Wrapped in armor, p.32
Wrapped In Armor, page 32
“On a private plane.” I smile, and then it drops. “Once we board, you should try to rest, okay?”
Maddox looks out the window as we pull up to Heathrow. “I’m not sure that I’ll be able to.”
“Try. You’re safe, and when we land, hopefully, I’ll have some answers for you.”
Clive veers right, toward the private airstrip before the main entrance.
Still taking in the evening lights of the airport with awe and wonder, Maddox clears his throat. “I, um … I love your music. I’ve listened to it in the library.”
“Well, we’ll get you your very own copies.”
“I don’t think they’ll allow it. They don’t let me listen to music.” He turns to me, eyes full of fear. My eyes.
“You’re with me now, Maddox. You’re safe, son. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you that way.” My eyes heat up as Clive pulls to a stop by Collin’s plane, grabs the bag, and leaves the car running as he jumps out and opens the door.
I nod to it. “After you.”
“You’re coming, right?” he asks, worried.
“Yes. Yes, I am.”
Once in the air, I ask him, “Would you like a drink?”
“Yes, please.”
“Soda, water, or tea?” I ask, forcing myself to turn away because the more I look at him, the more I know he is mine.
“I’m allowed soda?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then I would love one. They don’t allow …” Maddox stops.
“It’s going to be all right.” I sit next to him and crack open a can before handing it to him.
“Some of the girls tell me I resemble you.” Maddox shrugs shyly.
“I would have to agree, Maddox.”
The plane touches down, and Maddox looks out the window. “It’s dark.”
“It is.” I unbuckle myself then assist him in doing so. “Let’s go.”
Twenty minutes later, we walk into a small house in the middle of an open field. Collin looks up from a pile of paperwork.
“Hello, Brody.” He stands and extends his hand.
I shake it. “Collin, this is Maddox. Maddox, this man has been helping us find you.”
“And I’m going to help make sure you’re safe.” He holds his hand out to Maddox.
Maddox wipes his hand on his pants then shakes Collin’s. “Sorry to have put you through the trouble.”
Collin nods toward the table. “No trouble at all. Let’s eat. Tessa and Emma cooked all afternoon.”
“Are they here?” I ask.
Collin nods. “Not far from here.”
Maddox sits and looks at his plate.
“Not hungry?” I ask as I hold the platter of beef stroganoff out to him.
“The women, are they—”
Collin laughs. “Sorry, Tessa is my wife. Emma is, um …” He looks at me.
“Emma is my wife, Elizabeth’s sister. They both love to cook.”
“So do our daughters.” Collin reaches for a serving spoon and scoops some up, dumping it on Maddox’s plate as he chuckles. “You’ll never be hungry around them.”
Maddox looks at Collin then me and asks, “What kind of daughters?”
Collin sits back and smiles. “Tess and I have been married for close to twenty years. We have three children—two boys and a girl. The boys are graduating high school this year. Our daughter is going to be a sophomore.”
Maddox looks at me.
“Emma was previously married. Before they divorced, they had a girl and named her London.”
“That’s an off name,” he comments.
I smile. “It’s definitely different, but it suits her.”
Collin chuckles. “It certainly does.”
“Emma and I have a daughter together, and her name is Lexington. London’s nine, and Lexi is nearly a year.”
“Do they live with you?” he asks.
I nod. “They sure do.”
He looks back at his food and takes his fork. “May I have another soda?”
“You sure can.”
After we eat, Collin gives Maddox a sweatshirt and jogging pants from one of his sons. “The shower’s in there.”
“How much time am I allowed?” he asks.
Collin’s jaw tightens, and his eyes narrow for just a split-second, but I notice it. Then he tells Maddox, “You take as much time as needed. There’s soap, shampoo, and conditioner in the shower. A toothbrush and toothpaste for you on the counter.”
“Thank you.”
Collin looks at me. “You can use the one in the master. Emma will be here in about ten minutes.”
When I walk out of the master, toweling my hair, I am met with tear-filled, stunning green eyes. I drop the towel when she lunges into my arms.
“Thank God you’re okay.”
“Yes, thank God.”
Chapter 40
Collin walks out of another room, and Emma and I step away from one another.
He holds up a file. “Just wanted to give you a quick update.”
I nod. “Would appreciate that.”
Leaning against the counter, he opens it. “Our contacts have looked over the police reports and have concluded that the evidence from your father’s accident scene was not conducive to the photos taken by the towing company first on the scene. In fact, the towing service first on scene was told another was already in route and asked them to leave, but not before taking photos that do not match the report.”
He flips a page. “We’ve confirmed that your shirt with the slashes from the stab wounds were found near Birdcage Walk by the River Thames are authentic. But, apparently, it’s missing, so we can’t have it tested ourselves.” He holds up a piece of paper. “We just have their report and photos. We do know it was a lot of blood, and it was absolutely yours. Brody, you’re lucky to be alive.”
“We’re lucky,” Emma says, leaning further into my side.
Collin nods and continues, “The bloodwork that we collected from you shows similar chemicals to the drug that’s street name is Forget Me Not. Higher amounts of some of the components, with long-term use, has some nasty effects, such as memory loss or blackouts.”
Emma looks up at me, eyes wide, as Collin continues.
“After further review of the accident and Troy’s car, we believe he was forced off the road. It wasn’t an accident. In fact, there is silver paint on the bumper that would confirm London’s story. However, an insurance claim was apparently filed the day before by Troy, stating he backed into a car at the mall. I’m guessing London didn’t mention that because it did not happen. We can ask her.”
He turns a page. “The timing of Rupert and Annie’s deaths, compared to when you and Tomas had a scuffle, could easily be pinned on you if you’d driven at least ninety miles an hour the entire trip. Luckily for us, the Massachusetts’ highway patrol is a friend of ours, out in full force, and have cameras. They’re looking into them now. But there’s no way you would have made it undetected.” He smirks, and then his normal serious expression returns.
“Your security cameras were briefly offline during the break-in but back up when you entered and exited your home. So, proving that you weren’t involved should be easy enough.
“You should also know that Elizabeth had no alibi the time of Troy’s accident up until three hours later, or Rupert and Annie’s accident.” He looks up. “If she was involved, it’s possible she was even involved in your father’s, as well. But again, reports seem to be mysteriously changing by the minute.”
Emma hugs me. “I knew you couldn’t ever do that, Brody.”
“Now, before we can sit back and completely trust we’re in the clear, you two should discuss what happened in London.” Collin pushes off the counter. “I’m going to give you time to discuss it. There are three men outside, and three at the other property. I would like to have you two stay here tonight. We have the girls covered. Get some sleep. We leave early afternoon.”
Both Emma and I thank him before he walks out the door.
Emma turns and wraps her arms tightly around me. “We’re going to be okay, Brody.” She then jumps, wrapping herself around me, and plants a sexy but ill-timed kiss to my lips.
“Em, we still need to talk before—”
“Not tonight, Brody, please.” She kisses me softly now.
“Oh, please excuse me. I’m terribly sorry.”
Emma nearly falls when she attempts to jump back, arms and legs flailing.
I laugh as I help steady her.
“Don’t be sorry, Maddox. I want you to meet Emma.”
“Hello, Emma, I’m Maddox.” He holds his hand out to her.
Emma nods and looks him over as she shakes his hand. “It’s nice to meet you,” she says, adorably confused.
“How was your shower? Can I get you something?” I ask Maddox.
“The shower was wonderful. I’m a bit thirsty. Is that okay?” He looks at Emma then nervously looks around the room.
As I walk to the fridge, I watch her take him in, head dipping to the side a bit, and then her eyes widen and jaw drops. She stares at him in wonder.
“Em,” I say, attempting to slow this all down a bit.
“Oh, Maddox, I’m so sorry if I made you uncomfortable.” She hurries to him and hugs him tightly.
He stands still as stone.
She steps back and smiles softly. “And look, I’ve done it again.”
“No.” He shakes his head, clearly not wanting her to be uncomfortable. “I’m just not used to all the … I wasn’t raised with affection.”
“Well, that’s going to change.” Emma laughs as her eyes mist over. “We’re going to show you so much love.” She moves to hug him again. “So much.”
“Em, love, we all need rest because tomorrow—”
“Tomorrow.” She steps back and smiles. “Oh, Maddox.” She takes his hands, smiling up at him. “You get to meet your sisters. They are going to love you so very much.”
Maddox looks at me, clearly confused, and I close my eyes to try to conjure a word for this moment that is not, Fuuuccckk.
“What have I done?” Emma asks me.
“Nothing, love. It’s quite all right.” I pull a chair out for her, and then for him.
“Maddox, we should all have a seat and talk about a few things.”
She whispers, “Brody, he doesn’t—”
“It’s all right.” I laugh because her whispering is highly ineffective since he’s literally right here.
“Maddox, I have no idea how to do this other than to jump right in. Were you aware Elizabeth’s your mother?”
“Yes.” Maddox looks at the floor. “But she wasn’t able to care for me.”
“Bloody hell.” I shake my head, realizing I haven’t even considered his family being at risk. “Your family, the adoptive ones, are they—”
“They weren’t there,” he quickly states. “No worries. Please continue.”
Odd, but okay.
“There’s a great possibility that I may be your father, Mad—”
“But Emma is my aunt,” Maddox states, sounding confused, and then follows quickly with, “And you’re too young.”
“Brody, may I?” Emma asks.
“Please,” I sigh, knowing she’s much better equipped to dealing with these types of topics.
She leans forward and takes his hands. “We were very young when Elizabeth was taken from a mall in Florida while our parents and the two of us were shopping. After searching, she was presumed dead.” She shakes her head. “We didn’t know she was alive until less than two years ago when Brody and I met, fell in love, and were married. It was a fluke that he pieced together that the woman he dated”—Good save, I think—“could have been my sister. He, um … surprised me by coming to England to search her out, with our father, your grandfather, Henry. She returned to us and, well … we just found out about you.”
“Are you sure?” he asks, looking between us.
I nod. “We can have DNA testing done, if you wish, Maddox, but I’m looking at a reflection of myself. And in my heart, I know you’re mine.”
Maddox then asks, “She never told you? She knew you were my father and never told you?”
“No,” I state, watching emotions from every spectrum flit through his eyes.
“She’s dead,” Maddox states.
I quickly look at Emma, who looks shocked.
“We’ll know more in the morning.” I place my hand over Emma’s.
Maddox gulps. “She … Emma … She didn’t know?”
“It’s okay, Maddox. We’ll all get through this together,” Emma whispers as she moves to hug him.
Maddox doesn’t tense up this time; he slowly wraps his arms around her in return.
“You’re safe and loved, Maddox Hines,” she whispers. “Safe and loved.”
We talk a bit more, answering questions when he has them. Mostly, we just sit there with him while he internally processes things that he clearly isn’t ready to talk about.
After about an hour, he asks if he could go to sleep.
Sitting on the bed, holding her, I ask, “Are you okay? Are we okay?”
She nods against my chest.
“You’re not angry that I brought him back here without—”
She sits back and looks up at me. “I’d have been angry if you hadn’t.” Then she smiles. “You said he looks like Lexington; you didn’t mention he was a spitting image of you.”
I push her hair from her face. “And you’re not concerned about how we’ll tell London?”
“She’ll be okay. She’ll love him.”
“And Elizabeth, are you okay?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t know what I’m feeling. Are you sure she’s—”
“The scene we drove away from was ugly. There is no possible way she survived. I don’t know what kind of damage that’s been done to him, but—”
“We’ll love him through it, Brody.”
“You won’t resent him?”
She cocks her head to the side. “Do you resent London?”
“Of course not. But he’s Elizabeth’s child. She—”
“She was my sister, Brody, who lived through hell. I think we should protect him from as much as we can.” Then she smiles again. “He’s a part of you.”
“I love you, Em, so much.”
“I love you more.”
When I wake up, Emma is gone.
I fly out of my bed and run into the living area, yelling for her.
“Are you okay?” Emma jumps up and runs toward me.
I grab her and hold her tight. “I am. Em … you were gone.” My eyes find Maddox. “Are you okay?”
“Sorry, I may have woken her up. My stomach.” Maddox stands nervously. “I’ll go back to bed.”
“Maddox, you’re fine. Come back here.” Emma smiles and walks toward him, taking his hand.
“No, that’s fine. I apologize for waking you. I feel better now,” he says softly.
“Are you sure, Maddox?” I ask, worried.
“Come sit for a few more minutes, and then we can try to get you something to eat. Saltines may settle your stomach.” Emma leads him back to the couch where he sits, looking down at his lap.
“Maddox, are you sure you’re okay?” I ask, and he nods but says nothing.
After he’s eaten a few crackers and drinks some water, Maddox says good night again and heads back to bed.
“Thank you for taking care of him. Do you think he has a stomach bug?”
“No, Brody, I think he’s fond of soda.” Emma giggles. “I came out for a drink, and he and Tomas were at the table. There were three empty cans in front of him.”
“Well, they apparently didn’t allow him soda.”
“I heard.” Emma smiles. “We have to make sure we teach him that, sometimes, too much of a good thing isn’t all that good.”
I chuckle. “By the color of his face, I fear he’s learned that on his own.”
“He’ll be all right,” she says as she walks toward the bedroom. “We talked about Elizabeth a bit. He met her when he was ten and only saw her a few times a year. Apparently, she let him drink soda.”
My smile falls. “Are you okay, Em?”
“No. I feel awful about this, about despising her and about feeling awful about despising her because of what she’s done.”
“Em, you didn’t do this. You … God, Em.” I pull her into my arms.
“I hated her. The past few months, I hated her,” she whispers against my neck.
“Before that, Em, before all the horrible events that occurred, how did you feel about her?”
“I loved her, I missed her, and I didn’t even know her. This is horrific. My parents, Brody, they’re going to be broken all over again.”
“If I hadn’t found her, I wouldn’t have found my son, Em. But I never would have put you or them through this hell. We need to sleep.”
“Don’t pull away, Brody. Your armor’s up. Please, we need to be strong, but not like this. I love you. Please don’t do this.”
“I’m not pulling away, Emma. I’m bracing myself.” I kiss her hand. “Let’s go—”
“For what? Bracing yourself for what?”
“This isn’t fucking happy, and there’s no damn fairy tale to be seen in a distant land either, Emma. So, this armor is for self-preservation, love. I need it for when you walk away.”
“Is that what you want? Is that what you’re waiting for, Brody?” Emma gasps.
“It’s going to happen anyway. And I can assure you that I’ll be the one … He never put you through the hell I have, Emma, and you walked. With all this, I’m expecting you to fucking run.”
“It was different, Brody. Don’t you see—”
“He cheated. You saw those bloody videos. He didn’t put you first, and neither am I. He won idiot of the year, and me? I won for the whole damn decade.”
Emma closes her eyes, and I watch her lips tip up.
“This isn’t funny, Emma.” I step toward her.
“Idiot of the decade.” Emma giggles.
“Thanks, Em.” I turn to walk away.
