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They’d tossed a coin to see who had the pleasure of taking her out, and Alex lost. The moment the last shot sounded, he crawled to the opening on his belly to wait for Tony to come running.
Instead, he heard two more shots and then Tony screaming and screaming, and heard her tell him to shut up, or she’d put the next one between his eyes. Then there were sirens and people pounding on the door to her apartment and people shouting.
In a panic, he replaced the ceiling grate and began backing up as fast as he could go. In the midst of all the chaos, he slipped out of the empty apartment and lost himself among the people in the hallway and disappeared.
The guilt of leaving his twin behind had eaten at him to such a degree he couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t visit his brother in the hospital. He couldn’t visit him after he was jailed. He couldn’t look him in the eye and see the blame. He should have saved him. Somehow. Instead, he ran. And in his mind, the only way to absolve himself was to finish what Tony set out to do.
Frustrated with himself, Alex stormed into the cabin, slamming the door behind him. He got a beer from the refrigerator and downed it in gulps, then popped the top on a second and sat down on the side of the bed wishing Tony was sitting there beside him.
Even though Tony was alive, life was over for the both of them. They had always functioned as one, and they’d been split in two. He’d never spend another day with his brother for as long as he lived.
He emptied the second can, then kept going back for more until he finished the six-pack. He was sitting on the side of the bed when he dropped the last empty can in the trash, then rolled over and stretched out.
Within minutes, he was snoring.
Chapter 10
Dani woke up to the sound of water running, remembered Aaron was here. She glanced at the time. It was just after 6:00 a.m. He was probably shaving to get ready for work.
She dragged herself out of bed and used the powder room in the hall to wash up before getting dressed. The hall was empty. Aaron had already folded up the quilts and rolled up his sleeping bag. The man was neat, fine to look at, and, right now, her knight in shining armor. But just because he’d stepped up to help her like this, didn’t have to mean anything other than he’d done it from the goodness of his heart. All she had to do was keep reminding herself of that.
As soon as she was dressed, she headed for the kitchen to make coffee, then began frying strips of bacon and beat up some eggs to scramble. Bread was in the toaster, ready to pop down, the bacon was cooked, and Dani was just about to pour the beaten eggs into a skillet when Aaron walked in. She glanced at him then quickly looked away, trying to seem disinterested, when she was anything but.
“Morning,” Dani said. “Coffee’s ready. I’m scrambling eggs. Do you like them soft or well done?”
“You don’t have to feed me,” Aaron said.
Dani shrugged. “I know that. Maybe I want to.”
“Then make them how you like them. I like most everything,” he said.
She grinned. “Then you’re getting them well done. Coffee cups are in the cabinet above the coffee maker.”
Aaron poured himself a cup of coffee and took a quick sip.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked.
“Bread’s ready to toast,” she said.
He pushed the lever down on the toaster, and then got a plate from the cabinet and stood aside, waiting for the toast to pop up.
“Did you get any sleep?” he asked.
“Enough,” she said. “What about you? I’m really sorry I don’t have a guest bedroom. I can’t imagine the floor was all that comfortable.”
“On the contrary,” Aaron said. “Those quilts made an awesome pad for the sleeping bag. Just so you know, I already spoke to Sean. He’s going to set up the security here at your house today. I gave him your number, so he’ll call to make sure it’s convenient before he comes.”
Dani glanced up. “Thank you, Aaron. Thank you, so much.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, then watched as she turned the fire out from beneath the skillet and began dishing up the eggs.
She was carrying them to the table when the toaster popped its four slices of hot toast. He transferred them to the little plate and followed her to the table. Dani went back for the bacon, then got butter and jelly from the refrigerator.
“Do you need cream or sugar for your coffee?” she asked.
“No, thanks. I drink it black.” Then he stood beside her chair, waiting until she was ready to sit down, and seated her before he sat down.
“Can’t remember the last time that happened,” she said.
