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When Gideon returned from walking Ash out, he stood with his arms crossing his chest. The four of us just looked at each other.
“It has to be you, Jaxon. You’re the only one he’ll listen to these days,”I started.
“It’s been years since I’ve spoken with him, or any of the crew, for that matter,”Jaxon replied.
I watched as my brother scrubbed a hand over his face and rubbed at his mouth. I knew it was difficult for him to put himself back in the place we had worked so hard to be better than.
“We have kept up our side of the deal. Kept our mouths shut, stayed out of his business, and continued the payments. We’ve never asked him for anything, Jaxon,”Oliver said.
Jaxon looked exhausted and wary.“No, we haven’t. But now that we are, his terms will change. I’m sure of it. How much more is he going to want from us?”
“Anything. Money is not a problem. If he wants more, we raise the payments,”I immediately said.
“What if it’s not money this time, Aiden?”Jaxon demanded.
I searched my darkened soul for any objection I had, and there was nothing. Brooklyn brought a light to my world, even if I didn’t know how to treat her and keep her close. I wasn’t willing to know that light was snuffed from the world and never have the chance to be in her warmth again. There wasn’t much Jaxon’s father could ask for, that I wouldn’t give to save her.
“We’ll jump that hurdle when the times comes. I won’t be able to live with myself if we don’t try everything,”I replied.
I could see the understanding in Gideon’s eyes and I knew a conversation would be had later once we weren’t in fight-or-flight mode. I tried to not think about Brooklyn being taken by Lyle, what he must have done to overpower her. Picturing her perfect soft skin marred by more of his marks made my stomach roil and anger to curl throughout my body. If the police didn’t handle things, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill Lyle myself.
The nurse, who I recognized from Brooklyn’s hospital stay, came in to find Gideon. We gathered around her and she smiled kindly at us, but there was tension in her eyes.
“He’s got a long road ahead. He made it through surgery, but he won’t be awake for some time. The doctor is going to keephim sedated for at least 24 hours, maybe longer, depending on his vitals,”she said.
“What can you tell us about his injury?”Gideon asked.
She studied him for a moment, then looked over her shoulder before turning back.“I shouldn’t be telling you any of this really. You aren’t family. And the police are already talking to the doctor about the bullet and the patient’s status. But I overheard the detective and that sweet girl is missing. I have a feeling you’ll be the ones to find her.”
“Thank you,”Gideon replied, dipping his head under the weight of what the nurse was saying.
She reached over and patted Gideon, which looked ridiculous with her little hand on his muscular arm.
“It was a single gun shot, looks like it was a small caliber weapon, but the doctor can’t determine that for sure. The bullet went in, banged around in his gut and didn’t exit. He’s lucky he didn’t lose a kidney, honestly. Leave your number and I’ll call you the moment he wakes up.”
Gideon left the waiting room with the nurse to give her his details. Oliver, Jaxon and I paced the small area, avoiding speaking about anything that was flooding our minds. I could guess what was going through Jaxon’s mind, with the pressure of reaching out to his father on his shoulders. If it had been possible, I would take the responsibility and leave Jaxon out of it completely. Pulling him from under his father’s thumb had been hard enough the first time. We would have to watch closely to make sure he didn’t fall back into bad habits.
The four of us piled into the small elevator to go back downstairs. I could feel the emotions rolling off of my brothers and they added to my own. We were silent until we got into the town car again. The city passed by in a blur, my eyes not focusing on any one thing as I tried not to allow panic to take hold.
“Aiden, I’m not sure he’ll help us,”Jaxon said, his voice cutting through the silence.
It was true, we hadn’t left the drug ring on the best of terms by stealing a property from under Jaxon’s father’s nose. And the four of us all leaving prominent posts within the business had left a hole that left things vulnerable to attack. I had kept my ear to the ground those months and years later, to ensure backlash wasn’t coming our way. With our regular infusions of cash, the business became the most prominent in the city. That wasn’t something I was proud of, but it kept my brothers and me safe.
“We’ll make it worth his while,”I replied.
I didn’t turn, but I heard Jaxon sigh behind me. The words didn’t exist to make him feel comfortable with things. I could only believe that he would do anything to help find Brooklyn. Our failure shouldn’t be what leads to her death.
The house came into view and it was dark and oppressive, as I looked at it in a way I never had before. My brothers and I had lived without Brooklyn long before she ever showed us what life could be like. But her being gone now made things feel darker and dead. My chest felt tight as we walked in. Gideon flipped on lights as we walked together to my office.
I went to the safe that was behind a painting in my office. Oliver went to the bar cart and started pouring drinks for us all. Once I retrieved what I needed from the safe, I sat behind my desk while my brothers sat around the room. Oliver set my drink next to me and I nodded my thanks to him. As he walked to sit down, I saw his eyes lock onto the bag of flash drives I had set on the center of my desk.
“This is everything I have on the business. The financials, the dirty dealings, the evidence, everything. If he helps us find Brooklyn, I’ll give all to him, every last copy.”
“That leverage has been what has kept us safe all these years,”Gideon said.
“The money has kept us safe. I don’t believe he’s really afraid of all of this. But if it sweetens the deal, I’m willing to part with it. For her.”
“When did you suddenly start caring about Brooklyn?”Oliver demanded.
