Landon: FBI Special Agent: FBI Brotherhood Book #3

by Ann, Bry

  Her eyes become devilish as she walks away. I mentally curse, but stay rigid on the outside in front of prying eyes.

  Aloe. Of course that bitch noticed the burn on my forearm. I got it a few weeks ago when I stupidly and so uncharacteristically slipped on water in the kitchen while cooking eggs. I caught myself on the edge of the hot stove, burnt my forearm pretty bad. I regret having to interview her for the Nix and Sage case. Deeply, deeply regret it.

  “What the hell was that?” Landon smirks, eyebrows raising.

  I force my face to be neutral.

  “I'm not sure.”

  But Landon knows me too well for that. He grins at me while glancing down at the forearm I am now forced to hide.

  “Ooh, this’ll be fun,” Landon whispers, just quietly enough where I can’t smack him for it.

  “Can we leave or are you still twelve years old?”

  “I'm ready. We have to go get aloe before the market closes.”

  “Fuck you,” I laugh. Can’t help it this time.

  He winks and we head out.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Landon

  I wanted to kill Kyle when they came into my room, but now, showered, fed, and rested, I'm grateful to my best friend for looking out for me. He was right. He’s always right when he calls me out on this stuff. I'm terrible at taking care of myself. Literally, the worst. Kyle may be quiet and stoic, but he’s the best friend a man could ask for.

  “This was all you, wasn’t it?” I ask him as we get in his car.

  He spares me only one passing glance, stern mask in place.

  “Evie and Carson were involved.”

  I smile to myself. “You told them the plan. They came. It was you who was worried.”

  He ignores me and turns the music up, but that’s all the answer I need. He was worried, so he set this up. I fucking love my best friend. Punching him in the arm, I grin at him.

  “You’re an idiot,” he mumbles, but I know he’s smiling on the inside.

  * * *

  “Wow, what a trooper,” I mumble from the doorway, making Carson jump. Even Kyle snickers. Evie is passed out cold on the side couch in that little ball that I hate that she sleeps in.

  “Yeah, she passed out three hours in.”

  I walk over and move the crazy hair from her face, smiling softly at her.

  “She’s still not up to par. I'm glad she slept.”

  Carson nods, probably scared to say anything. Which… good. I can’t be an asshole. He’s had my sister’s back when I can’t, but I really, really fucking hate the idea of one of my co-workers, teammates, being with Evie. It sets me on edge. I don’t know what my problem is. Carson’s a great guy who’s done nothing but support Evie, and I still want to threaten him with my 9mm. Big brother problems?

  “Thank you for doing this for me.” I extend my hand. He takes it. “You think Evie will mind if you drive her back?”

  I can see the anger in Carson’s eyes, but he bites back the glare he wants to throw me.

  “She’ll be fine with it, I'm sure.”

  “Dude, I’ll drive her. I just—”

  “She’ll get it,” he says a little softer.

  “What time does she have to be back?”

  “Two hours.”

  I smile back at her. As if on cue, she snores, which makes me laugh.

  “Good. I have some time with the snoring monster.”

  Carson smiles a little. “I'm gonna go train. I’ll be back in a couple hours to get her.”

  He heads for the door, then pauses and turns back.

  “Wake her, Landon. She… all she could talk about was you. She talked to Essie and I for three hours straight about how proud she was of you for caring so deeply about Essie. About what an amazing FBI agent you are. About the lives you’ve saved. What a great parent-big brother figure you were and are. She promised stories of your childhood growing up. She loves you so much. I know it hurts to look at her and you wanna cram food down her little throat, but she’s craving love so fuckin’ bad, man. You don’t see it.”

  Before I can respond, he leaves. I stare back at my little sister, curled up, snoring and whimpering in her sleep like she always does. And my heart suddenly hurts. It really hurts.

  What don’t I give you, little Evie?

  I sit on the couch next to her, smiling at Essie, even though she’s staring blankly at the ceiling and can’t see me.

  “Evie,” I whisper, shaking her a little.

  She screams and shoots to seated, throwing her hands up. She always wakes like this if someone touches her to wake her. It kills me. Why? Why does she wake like this and why haven’t I been able to fix it?

  “Hey, monster. It’s just me.”

  She smiles. She looks all tired and her hair is fucking everywhere, but I'm just happy her body is hanging in there and she’s still alive. She has organs of steel to be able to endure what she puts them through.

  She yawns. “Essie is safe and happy as a clam.”

  “Is that so?” I laugh.

  “Yes. We talked about clams. It was a great conversation.”

  I shake my head. “You talked about pearls. Essie talked about clams. Let’s be real.”

  She giggles. “Yes.”

  “How are you?” I murmur, changing the subject. She goes rigid.

  “Alright. Treatment is treatment.”

  “But are you like, learning things?”

  “Yes, Landon!” she snaps, mood changing on a dime.

  I hold my hands up. “I'm just making conversation.”

  “No! You want to know about my food. No, I'm not restored yet. I bet you’re so upset.”

  Restored is the treatment center’s term for being back at a healthy weight, FYI.

  The blazing blue eyes in front of me are nothing like the sister I know, and I have to admit, it’s a little terrifying.

  “Evie, I'm just worried about you,” I murmur. “I know I haven’t been the best, but-”

  My words die when tingles run up my spine. Tingles I only have felt one other time in my life. A few weeks ago.

  I spin quickly and am met with two wide, expressive green eyes.

  “Essie?” I whisper, terrified I'm just getting my hopes up.

  Her head cocks to the side as she takes in my sister. Her eyes seem empty, but I can almost see her brain working. She’s here. She’s here!

  I'm legitimately gonna start crying.

  These women are taking my heart and dragging it through the mud, you know that.

  “Landon,” she whispers.

  “Oh my God.” I jump to my feet and run to her bedside. “You’re here! I don’t even know what to say.”

  “Your sister,” she croaks out. Her voice is tired. She sounds angry, but resigned at the same time. Resigned about what, I don’t know.

  “Right. Um.” Wow. ‘Kay. Get it together. “Evie, this Essie. Essie, Evie.”

  Evie shakes her head before glancing at me with an apology in her eyes. I smile, easily accepting it. She’s trying. That’s all I can ever ask.

  “Hi, Essie. It’s so good to meet you.” Evie seems a little scared. I can’t really blame her. Not only is Essie extremely mentally ill at the moment, but she’s naturally a little intimidating for my sensitive little sister.

  “You’re…” Essie clears her throat, trying to eliminate some of the dryness.

  “Here.” I grab a cup and bring the straw to her lips. She glares at me, confusion and anger dancing in her eyes, but she does sip on the straw.

  “You’re here.”

  “Every day, baby doll. Just waiting for you.”

  Something flickers in Essie’s eyes, but it’s gone fast.

  “You’re stupid,” she whispers.

  “Hey!” Evie mumbles, not quite understanding Essie like I do.

  Essie pins her with a hardass look. “You have no room to talk. I heard how you talked to him.”

  Wait. Wait. Hold up. Is Essie defending me? To my sister? I ca
n’t keep the grin off my face or the smugness out of my demeanor as I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest.

  Evie’s eyebrows raise and her gaze flickers to me before ducking her head.

  “Landon knows I'm sorry.”

  Essie doesn’t. It’s obvious she’s internally rolling her eyes. She doesn’t even reply. She just turns away and rolls onto her side, away from me.

  … and hell to the no to that.

  “Essie, we’re all friends here.”

  She ignores me, being the stubborn woman that she is. By the time I glance at Evie, she’s already walking out with a gentle smile.

  I mouth “give me five” and she nods, walking out.

  Essie goes stiff when I push out of my chair to round her bedside.

  “Go away,” she whispers, trying to sound hard and mean and failing. Really, really failing.

  Of course I don’t. I make my way all the way around until I'm crouched in front of her so we’re eye to eye.

  “Hey,” I whisper, smiling softly as I try to force my tears away.

  Her head is tucked into the pillow.

  “Why are you here?” Her words are muffled, but easy enough to understand.

  “Look at me, Essie.”

  She shakes her head, fists clenching.

  “Essie.”

  Being as gentle as possible, I place my fingertips on her cheek. She goes so stiff you’d think I made a threat.

  “Sorry,” I apologize immediately, retracting my hand.

  With that, I earn a slight tilt of her head so her eyes are still tucked close to the bed, but also on me.

  They’re wet with tears.

  She’s crying.

  It hits me right in the chest. My heart thumps loudly. All I hear is white noise for a moment before I'm able to gather myself.

  “What’s wrong? You’re safe. I swear, Essie Taylor. Nothing will ever happen to you again.”

  “Mmmm.” She smirks a little sardonically, even with tears in her eyes.

  “What’s that smirk for? I'm not fucking kidding.”... and I need to also not be this pissed off in front of her.

  “I know you mean that,” she whispers, eyes fluttering closed.

  “But…”

  “No good heart can overcome a monster without one, Landon Parker,” she murmurs, reaching out to graze my cheek with tentative fingers as if to soften the blow of what she believes to be true.

  I almost laugh.

  “Oh, sweetheart, a heart is the key to anything that lasts. A monster can never understand the power of love, and that will be its weakness. Every. Single. Time.”

  “Naive idiot,” she murmurs, almost smiling as she falls asleep.

  “Corrupted angel,” I whisper back.

  She rolls her eyes, but tightens her grip on my hand, almost pulling it into her.

  “Go to sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up.” Or when come you back to me.

  “Of course you will.”

  … And I can’t help but smile. Even as Evie comes back in the room.

  * * *

  I end up driving Evie back to treatment. Knowing Essie can wake made me feel better, and the hope in my sister’s eyes when I told her I might be able to sold me. She looked so damn happy. Carson was absolutely right. I can’t raise Evie during her critical teen years and then put everyone and everything above her. I have to be better.

  “And then,” Evie continues animatedly, “she threw a chair at him, Landon. A chair.”

  She laughs, and even though I no longer know what she’s talking about—something about some girl throwing a chair at a therapist—I smile. Because when Evie smiles, I smile. Simple. I love seeing her all animated. That’s another thing her eating disorder steals from her. I swear to God, if her eating disorder were a person, I’d kill them.

  Violently.

  “No way,” I laugh, pretending to be interested in the story when it’s really only her happiness I care about.

  “Yes!” she giggles. “Highlight of my day.”

  “Evie,” I laugh and roll my eyes.

  “You don’t get it. I know they mean well, but the rules are crazy!”

  “Well, work hard and get out.”

  “Ugh, don’t get serious. I live with serious. I just want to laugh.”

  “Sorry, continue your story.”

  “That’s the end. I suppose we’re gonna be serious now.”

  She slumps in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest. She’s literally pouting like a thirteen year old.

  I chuck my phone at her. “Pick the music.”

  And she lights the hell up again. “Really?!”

  “Yep.”

  I'm gonna regret this. I know it for certain when she grins at me, all devilish. A minute later, a song called, I kid you not, Humuhumunukunukuapua'a plays over the speakers.

  “What the fuck is this?”

  “It’s from High School Musical,” Evie laughs.

  I give her a flat look. “You hate High School Musical.”

  “Yes, very true, but I love torturing you, big brother.”

  “How did I get so lucky?” I deadpan.

  She giggles and sits back in the seat, closing her eyes softly.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” I murmur as that ridiculous song plays over the speakers.

  She shrugs.

  “Nope. Try again.”

  “I just…” She bites her lip, eyes still closed. “I just miss you. That’s all.”

  Shit. “I miss you, too. I'm so sorry.”

  She rolls her head to look at me as I pull into the treatment center.

  “I get it.”

  “But…”

  “But nothing. You’re a hero. I'm so proud to be your sister. Seeing Essie today just…” Evie shakes her head. “You can’t just be my hero all the time. The world needs you. I'm not selfish.”

  “I am your hero first. Before anyone else. You’re my little sister. I watched you grow up. Helped you do it half the time.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” She waves her hand as she slips her purse over her shoulder. God, I just wanna fuckin’ carry her inside. She looks too fragile to walk. “Be my hero when I get out of treatment. For now, take care of your woman. She needs you.”

  “She’s not my—”

  “La la la la, I can’t hear you,” Evie sing-songs, plugging her fingers into her ears. “Love you, big bro!”

  I watch her walk away, shaking my head. I have a long drive ahead of me, and yet, for some reason, I find myself playing Evie’s stupid torture song once again.

  I guess I really miss her, too. More than I realized.

  * * *

  “She’s our daughter!”

  “I still need identification.”

  Eyebrows furrowed, I hurry down the hallway. When I round the corner, there are a man and a woman standing outside of Essie’s door. Her guard has his arms crossed over his chest. I notice the woman is medium height and thin, with black hair like Essie. The man is heavier, but somewhat fit, with that same black hair and tan skin. That’s definitely a trait Essie inherited.

  “My name is Agent Landon Parker. How can I help you?”

  “Hi, I'm Dana and this is my husband, Richard. We’re Essie Taylor’s parents. We want to see our daughter.”

  Now they want to see her. I find myself parroting Essie’s bodyguards movements, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “I don’t recall seeing you much at the hospital or at Dogwood.”

  You know, before she was kidnapped for the second Goddamn time. I narrow my eyes. The mom fidgets.

  “I-I struggled a bit,” she mumbles. “But I was there… sometimes.”

  “You struggled?” I clarify, trying and failing to keep the resentment out of my voice.

  “Landon,” Richard tries.

  “Agent Parker,” I bark.

  “I apologize, agent. You have to understand. This is our little girl. Our baby. To find out she’s been… you know. That’s… that’s hard to come
to terms with.”

  “Even harder for Essie, just a guess.”

  The mom starts crying. The tears are real. I’ll give her that. She’s not seeking attention. She really is upset. That does score some points with me.

  “We’ve failed Essie so many times, we didn’t know how to face her,” she sobs, burying her face in her hands.

  “Let me talk to her. If Essie needs time, I'm granting her that.”

  They hesitate, but both nod. They can’t just show up on their own fucking time. They may be really sorry, doesn’t mean I'm not still pissed. My mom and dad would have torn this hospital apart to be by Evie’s side if something like this ever happened to her.

  I shudder. I can’t even think about that.

  I don’t wait to hear anything else from them.

  “Knock, knock.”

  I push inside the room and freeze.

  “Essie!” I scream, sprinting over and slamming on the nurse’s button, ears ringing. “ESSIE!”

  I run over, skidding across the tile to reach her. Her IVs are dangling from the beeping machine, where she apparently pulled them out.

  “Essie, look at me!”

  Without thinking, I grab her face in both of my hands as nurses, her parents, and her bodyguard come running into the room.

  “I'm fine,” she whispers so fucking casually. Like she didn’t just fucking rip out her IV!

  Smiling a little, she murmurs, “I know how to take out an IV, Landon.”

  I'm gonna kill her.

  “Why did you? You gave me a heart attack!”

  I'm trying to look her over for injuries, but I'm already being pulled away.

  “What’s wrong with her?” I demand, ears ringing.

  “We have to ask you to leave, sir.”

  I yank away from whoever just grabbed my arm.

  “I wanna know what’s wrong with her. Is she okay?”

  “I'm fine!” That’s Essie. Pissed. “You’re insane!”

  The nurses are ushering her onto the bed, but her eyes are on me.

  “I heard my mother and didn’t want to look like a damn hospital patient when she saw me. I know how to pull out an IV accurately, so I did. Calm the hell down!”