AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I drew her against me, holding her. “Brie, you’ve changed your name and moved across the country. The cult was in the mountains of Montana. That’s where your parents found you that night. You lived in Tennessee for a while, but you’re here with a new identity. I think someone would have reached out to you by now.”
“Is that enough?” Her voice trembled with her words.
“I think so. It will give us a head start to see what we need to do to keep you safe from the bastard.”
She sniffled, then stared at me. “You, too, Kane. You’re all over the press with your college football success. What if you’re not safe either?”
I rubbed her back. The phone call and shit with Marc had happened so fast, I hadn’t had time to think through the news about Wagner yet, but she was right. If nothing else, he would use me to get to her. He was a sick and evil bastard and would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
“Pack your bag with whatever you need. For now, you’re staying with me. I’m not leaving you alone. I need to call Mom and Dad. We’ll go by their place before we go to mine.”
Brie rose, her nose and cheeks red from her tears. I fucking hated this. I was sick and tired of my past dictating my life. Worse, it had come for us right when I thought we would be okay. Anger ripped through me, clouding my vision. I’d lost Brie once, and I refused to lose her now. I would do anything to ensure it didn’t happen and that Wagner never touched her again.
“Let me call Mom and Dad, then I’ll help you pack.” I kissed her forehead before I headed to the living room.
I fished my phone out of my back pocket and pulled up Dad’s number in my favorites. Fear seeped into my bones, weighing me down.
“Hey, son. I’m just leaving campus, so if you hear static, it’s this crazy wind.”
“Can you hear me?” I tried not to yell at him, but I could barely make out what he was saying.
“Hang on. Let me get to the car.”
Rustling filled the line, and I held the phone away from my ear.
“Shit, sorry about that. What’s up?”
“Are you and Mom home tonight?” I shoved my hand through my hair, my nerves raw and on edge.
“Yeah. Your mom should already be there. Alexandria has basketball practice, but she’s catching a ride with a friend. Would you and Brie like to join us for dinner?”
“That sounds good. I need to talk to you guys about something. It’s serious and has to do with our past. We’re in danger. Wagner, Brie’s biological father, is about to be released from prison.”
The sound of Dad starting the car filtered through the phone. “I’ll let your mom know as soon as I get home. Meet us there, son. I’ll see you soon.” Dad disconnected the call. One thing I could say about my parents was that, if shit was going down, they dropped everything and showed up for me. This time, they were showing up for Brie, too. I just wished the circumstances were different.
* * *
“Hi, sweetheart.” Mom hugged Brie the moment we stepped into my parents’ house.
“Hi, Mrs. Cooper.”
“Brie, call me Amelia. I insist,” Mom said before she turned and embraced me.
“Hi, Mom. Thanks for having us.”
“Your father filled me in. Let’s head to the living room where we can talk comfortably.” Mom took my hand and patted it. “Kids, it’s going to work out. I’m not sure how, but it will.”
Brie nodded, then wrapped her arms around herself while we followed Mom.
Dad stood staring out of the windows and turned as he heard us join him. “Hey, kids.”
“Hi, Coach,” Brie said before she settled in on the cream-colored leather couch.
I sat beside her while Mom sat across from us in the matching loveseat. Dad continued to pace in front of the fireplace, wearing a hole in the brown Persian rug that covered a large section of the dark hardwood floors.
“Brie, have you reached out to your parents about any of this?” Mom asked.
Brie wrung her hands in her lap. “No. I don’t want to worry them.”
