Page 79 of In His Sights

“Yes, it hurts, but I want to tell you.” He sucked in a couple of breaths. “When I was fifteen, Brad was found dead in Forest Park. Murdered. He was twenty-two years old.”

“Aw, no.” Dan uttered the words in a strangled gasp.

Now that he’d started, he had to finish. “It made headline news in Boston for all of a week. The investigation dragged on for months, until finally they closed the case, unsolved.”

“The police never discovered who killed him?”

He shook his head. “His body was discovered by two tourists in the park. He was lying on top of one of the picnic tables.”

“How was he killed? Were they sure it was murder?”

“No doubt about it. Unless his heart managed to carve open his chest, wrench itself from his insides, and place itself in his hand.” Dear God, it still hurt to say the words, even after all those years.

“Jesus.”

“My parents never recovered from their loss.”

“Neither did you.” Dan touched the sweater. “So much pain woven into this.” He traced over the hidden tattoo with his fingertips. “You didn’t need this. Brad’s death left its mark on your life, your soul.”

“From the day Brad died, I’ve felt like an orphan. There was nothing I could do to penetrate the wall of grief they built around themselves. I had to cope with my own grief as best I could. Hell of a way to grow up fast.”

Dan leaned into him. “How did you survive?”

“I would’ve gone under if it hadn’t been for Cory. He was the one who got me through high school. He made sure I studied, covered for me when I ditched class, because Lord knew there were days when I couldn’t face school.” He smiled. “He wrote absence notes from my mom and forged her signature.”

Dan laid his hand on Gary’s thigh. “It’s because of Brad that you became a cop, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I knew when I was sixteen what I was going to do with my life. But I wasn’t going to be just any cop, no sir. I was going to be a homicide detective.” Gary hugged the sweater to him. “I had my future all mapped out. I would find the person who murdered my brother, and then my parents wouldseeme, recognize me again, and realize they still had one son.”

Dan kissed his temple, and the sweetness and intimacy of the gesture eased the ache inside him. “You let all your pain, grief, and loss fuel your ambition.”

Tears pricked the corners of his eyes, and he wiped them away.I’ve wept enough.Except he knew the day would bring more tears before it was over.

“Is that everything? There’s nothing else you want to share with me?”

“Only my gratitude.” Gary cupped Dan’s cheek. “And I have a lot to be grateful for.”

“Me too.” Gary gave him a speculative glance, and Dan smiled. “For a moment there, I thought I was the butt of some big cosmic joke.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Well, how wouldyoufeel if the man you’ve been seeing in your dreams for thirteen years finally shows up, and he’s straight?”

Gary chuckled, until Dan’s words sank in. “That long?”

“I’d almost given up hope.”

“Well, now you’ve met me, I hope I’m not a disappointment.”

Dan studied him in silence until Gary was aware of the throb of his heartbeat. Then he cradled Gary’s head in his hands, and their lips met in a leisurely kiss.

Gary breathed again.

Cory, you were right about one thing. I was single because I was waiting for the right person to come along.

The right man.

Chapter 28

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