to their bond." Kyle moved toward the door. "Bram has lunch ready; let's not keep him waiting." He winked.
"I've been apart from him too long already." Casey moved quickly from the room and, with Kyle by his side, he headed to the kitchen area. Bram turned from the cupboard and looked over his shoulder at the two of them, smiling, melting every single molecule. There were two puddles at his feet.
Bram raised his arms, and they rushed forward. He took them in his arms and crushed them tightly to his chest. “I missed you." He said, then kissed the top of their heads, before ushering them to the small table and getting them seated. He then set two prepared plates before them, poured their drinks, and took a seat between them. It was a position he preferred; he liked to have them both within easy reach.
“Eat up, you need to get your strength back." Casey loved the sound of his voice and just the feeling in the air when he was nearby. He hoped this was real and that, once life settled, he would remain close.
"I understand you both work remotely, so it shouldn't be too difficult for you to relocate to the vineyard." He was fishing, and they both side-eyed him with a knowing smile.
“Are you asking us to move in Bram?” Kyle asked, always blunt and to the point.
“I certainly am. I can arrange to have your things moved here by tomorrow, just say the word." He drank his coffee and kept looking back and forth between them, obviously reading them clearly.
"Word," Casey stated wholeheartedly.
“Word.” Kyle echoed with the same earnestness.
“Done.” Bram took out his phone and made the arrangements.
