Page 100 of Breakaway

“Actually,” I start, making the guys groan with trepidation. “Kennedy Stillwater’s body was recovered during the latest sweep of the property. I didn’t want to say anything until the medical examiner had determined a preliminary cause of death. It seems he died of asphyxiation, but they believe he was being poisoned for several months prior. It would’ve been a slow process that stole his cognitive abilities, making it appear that his death was from natural causes related to his age.”

“Holy shit,” Andi exclaims, her eyes wide with disbelief. “There’s no way Tobias could have done that on his own. Men didn’t prepare meals. Ever. Not even their own drinking water. If it was consumed through food, Ada had to have been the one responsible, or at least an accomplice.”

“I’ll let O’Connor know,” I promise, happily jumping at the opportunity to tack on another charge to Ada’s ever-growing list of crimes. It’s already been determined that her mental health isn’t a factor in her ability to stand trial, after her scheming was uncovered during the FBI’s probe of Jerod Cantmeir. She did everything in her power to see to Andi’s destruction, but at the end of the day, she’ll be spending the rest of her life in prison, and we’ll forget she ever existed. It might take some time, but there will come a day when Andi isn’t inundated with painful memories at every turn.

“Anyone else have something they’d like to get off their chest?” Andi jests. “I’d like to get our emotional confessions out of the way before calling it a night. We have exactly two and a half hours before Izzy needs to be fed again.” The guys and I chuckle, not expecting anyone to speak up, but to my surprise, Briggs clears his throat and slowly raises his hand, as if he’s a student waiting to be called on by his teacher.

“Yes, Briggs?” Andi appeases, giving him a look that’s brimming with adoration.

“I, uh,” he starts, rubbing his palms down his jean-clad thighs. “I think it’s time I addressed what happened before you went into labor. I know I’ve tried to broach the subject a few times since we brought Izzy home, but something always comes up and the moment is interrupted,” Briggs voices. “But to explain why I fled the way I did, I need to start from the beginning. You’ve been exceedingly patient with me, Angel, but you deserve to know what happened.”

“If you’re not ready to talk about it, that’s okay,” Andi reassures him. “If dredging up the past is going to set you back in any way, then don’t push yourself for my sake. I can wait.” Briggs shakes his head, his shoulders set with determination as he climbs to his feet and begins pacing back and forth in front of the coffee table.

“No, you guys need to know. All of you,” he insists. “But I can’t sit still while explaining everything. Being stationary when I’m revisiting such painful memories makes the flashbacks worse.” We all nod in understanding.

“First and foremost,” Briggs begins, giving his attention to Andi. “Charlotte and I were arranged to be married by our parents. I never had romantic feelings for her, and I called off the engagement shortly after the announcement was made. I’m sorry she invaded our privacy, especially on such an important day. But I assure you, I’ve taken the steps necessary to ensure she doesn’t bother us ever again.” Briggs’ tone is drenched in sincerity.

With a wave of her hand, Andi responds, “Not even worth mentioning, Briggs. I know the man you are. But for the record, I didn’t respond to the question you asked me about allowing you to be the kids’ dad, because I was in the midst of a contraction, not because I needed to give it thought.” Briggs grimaces, blowing out a pent-up breath.

“Well, I certainly have a flair for the dramatic.” His chuckle is self-deprecating, but Andi only gives him an encouraging smile. After pacing back and forth for several seconds, Briggs finally speaks.

“Where to start…” Briggs mumbles to himself, then swallows thickly. “Three years ago, after finishing medical school, I took an opportunity to do humanitarian work in South America. Colombia, to be exact. I’d been there for a year when a group of Army SFAB soldiers stumbled across our camp. They were panicked, carrying a severely injured woman, who they insisted we treat as quickly as possible. She’d become a target of the local cartel, so we bandaged her up as best we could and sent them on their way. Later that evening, their Sergeant came by to thank us for our help. Out of nowhere, a truck full of masked men stormed the camp, their guns drawn as they demanded answers.

“The woman we’d treated hadn’t been left for dead, but rather she’d escaped. They wanted her back, but I never even got her name, much less where they’d taken her to. Myself, a nurse named Annie Michaels, and the SFAB Sergeant were all taken hostage. For three weeks they tortured us. I was forced to watch as they repeatedly raped Annie, reminding us that the only way they’d stop is if we gave them the answers they wanted. Even if I wanted to, I didn't know anything. The only one who did was Sergeant Elijah Wilder. Col’s half-brother.” Andi gasps, her cheeks already stained with tears as she jerks her head towards Colsen. He gives her a pained smile.

“We weren’t close,” Col states, giving Andi an explanation for why he’s never mentioned his brother’s death. “I hadn’t seen him in years. He moved out when I was just a kid.”

“He was still your brother, though,” Briggs responds. “I begged him to give them the information they wanted, but he said we were as good as dead if he did. I didn’t understand that at the time; I just wanted the pain to end. But he’s the only reason that Annie and I made it out of there alive. Unfortunately, Elijah succumbed to his injuries before we were rescued. But I’d listened to him talk about his little brother for three weeks straight. How his one regret in life was that he didn’t go back for him now that he was stable and had an income that could support both of them. So I hired a private investigator to track down Col, then showed up on his doorstep, drunk and high, apologizing for getting his brother killed.”

“Which was never your fault,” Col insists.

“SFAB soldiers aren’t supposed to see combat. They train foreign militaries. He should’ve come home alive, not in a box,” Briggs counters, still pacing the polished concrete floor.

“None of which you had any control over, Briggs,” Col reaffirms. “As you said yourself, you couldn’t have given them what they wanted because you didn’t have the information. The only one who could’ve done that was Eli. He made his choice, and it was the right one. I’m sad that he died, but at least two of you made it home.”

“That’s just it,” Briggs laughs, but there’s not a trace of amusement in his tone. “On the one-year anniversary of us being taken, Annie took her own life. So really, all that sacrifice ended up being for nothing. My life alone wasn’t worth your brother keeping his silence. What was the point, huh? Why didn’t we all die, right then and there? Why bring me home, where I’m tortured by memories I can’t erase?”

“Shit,” Col swears. “Why didn’t you say something?”

“What good would it have done?” Briggs questions.

“Please don’t say that,” Andi intervenes, her voice watery and steeped in heartache. “I need you, Briggs. Izzy and Hudson need their dad. The guys need their friend. Your life matters to us.” When he catches sight of how devastated she is at hearing him talk about his life so flippantly, he quickly erases the space between them, stealing her from Dayton’s hold.

“I don’t feel that way anymore, Angel. I promise. Talking about it puts me in a shitty headspace. I know that rehashing your trauma works for some people, but it has the opposite effect on me. I don’t like talking about it because it makes me feel as if I haven’t made any progress at all.”

“I’m sorry,” Andi mumbles, her voice muffled from where her face is pressed against Briggs’ chest. “You don’t have to speak about it ever again.”

“Agreed,” I chime in. “I know I’ve given you shit for how you’ve previously behaved, but it’s obvious you aren’t that person anymore.”

“Aw, don’t go soft on me now, Detective Hardass,” Briggs mocks, attempting to lighten the mood.

“How about you never have to bring it up again, but we reserve the right to check in with you if something seems off. And you need to come to us if you’re struggling. We can’t read your mind, and now more than ever, we all need to be the best possible versions of ourselves. We’re parents now,” Dayton demands, unable to contain his grin when speaking about Hudson and Izzy, which completely obliterates the stern tone he was attempting to set.

“Fine,” Briggs concedes, feigning annoyance, but I think he appreciates having people who care about him far more than he lets on. “I’d like to take our woman to bed now, so let’s put a pin in the heart-to-heart we’re having. Brings the mood down.” He wags his eyebrows, making Andi laugh.

“I know we’ll be cramped for space, but can you all stay tonight? I miss having everyone under the same roof,” Andi pleads.

“Of course we’ll stay, minha luz. There’s nowhere any of us would rather be,” I tell her, pressing my lips to the side of her neck. The way her breath stutters makes my cock stiffen.