Drew couldn’t help but grin. “Let’s go.”
Together, they got out and headed for the front gate. Drew opened it and let the General go through first. They headed to the front door side by side.
Neither of them looked up to see the young boy, watching them from the window.
They stood in front of the door. Drew let out a breath and raised his hand to knock when the door swung open.
Ashley Duncan looked at her brother and buried the urge to pull him into a hug and cry in his arms. She buried it deep with a ton of anger from all the years of worrying about him and missing him. So, instead of the hug she wanted to give him, she greeted him with a snarl.
“I guess you figured better late than never,” she said. “So what’s your plan? Blow into town, pretend nothing happened and hightail it out of here? You think you can play weekend hero for that little boy? He needs more than a drive by ‘atta boy. He needs stability and that’s not exactly your strong suit. So, I’m thinking you should take your pal here and just hit the road.”
Drew managed a quick glance at the General who looked impressed.
“I’m not going anywhere, Ash,” Drew said. “I’m here for my nephew. And I’m here for you. You may not want me, but I’m here.”
Ashley didn’t answer. She couldn’t, not without her voice cracking.
“Let them in.” The voice came from behind Ashley. Small, gentle, yet full of authority.
Ashley moved aside and let the door slam closed. It opened again, this time with Lilly on the other side. She was a tiny thing, barely reaching to Drew’s chest even though she was one step up. She had long, red hair that was wavy, and green eyes. She greeted them with a sad smile.
“Drew,” she said. “I’m so sorry.”
She reached up and pulled him into a hug. Drew returned it. It was always so strange being near Lilly, with her small frame and pixie figure.
“Please, come in,” Lilly said.
Drew stepped inside, with the General right behind him.
“This is Paul McAlister,” Drew said.
Lilly extended a hand. The General took it.
“I’m sorry to meet you under these circumstances,” the General said. He turned to Ashley. “And I’m very sorry to hear about your sister.”
Ashley nodded. “Thank you.”
There was a moment of silence, broken by a sneeze from upstairs. Drew looked up. He realized Cole was up there, listening. He started forward.
“Wait,” Ashley said. “Where are you going?”
Drew motioned towards the stairs. “I’m going to see my nephew.”
“Just like that? You’re going to just go and say ‘Hi there, kiddo’?”
There was another sneeze from above.
“I don’t know,” Drew said. “I’ll figure it out.”
Ashley closed the distance and poked her brother’s arm. “He’s been through a lot. You can’t just…”
There was another sneeze. Drew and Ashley both looked up.
Realization dawned and Ashley sniffed her brother. “You fucking reek of cigarettes.”
“What?”
“You can’t go near him,” Ashley said.
Drew closed his eyes and tried for mercy. “Ash, you can’t keep me from him. Kelli wanted…”
There was another sneeze.
Lilly crossed the room and put her hand on Drew’s arm. “No, she’s right. Cole’s allergic to cigarette smoke. He goes into a sneezing fit if he’s anywhere near the smell. It’s really bad.”
Drew’s eyes darted from Lilly, to his sister, to the top of the stairs.
“Here,” Lilly said. She walked over to a table and went into her purse. “There’s an apartment over the garage. It’s not much, but you can stay there. Go take a shower. Put on something clean.” She pulled a key out of her purse and handed it to Drew as the sneezing continued.
Taking it, Drew slipped it in his pocket. “Thank you.”
“You can’t be around him and smell like that,” Ashley said.
“That’s fine,” Drew answered. “I just quit.”
He started towards the door, but Ashley stepped in front of him. “You can’t touch him.” She said in a hushed tone.
“Ashley,” Drew snapped. His tempter was reaching its boiling point. “What the hell do you think I’m going to do?”
“No,” Ashley said, shaking her head. “I don’t mean… Lilly, you tell him.”
Drew looked towards Lilly. “She’s right. You shouldn’t try to touch him. He doesn’t like to be touched. It’s not you.”
Drew’s eyes narrowed as he looked at his sister. “What the hell did that bastard do to him?”
For the first time since her brother arrived, Ashley didn’t answer him in anger. “I don’t know.”
The look in her eyes reminded him of when they were children. When the defiance faded away, and the frightened little girl emerged.
“I promise you this,” he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. “He’s never getting near him again. He tries, I’ll fucking end him.”
Ashley placed her own hand over his and nodded. Then she stepped back so Drew could go shower. As he reached the door, she called out to him. “Drew.”
He turned.
“Welcome back.”
Chapter 4
Meeting Uncle Drew
“I’m going to go check on Cole,” Ashley said. “See if he’ll eat anything.”
She didn’t wait for any acknowledgement before she scooted up the stairs, giving one last look at the General as she went.
“I’m so sorry for all of this,” Lilly said. “Please, can I offer you a cup of coffee? Or something else to drink?”
The General smiled. “Water, please.”
They went into the kitchen together. It was a large area designed for someone who liked to cook. There was a large food pantry to the right and an oversized oven. Granite counters with a matching island in the middle of the room gave plenty of work space, while small herb plants lined the windows.
The General sat at the island as Lilly got a plastic cup and used the stainless steel refrigerator to dispense ice, then water into it. She handed it to him and picked up her mug of coffee she had poured for herself a few moments before Drew arrived.
“I’m glad Drew is going to try and quit smoking,” Lilly said. “Besides being better for Cole, it’s better for him. I hope he’s able to.”
The General took a sip of water. “He did quit.”
Lilly laughed. “For about thirty seconds so far. It’s not that easy. My mother kept trying to quit. It never took.”
“I know it’s a difficult habit to break,” the General said as Ashley came back down the stairs to join them. “But I know him. He’s done being a smoker.”
She snorted as she went into the fridge for a soda. “Wanna bet?”
The General couldn’t help but notice how much she looked like Drew. Nearly as tall, she had long, wavy dark, hair and the same dimple in her chin.
“Absolutely,” the General said. “And I’ll win. If you gave your brother a break, you’d see that.”
“The only break my brother deserves is the one I should put in his skull. He was too afraid to come back to town.” Ashley took a sip and slid into the seat near Lilly. “By the way, who are you exactly to Drew? His supplier?”
The General blinked several times while Lilly’s face turned red.
“Ash.” Lilly tried to give her best friend an admonishing glare.
“What?” Ashley said, spreading her arms out wide. “I have no clue who this guy is or for that matter, what Drew has been up to. I heard he joined the military, but he couldn’t get here this fast if you two were still in the army. So, what’s up? What kind of nefarious business are you and my big bro up to?”
Lilly shook her head and buried her face in her hands. When she finally looked up, she saw the smug look on Ashley’s face. She tried to gauge the General’s reaction, but he was unreadable. “I’m so sorry…”
“No,” the General said. He held up his hand. He knew when he’d come on this trip the sister was going to be a handful, but Ashley Duncan wasn’t the first handful he’d dealt with. “It’s clear you don’t know much about who your brother is today.”
“Not my fault,” Ashley said with a smirk, but in her eyes there was a challenge.
“Fair enough,” the General said. “Allow me to fill in a few holes. My name is General Paul McAlister. US Marines. I have never taken, bought or sold illegal narcotics.”
That was Ashley’s cue to apologize for her earlier insinuation, but she had no intention of saying she was sorry.
“You served with Drew?” Lilly asked.
“No,” the General said. “Retired Marine. Drew served with my grandson, Matthew McAlister. The first time I met your brother, I was visiting Matt in the hospital. He’d been injured in downtown Fallujah. He and Drew were friends. Their unit got ambushed. There were twelve of them together. Four were killed, most of the rest injured. Drew held off the insurgents, mostly single handedly. If it weren’t for him, my grandson would have been killed.”
He paused a moment, wanting that to sink in. Ashley held his eyes. She wasn’t ready to blink just yet.
“Drew was still pretty rough around the edges, but I saw potential in him. Plus, I was just grateful. I could tell he and Matt bonded. I learned that had actually been the third time your brother had saved my grandson.”
“So, why are you here and not Matt?” Ashley said. “Sounds like they’re buddies.”
She started to take a sip of soda when the General sighed.
“Matt was killed a week before they were supposed to come home.” He paused, took note of how Ashley froze with the can halfway to her lips. “Their platoon was attacked. They radioed for extraction, but Matt got separated. Drew went back for him. It was too late. Matt was already dead, but Drew risked his life, fought like hell, to get Matt’s body. Carried my grandson through enemy fire over his shoulder and brought him home to me.”
Ashley’s eyes broke away.
“I’m so sorry,” Lilly said.
“Thank you,” the General said. “That’s something you hear a lot when someone you love dies. I’m sure you’ve heard it a lot lately. Most of the time, the person saying it means their sorry for your loss. Sorry for the pain you’re feeling. Drew said that to me, but when he said those words, I knew it was more than just those same sentiments of condolences.
“Your brother blamed himself. I had already read the report. I also made it my business to talk to the other surviving members of their unit. There was nothing Drew could have done. If it weren’t for him, more of them would have been killed. There was no reason for Drew to feel responsible, but he did.
“I asked Drew to join my organization, McAlister Securities,” the General continued. “I’ve never regretted it. He’s been my point man on dozens of operations. He’s saved lives. He’s put himself at risk to do so. Do you know where he was when he got the news about Kelli?”
Lilly shook her head. Ashley didn’t move, but she couldn’t make eye contact any more.
“We were just across the Mexican border,” the General said. “We were there to pay a ransom and recover a thirteen-year-old girl. It was supposed to be a simple exchange, but we both knew there was a good possibility it could go bad. They showed up with the girl and Drew exchanged a million dollars in cash for her, but they didn’t want any witnesses. Planned to kill them both. Drew and I had prepared for that. I had him well covered, but there were half a dozen of them and all it would take was one lucky shot. Drew’s first action was to shield that girl with his own body to protect her.”
The General took another sip of water before he continued. “Let me ask you a question. Back in town, the GPS wanted me to go straight on Broadway, but Drew had me make a right by that Mobil station. What would we have passed had we gone the way the GPS was telling us?”
He looked at Ashley. Wanted to hear her say what he’d already figured out.
“Our house,” Ashley said quietly. “The house we grew up in.”
The General nodded. “What I figured. Everything I know about your brother tells me he’s one of the bravest men I’ve ever known. He proved that just a few hours ago, but he was terrified about coming back here. I’m talking white knuckled, scared for your life, kind of terrified. I’ve never seen him scared like that, but he came.
“He made the decision to come before he heard about your sister being murdered. We talked about it. I knew then I was about to lose my best man. He hasn’t said anything. He might not have even thought that far ahead. But I know him. He was going to come back for Kelli. He came back for Cole. And you need to believe, he came back for you.”
The room was silent. Lilly wanted to say something, but didn’t know what. She got the feeling Ashley needed to be the one to say something next.
“You must think I’m a complete bitch, but it hurt that Drew left. I’m not ready to forgive him yet.”
The General got up and moved towards her waiting until she made eye contact.
“Here’s what I think,” the General said, his voice softer as he offered her a small smile. “I think you have a lot to be angry about. I think you probably have plenty of reasons to be angry with Drew. Lord knows he’s gotten me mad as hell on more than one occasion. He’s important to me, but he’s also a pain in my ass.”
Despite herself, there was a tug at the corner of Ashley’s lips.
“I also believe while you might not be ready to forgive him, you love him. And you love that child up there. And he’s what’s important. If you’re anything like your brother, you’ll put him first.”
The General reached out, put his hand on Ashley’s shoulder. “Drew is the last connection to my grandson. He’s been like family to me for the last few years. So, that makes you family, and it only follows that you’ll be a pain in the ass too, but that’s what family is for.”
With a tear in her eye, Ashley placed her hand over the one on her shoulder. “I’m glad Drew’s had you. Just… don’t tell him I said that, okay?”
“Deal,” the General said.
Lilly smiled watching Ashley. “Hey, here he comes.”
Ashley pulled away and quickly wiped at her eyes.
Drew came through the door. He was freshly showered and wearing clean clothes. “Better?”
Lilly sniffed him. “Much.”
“Alright. I’m going to go talk to Cole.” Drew headed for the stairs.
“Drew,” Ashley called out to her brother. Drew turned, ready for another contentious exchange, but the fight had gone out of her eyes. “Cole hasn’t cried yet. He won’t talk to either of us. He understands Kelli’s dead, but he’s barely said a word since we told him, and he won’t eat. See if you can get him to eat something.”
Drew nodded. “I’ll take care of it.”
Cole Duncan sat on his bed, holding a book in his hand. Drew took a good look at his nephew. He was a good looking boy. Drew could instantly see his sister in the face of the boy. He had a mess of light brown hair atop of a round face with a small nose and big ears. He was thin. Way too thin to be accounted for from not eating since his mother had been killed.
Cold didn’t look up as Drew approached. Drew hadn’t tried to be quiet while climbing the stairs, but Cole made no indication he was aware Drew was approaching, even as he stood at the kid’s doorway.
It wasn’t that Cole hadn’t heard him coming, Drew decided as he realized the book he was holding was upside down. Cole was listening at the top of the stairs.
Drew knocked on the door frame. “Cole. I’d like to talk to you. Can I come in?”
Cole didn’t look up from his book. He simply shrugged. Drew took that as an invitation and entered. “I’m your Uncle Drew.”
Cole gave a small nod.
“I’m sorry about your mom.”
Drew waited, but Cole didn’t say anything. He just flipped the page.
“
Good book?” Drew said. He was answered by another shrug. “Your mom loved to read. I guess you get that from her. She always had a book with her. I’m surprised she didn’t teach you the proper way to read.” Drew reached out, tugged the book out of Cole’s hand and turned it right side up. “You might enjoy it better this way.”
Finally, Cole looked up at his uncle. He was bigger than Cole imagined. Cole couldn’t help but hear how he’d describe his uncle in a story if he were a character. He was massive, like one of those people on the fake wrestling shows that Aunt Ash sometimes watched. He was very tall, with short, neatly trimmed brown hair. His arms were huge, bigger than Cole’s head, and solid. There was a black tattoo of sharp, thick lines that ran over the muscles on his right arm. He had a broad chest and blue eyes that were looking right at him.
Cole tossed the book on the bed. Stupid, careless mistakes could get him hurt. Big, strong men didn’t like it when boys tried to hide things. He tensed, ready to launch himself off the bed. The problem was, his uncle was between him and the door.
“So,” Drew said. “Let’s not pretend like you don’t know who I am or that you haven’t been listening at the top of the stairs since I walked into this house. Probably watched me walk up to the front door from that window.”
Drew saw the kid flinch. His eyes darted towards the door, calculating if he could escape.
So, Drew stepped back. He gently grabbed a chair and turned it around, straddled in and then shoved his hands into his pockets.
“Is it okay to talk to you?”
Cole relaxed, just a bit. He could escape if he had to.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been in your life until now.”
Torn Away (The Torn Series Book 1) Page 5