HUGE X2: A Twin Stepbrother Romance (With Bonus Book 'ESCAPE')

by Stephanie Brother

  “I’m gonna get her back,” I say as quietly and menacingly as I can, my mind filled with the terror that Sammie is likely to be dealing with right at this moment, and I slide out of the booth until I’m standing with my fists resting on the table. I look down at the man who’s supposed to be my father. Blood means nothing to him, loyalty means nothing. If I told him that I was leaving he wouldn’t care because I’m his son and he was losing me. He’d care because of the inconvenience, how it would look to our rivals and the danger that I might pose to him as a civilian who knows too much about his precious business.

  Adam doesn’t stop glaring at me with his narrowed eyes but I know his brain will be searching through all the available options for the one that has him coming out the best. I don’t expect it, but he nods. He leans in closer, talking in a whisper. “Had someone on them since last night. They think they’re clever but they’ve got no idea what they’re doing. All muscle and no brain. They have a safe-house where they congregate and I think that’s where they will have taken her.”

  “So let’s get over there.”

  “You don’t know what they want in exchange though do you?”

  “What is it? Tell me?”

  “They want territory and contacts…they want us out of our deal with Leon so they can take over.”

  “Leon won’t deal with people like that. He values his life too much.”

  “You’re right. But they’re not going to listen to that if it comes from us.”

  “So we agree to it all and get her back.”

  “If we go in there, they’re gonna try and kill us. This isn’t an exchange based on some old-fashioned gentlemen’s agreement. This is a set up between villains.” He laughs then, as though he’s enjoying the game. Adam was made for this kind of life. I was not.

  “So what the fuck are we going to do?”

  “We’re going to distract them. They’re greedy and stupid and they don’t have the brains to work out shit. They proved that last night. That’s got to be one of the worst ambushes in the history of man.”

  “They nearly killed me,” I growl.

  “They should have succeeded but they didn’t. Leave this to me, okay.”

  Adam pulls out his phone and slides out of the booth, heading to the backroom for some privacy. I go to follow but he waves me away so I go to the bar and order a whisky. I know I shouldn’t because I need to be clear headed but my hands are shaking and my mind is already spinning. The alcohol might just take the edge off. The liquid burns on the way down but feels nice and warm when it hits my stomach. Adam comes back rubbing his stubbly chin and pushing his phone into his jeans pocket.

  “Here’s what’s going to happen,” he says, as though he expects no disagreements from me. “I’ve told them we’ll meet them to discuss terms in three hours. Jared is already staking out their lair. He’s good at being discreet and he’ll call you to let you know what’s happening. I’m going to need to take Connor and most of the boys with me because I intend to deliver a very tough message. If you want to go and get the girl, then you make sure there aren’t too many of them left in that wasp’s nest and you do what you need to do.”

  “Okay,” I say, exhaling now that I know I have the green light to go and find Sammie. “You give me the address of the place now and I’ll go up there and join Jared.”

  “That isn’t what I said, is it?”

  “You want me to sit around here while Sammie is there? I want to get as close as I can.”

  “You see, that’s why I’m telling you not to go. You’re going to get down there and you won’t be able to wait until that house empties out.”

  “I’ll wait,” I hiss, hating that he’s treating me like a kid.

  “Yeah, you will. Right here.” He turns back to the booth and collects his things. When he walks by me towards the door I grab him by the arm.

  “This is it for me, Adam,” I say. “I’m going to find her and then I’m out. And I’m not coming back.”

  Adam’s eyes scan over me and his poker face gives nothing away. “You think you can just walk away?”

  “I do,” I say with as much conviction as I can find, when inside all I can think is that this isn’t going to work. He’s never going to let me go.

  “And why would I let you do that?” he asks.

  “This time it’s not about you letting me do anything, Adam. This time it’s about me telling you that I’m deciding. I won’t do this anymore…any of it. I’m done. I’ll never speak any of what I know but I’m going. For good.”

  We stare at each other, eye to eye, man to man, and I’m convinced he’s going to start threatening but he doesn’t. Instead he shrugs his shoulders. “Jared will be in touch,” he says, and I can’t believe he’s letting me go so easily. All the years I worried about what he would do. All the years I wasted. He slaps me once on the shoulder, a pathetic gesture to mark the end of our business and personal relationship, and turns to walk away and I shake my head. I should be baffled but in my heart I know. Adam will only try to control those who are prepared to be controlled. It’s taken me standing up to him like a man for him to accept me as one. And that’s it.

  I’m left in Jackson’s with no option but to wait. I slip Sammie’s necklace into my pocket and rest my face in my hand. No one bothers me for conversation, probably because they heard my argument with Adam and can see how anxious I am. The next hour is the longest of my life as I stare at my phone, willing Jared to call. When he does I almost drop the damn thing with all my fumbling to answer.

  “Brandon,” he whispers.

  “Yeah, where the fuck are you? What’s going on?”

  “I’m gonna message you the address. They’re starting to leave. I’ve been here counting all day. If I’m correct, there’s only two of them left in the building.

  “And you’re sure Sammie’s in there?”

  “No,” he says flatly and my heart falls in my chest. “But they pulled up in a truck and unloaded something…there’s a pretty good chance.”

  “I’m on my way.” I hang up and run out of the bar, sprinting to my truck. By the time I’m belted in, the phone vibrates with the address. I know the area…it’s in a pretty shitty neighborhood but I wasn’t expecting a mansion. I tap it into the Sat Nav to find the exact road and then I’m off.

  During the whole journey my leg is jumping and my hands are sweating. I have to wipe them on my jeans to keep a good grip on the steering wheel. In the traffic I’m cursing and leaning forward in my seat, driving too close. I just need to get to her. I need to know she’s safe.

  When I get near, all my reflexes seem to slow. I know I have to be careful now. If I put a foot wrong, then I could put her in even greater danger. I pull over down the road, switch off my lights and wait in the truck for exactly two minutes. I have a baseball cap in my glove box which I pull out to wear. I don’t want to be recognized before I need to be and with the bill pulled down low my entire face is in shadow. I open the door, palm my gun and step onto the sidewalk, shutting the truck as quietly as I can. I slip the gun into the back of my jeans and loosely cover it with my shirt, then I make my way up the road, sticking as closely to the buildings on my right as possible. I hear the noise of a car pulling up and turn to see a dark truck at least a hundred feet behind me. I don’t think anything of it because this area is relatively residential. Probably just someone coming home for the day. I go to the place Jared has said he’s waiting and observing, a thin walkway between two houses on the opposite side of where Sammie might be held. I peer around the corner and find Jared in the shadows, dressed in a similar way to me.

  “You made that fast,” he says, keeping his eyes on the building.

  “Did you see anyone else leave?” I ask, pressing myself against the brickwork.

  “Nah, and no one else has gone in either.”

  I exhale though I’m far from feeling relieved. That won’t come until Samantha is in my arms and I know she’s unharmed.

  My ph
one vibrates in my pocket and I expect it to be Adam with an update but it comes from a discreet number. I read the message, blinking a few times at the cryptic words.

  Brandon Ford. You have a tail. Contract set by S.C. Can no longer contact as arranged. Concerned for safety. Indicate from position if you are seeking S.C.

  I shake my head, confused, then realize the message must have been sent by the man Samantha arranged to watch me, the one that pointed her towards Jackson’s. I curse, mad that she didn’t listen to me and cancel the surveillance. I don’t know whether this development is useful or a burden to our activities but I wave anyway, one hand movement down. I don’t want whoever is out there to blow our cover when we could be so close to finding Sammie. After thirty seconds I get another message.

  My name is Dirk. I’ll be at your position in one minute.

  “We’re getting some company,” I tell Jared and he frowns.

  “That’s not part of the plan,” he says, but after last night’s betrayal I don’t trust him enough to tell him anymore details.

  “He’s my backup. That’s all you need to know.” I try to mirror my father’s tone and it seems to work as Jared goes back to watching the house like hawk.

  Dirk arrives as promised and I’m surprised when he turns out to be a guy that looks like he’s just out of Special Forces rather than the overweight dude I’d expected. With cropped black hair, a military style vest and black combat trousers, he’s huge and imposing.

  “That where you think she is?” he asks, nodding to where Jared is staring.

  “Yeah. The guys in there are trying to extort from my father using Samantha as leverage,” I reply.

  “What’s the plan then?”

  “I think there are two men in there with the girl,” Jared says behind me. “There are two doors, one at the front that opens into the ground floor area and one at the side that opens into a utility area. There is also a flat roof that could give access to one of the upstairs rooms via a window.” Dirk nods and I get the impression he’s done this kind of thing before. He certainly looks the part.

  “Well, what the fuck are we waiting for?” I say, getting pissed off with all the talk and total of action. Anything could be happening to Sammie right now and the longer we stand here talking tactics, the worse it could be.

  “We’re good,” Dirk says. “Three points of entry, three of us,” he says like that’s gonna answer all the questions.

  “Are you suggesting one of us knocks at the front door?” Jared asks.

  “Yep,” Dirk nods and I catch Jared rolling his eyes.

  “Where the fuck you get this dude from?” he sniggers.

  “Two make their way round the side, one to climb and access upstairs, one to come in the back. On a signal, the one at the front knocks the door as a distraction. If they can, they should work to disarm and immobilize whoever opens the door. And we hope that the girl is being held out in the open as opposed to in a basement that we will struggle to get access into and escape from.

  Jared is staring at Dirk open mouthed. “You some sort of police reject?” he asks and Dirk shakes his head.

  “Just seen a lot of Hollywood movies.”

  I think for a fraction of a second that Dirk’s serious, then I see a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth and I know this strange man is playing with us.

  “I’ll take the upstairs,” I say, because that feels like the most obvious place Sammie will be held and I want to be the first to get to her.

  “I’ll take the side entrance,” Dirk says.

  “So you want me to do the dick job,” Jared says, looking putout.

  “Every job is equally important.” Dirk grins.

  “So let’s go,” I say, moving to stand at the edge of the walkway and scan in both directions. We’re clear and I start walking to the right about forty feet before I cross over the street and make my way back toward the house. Dirk follows, then Jared goes to the left. I wait in the shadow cast by a tree, pressed in close to a brick wall. Jared gestures for us to go down the side so we do, me with my gun in hand. When I glance behind me I catch a reflective glint off the side of Dirk’s piece. I’m glad he’s packing because I have no idea what we’re about to face.

  Chapter 13

  Brandon

  The climb onto the roof is easy because there are garbage bins against the side of the house that give me enough leverage to make it up onto the flat roof without making any noise. Dirk is watching from below, sticking close to the wall and lurking in the shadows. He’s pulled a metal implement from his pocket, ready to pick the lock of the door into the utility area that looks like a beer cellar and general dumping ground.

  I feel strangely calm as I approach the window from the side with my back flat against the wall. I’m not accustomed to breaking and entering but I’ve seen enough movies to know that stealth is the key. I turn and try to get a look into the room round the corner of the window frame. The curtains are drawn but they are old and half falling away from whatever is holding them up. There is a gap where the fabric is bunched at an odd angle and I can see the bed is empty. I can’t be sure that there is no one in the room but I’m pretty sure there isn’t. It’s a warm night and the window is slightly agar. I stick my fingers between the frame and the window and push upwards as carefully as I can. The movement of wood on wood makes a squeak and I stop, looking around to check no one has heard me. I try again, feeling sweat trickling down my temple and my heart beating fiercely in my chest. This situation is so fucked up but I have to keep focused on getting to Sammie. I pray again to whoever might be out there that she comes back to me safe and sound. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to make sure that happens.

  The window raises enough that I can slip through it on my stomach and get one leg across too. The smell in the house is musty and stale, and there is the distant sound of voices and maybe a TV from downstairs. I pad across the room as softly as my big feet and body will allow, standing at the edge of the door that’s slightly open into the hallway. I listen for about ten seconds, trying to get an idea of where the men might be in the house. I can see two other doors from where I am. One has a tiled floor so must be a bathroom. The other door is also ajar, and I can see brown carpet inside.

  Stepping out of the blackness of that room and into the hall is fucking terrifying. If I’m discovered and injured or killed they may hurt Sammie in retaliation, if they haven’t already. The thought of her being mistreated makes me feel crazy. Every step feels hazardous.

  Downstairs, I hear a knock at the door and know that Jared is trying to draw the remaining gang members to the front of the house. I hear footsteps and cursing as I take silent steps down the hall with my back pressed against the wall. The gun in my hand feels slick with sweat but I don’t have time to adjust my grip. If I need to, I’ll use it and fuck the consequences.

  As I reach the doorway, I nudge the door just slightly with my hand, figuring that anyone inside will come forward to investigate the movement. I wait but there is nothing so I risk pushing it open further.

  As it swings I see the end of a bed come into view and a woman’s feet and legs, still in their high-heeled shoes. Sammie. The sight of her in front of me sends me into action. I surge into the room, my arms out in front of me, pointing my gun into every corner. There is no one there, but Sammie’s eyes are wide, staring at me as I frantically make sure we’re safe. She can’t talk because there is a gag around her mouth but she nods at me, her eyes beginning to blink frantically and her body bucking against her restraints. I want to fucking kill someone for doing this to her but I’ve got to hold it together. I have to get us out of here.

  Taking a deep breath to steady the effects of the raging adrenaline in my veins, I push the door back to where it was and make my way over to Sammie. I put my finger to my lips and then set about removing the gag from around her mouth. When I get the knot undone and pull the cloth free she gasps and licks over her lips. “Oh god,” she whispers. “Where am I? What�
�s happening?”

  “It’s okay. Stay quiet,” I whisper back, reaching around her body to untie the rope around her wrists.

  “I can’t move very much,” she says. “How am I going to get out of here?”

  “I’m gonna get you out. Don’t worry. Just stay calm.”

  The rope is tight from where she’s been pulling at it, trying to get free. It seems to take forever for me to get it loose but I know that time feels distorted in a situation like this. Then there’s a loud bang and shouting coming from downstairs and everything speeds up.

  I hear cursing and more banging, the sound of fists hitting flesh. A gunshot rings out, slicing through the last fragment of calm and restraint I have. The rope comes loose and I scoop Sammie up from the bed and hoist her over my shoulder. I’ve got my gun pointed in front of us as I make my way towards the bedroom door. I cover the ground between Sammie’s room and the room with the open window quickly. Getting her out through the window when she’s not got full movement of her limbs is a challenge but I manage it. When I get onto the flat roof I see Jared running around the side. “We’ve got them tied up down there,” he shouts up.

  “Help me get her down,” I call back. I sit down on the edge of the roof with Sammie on my lap. She’s clinging to me like she doesn’t want to let me go, and I don’t want to release her from my care but I can’t get us both down without risking an injury. Then Dirk is behind Jared and he gets up onto the dumpster to help me.

  “Samantha,” he says. “I’m Dirk, your P.I. You’ve got to let go so we can get you down.”

  She blinks at me and whimpers but as I loosen the grip of her hands around my neck she lets me hand her across to Dirk. He passes her down to Jared and both Dirk and I jump down.

  “What happened in there?” I ask Dirk and he grins.

  “Like taking candy from a baby,” he laughs.

  Jared laughs too. “You should see them, Brandon. Trussed up like two Thanksgiving turkeys.”