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“Maybe if I go have a little talk with your fag brother, you’ll start taking me seriously,” Quinn murmured.
The words only served to anger me more and inside I was thinking, ‘Bring it on’ but with the way Beck was gripping my hand and Quinn’s flinty eyes pinning mine, I kept that to myself and instead looked at my brother.
“Who is it?” I asked.
Nathan shook his head. “No idea. I had a computer savvy friend try to trace where they were coming from, but he says the user is covering his tracks by using different IP addresses.”
“Are the threats only by email?” Quinn asked.
My brother didn’t answer, but he didn’t have to because I saw it in his eyes. “He’s come after you?” I asked. When he didn’t answer a tremor of unease went through me and I said, “Have you gone to the police?”
“There are some kinds of publicity you just don’t want when you’re about to announce a senate run,” Nathan responded.
Of course. The job would always take precedence. He really was following in our father’s footsteps.
“Is it just you or is he going after Dad too?” I asked.
Nathan hesitated before saying, “No…Dad’s stepped away from things for a bit.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
A soft sigh escaped my brother’s lips before he said, “He took an early retirement, Brody. He was diagnosed with dementia last year…it’s progressing quickly.”
The news shouldn’t have bothered me since I’d written my family off long ago, but it did. And I hated that it did.
“He and Mom moved to Louisiana to be closer to Aunt Verona so she can help Mom with him.”
I tried to digest that, but it was just too much. The idea that my father had gone from an unforgiving, driven, holier-than-thou political powerhouse to someone who couldn’t remember his own name seemed impossible to me.
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about, but I wanted you to know so you could watch your back,” Nathan said quietly. “If there are any more, I’ll have my assistant forward them to you.”
I watched in disbelief as he turned to go. White hot rage went through me and I dropped Beck’s hand. I was on my brother before Quinn could stop me. I shoved Nathan backwards until his back hit the wall. “You’ll have your assistant contact me?” I yelled. “That’s it? That’s all you have to say to me?”
Nathan had a hold of my wrists where I was hanging onto his lapels, but he didn’t try to break free of my grip.
“You walk out of my life like I’m nothing and then you waltz back in and drop this shit on me…”
I struggled to find my voice as the emotion took over. I shoved back from Nathan. “You were my big brother,” I whispered, hating how my voice cracked.
For the first time, I saw my brother’s face falter and he dropped his eyes. But he didn’t say anything. He just stood there, locked in silence as my world fell apart all over again. It was like we were back in my apartment three years earlier, my brother’s ugly vitriol ringing in my ears as I watched him walk away from me.
“You know what, go,” I murmured. “I have all the family I need right here,” I said as I glanced at Quinn and Beck. Quinn smiled at me and I didn’t miss the brief nod he gave me. Beck came to my side instantly and wrapped his arms around me. I kissed him softly and said, “Let’s go eat.” Beck nodded, but as we turned away, I heard my brother’s barely-there whisper.
“You were always so much braver than me.”
He hadn’t moved at all, not even to straighten his clothes from where I’d grabbed him. An uncomfortable sensation started in my chest and it took me a moment to realize what it was.
Yearning.
Despite it all, I wanted my brother back.
“I wasn’t brave,” I responded. “I was desperate.”
“You always did sell yourself short,” Nathan said softly. “You became my mirror, Brody,” he whispered. “That night after prom and then again three years ago.” He hesitated before he said, “Only, I didn’t like what I saw and you paid the price.”
His cryptic statement made no sense to me, but before I could respond, he straightened and fixed his clothes. “Take care of yourself.”
Anxiety tore through me as I watched him head for the door that would lead to the parking area and I knew in that instant that I’d never see him again.
