Page 110 of Sterling Heat

Stone Sylver is a quiet man. Not shy but stiff, reserved. He’s had a lot on his plate, raising younger siblings who had been hurt by their father and missed out on their mother.

“I always had faith in him,” Stone begins, referring to Sebastian. “He was just lost. We all were a little lost.” A sad smile curls only one side of his mouth. “Sebastian just wanted to help. He wanted to ease my burden when I didn’t see it as a burden. I was destined to protect them.”

“Appropriate being a sheriff,” I offer, mustering a warm smile for him.

“Never planned to be sheriff. Thought I’d go into the military. I played college football and planned to enter the service after I graduated because I just didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. Then I was recruited by the NFL and decided the money would help my family. My dad . . .” Stone pauses. “He’d been in trouble for a while.”

I nod, knowing some of the story, but only from Sebastian’s perspective. Their father might have been a different man to Stone.

“Anyway, Dad died and here I was, raising my siblings like I was their father, not their brother. I couldn’t be both and be tough. The brother said hell yes. Raise some trouble. The responsible adult said get your shit together. It didn’t work either way, really.”

Stone beats himself up just as much as Sebastian and my heart aches for both men. “You did the best you could.”

“Too bad my best wasn’t enough for him.” He nods toward the door and lifts his cup of tea.

“I’m certain you were more than enough. Sebastian made his own choices.”

“And I made mine.” Stone glances at me. “I arrested him, for his own good.”

In many ways, I understand why Stone did what he had done. He didn’t know how else to stop his brother and the downward spiral he might have been on. My parents hadn’t stepped up for Seamus. They let him go. If he wanted to do what he was doing, he wasn’t their son. They turned their backs on him. Kicked him out. Never looked back. And now, he is gone.

“Will you tell me what happened”—I swallow—“with Seamus.”

Stone watches me for signs of distress, but the truth is I don’t really know how to feel. My brother has been dead for a decade. He was cremated. There was no funeral. No memorial. My parents didn’t want to discuss the circumstances of his death. I don’t recall any news coverage of a trial or proceedings. He was just some guy dying from drugs. Nothing newsworthy.

“We’d gotten the call that there might be an issue at the house. We’d received so many calls about this place. Flashlights and suspicious activity. Kicked out squatters a few times. Knew drug deals went down here.” Stone stares at the mug in his hand. “I remember wanting to ignore the call, but then Vale called me. Told me Sebastian was in trouble. We came into the house and found a body that was black and blue and bloody. Shortly after I arrived, I heard noises. Someone was running out of the house. I pursued and when I caught up to the person, it was Sebastian.”

With one hand, Stone scrubs over his graying beard. “I arrested Sebastian on drug possession with intent to sell. Figured the guy he beat up might press charges and I could get my brother on aggravated assault. Some time in jail might actually enlighten him. I don’t know.” Stone sighs, leaning forward. “But then, a man . . . your brother . . . was dead. The local judge wanted to make an example of Sebastian. He was my brother, but guilt was on his hands. I convinced Sebastian to plead guilty to manslaughter.”

“But you weren’t certain, were you?” Stone doesn’t sound convinced his brother had hurt mine.

“It’s possible your brother had a heart attack during the beating. Didn’t look like he fought back based on how clean Sebastian’s body was of bruises. And the toxicology report on Seamus was high.”

Was Seamus scared? Was he numb? Did he know what was happening to him? Did he just give up? My head is processing too many questions at once.

Stone sighs. “As for Sebastian, I wanted my brother off the market. And he gave us one name. Because of his prior arrest for breaking and entering, plus known drug possession and intent to sell, the judge set the sentence at seven years.”

I remain quiet.

“When Sebastian got out of jail, he was clean. He was also a different man. And the bakery was his redemption.”

Stone glances up at me. “I don’t think Rena is our culprit, but I’ll be looking into her. I don’t want to rule out anyone from Sebastian’s past.”

“He said he didn’t know her then.”

“He didn’t, but you never know how tangled the drug web is.” Stone gives me a compassionate gaze. “I’m sorry about your brother.”

“I’m sorry about yours.” Stone had to make some tough decisions about Sebastian. Maybe my parents made a tough choice, too, even if I didn’t agree with it.

I tug Adara tighter, hoping I never have to make choices like these about her.

Stone sits a few more minutes, staring at his tea mug. “You’re the best thing to happen to him. You and that pretty baby.” He nods. “And I don’t want him to lose you.”

“Right now, I don’t know what to think or do. But Sebastian might be the one lost, not me. He doesn’t want to be a father or believe in having a family, and I don’t think his opinion is going to change.”

Heartbroken, I stare down at Adara.

If anything, this current situation has solidified how much he doesn’t want those things . . . with me.