“Dude, what’s with you tonight?” Carlos asks, handing me a tool.
“Nothing. Get back to work.” I try to act all badass because I’m getting a bad reputation around here for going soft. I glace at Claire, who is now reading The Chamber, and realize how much my life has changed in three months. In three short months, she’s managed to turn my world upside down.
Everyone assumes we’re having wild hot sex, and that’s why she has this hold over me. No one knows I’ve done nothing more than hold her hand and give her a hug. They would laugh and call me a pussy for the rest of my life if they knew the truth. They wouldn’t understand how you could fall for a girl based solely on her heart. I’m not insinuating Claire’s not hot, because damn, that’s what I noticed first about her. No, Claire is one of those rare types of women who is hot on the outside and sweet on the inside. That’s why I claimed her as mine on that first day. That’s why I’m not sure if I’ll be able to let her go.
She reminds me of my own mother, at least of what I can remember of her. My mother was one good-looking woman, and she loved my brothers and me. This is knowledge I will take to my grave. My mother loved us more than life itself. She was one of those one-in-a-million types of women, just like Claire.
I exhale, looking over at Claire. She’s in her own little world, reading in a room full of criminals. I guess she knows she has little to worry about. If any of these men even glance her way, I’ll rip their eyes out of their sockets. She knows she’s safe with me.
We wrap up the night, and I pay out the guys. We made a load of cash and I’m happy for the business.
“You realize you haven’t been out in over two months, right?” Carlos decides to give me hell one last time before we break.
“There’s a reason I can’t go out anymore, jackass.” I’m sick of his attitude. I turn to look at him square in the face. This shit is stopping tonight. I don’t care how soft I’ve become, I’m not taking this from him anymore. “What’s the problem?” I’m bigger than he is, and I show my dominance. He’s hit the last nerve.
“I think Marcus is missing his partner, that’s all.”
“I can’t be out in public. You know this.”
“That doesn’t seem to be a problem when you’re with your woman. You take her out all the time, but when it comes to jacking cars, you need to stay here and guard her like a watchdog.”
Okay, so he has a point. “Shut the hell up, Carlos.” My voice is getting louder and I’m about to lose my temper.
“Let me bring in another worker, then. I’ve got someone in mind, and he’s good at this stuff. He could work with Marcus. He’s quick on his feet.”
Another worker? Carlos never brings in another worker. “You know what it takes to work here. You know we can’t just hire and trust anyone. Anyways, we had Sean taking my place. Why this guy?”
“He’s my buddy. He needs the money. He’s clean, Brandon. He would never rat us out.”
I pause for a second. “Let me think about it, Carlos. We can’t have just anyone stealing cars. He’s got to prove himself. I’ll get back with you next week.” I turn and walk away, not waiting for a response. What’s he trying to do? Replace me?
I immediately forget my confrontation with Carlos when I see a sleeping Claire. I do my morning ritual of picking her off the sofa and carrying her to my bed. Marcus stays with me in the stairwell.
“What was that all about with Carlos?”
“He wants to bring in a new man. He says you need someone quick on their feet to replace me. Apparently Sean isn’t up to par.”
Marcus grunts. “We just packed twenty cars here tonight. Why does he think we need someone else?”
“It’s his buddy and he wants to help him with some money. He used me as an excuse,” I answer, carrying Claire through the doors. Our conversation ends as I walk into my room. I lay her on the bed, and watch her rest peacefully. I set my clock for ten thirty. I only hope I can sleep as quietly as Claire, knowing I will be seeing my brothers in a few hours.
I ATTEMPT TO open my heavy eyelids and glance at the clock. It’s eight am, and I’ve only been asleep for two hours.
I knew sleep wouldn’t be possible.
I look over at Claire, and she’s on her side facing me, her blonde hair draped across her pillow. I can’t believe she went through the trouble of locating my brothers. I watch her rest, and once again, I’m enamored at her beauty. Maybe I could steal one kiss while she’s sleeping? She wouldn’t have to know. I have longed to taste her lips and kiss her every day during the past three months. I lean my head closer to hers and stop.
What if I start kissing her and can’t stop? What if she doesn’t want this and draws away? I can’t bear the thought of losing her as a friend and confidant. A simple stolen kiss has the power to open all these fears. I’m inches from her face and feel the heat of her body radiating into mine. I’m debating what I should - or shouldn’t – do when her eyes fly open. She must have felt the weight of my stare.
I freeze, my own eyes wide open. Shit, she’s caught me red handed. There’s no explaining this. I’m like a kid with his hand in the cookie jar. She eyes me for a few seconds and then tilts her head to the side, like she’s thinking some deep dark thought. I’m not sure what to do. I’m scared that I might have just ruined what we have. I grab her head with my hands and bring her forehead to my lips.
I’ve kissed her like this several times, but I don’t know what she makes of the affection. It doesn’t matter anyway. What was I thinking trying to steal a kiss? I smell her scent while I place the kiss on her skin and roll over onto my back. I stare at the ceiling. No words pass between us. She doesn’t move. I run my hand down my face, exhaling.
“I’m going to take a shower,” I mumble as I roll out of bed. I’m embarrassed by my actions.
I cross the room and close the bathroom door behind me. I turn the shower to cold and step inside, trying to calm every nerve ending in my body. When I return to the room, Claire has gotten out of bed. She gives me a small smile and makes her way into the bathroom while I dress.
I decide to wait for Claire in the kitchen. She probably needs her space after waking up to my face in her face, my lips near her lips.
I pack our lunches while making small talk with Sally. All I can concentrate on are my brothers and my almost-kiss with Claire.
“How’s the other girl? Sarah?” I ask, remembering the girl’s name.
“Still skittish,” Sally answers and I wonder what they’ve been doing with her for the past three months. I’ve been so involved with Claire that I’ve neglected this other hostage.
“Make sure you keep her away from Carlos,” I say, and Sally nods in agreement. “I don’t want her hurt. She’s Claire’s friend.” At that moment, Claire walks into the room, all beautiful in jeans and a tight fitted shirt. I swallow a few times, remembering her scent from this morning.
“Morning.” She starts picking up items and helping me pack them in the picnic basket. “Are you nervous?” She looks up, and I see concern in her eyes. I guess she’s forgotten about our near kiss experience this morning. Either that, or she’s found it in her heart to forgive me. I’m suddenly very embarrassed again, thinking of her wide blue eyes when she caught me.
“Yeah.” That’s the only answer I give as she pulls me in for a hug. I’m momentarily stunned, that she’s hugging me…again, but I reciprocate, feeling her genuine concern. I feel her body mold against mine and I hold her tight. “Ready to go?” I ask, my voice muffled by her hair.
“Whenever you are.”
I reluctantly release her and grab our basket. I hold my hand out for hers and she slips her soft, delicate fingers into mine. She gives me a tight squeeze, and I take a deep breath.
This is it. After ten years, my dream is about to become a reality. Am I ready? Will I ever be ready?
“Let’s go. It’s now or never,” I say, leading us out the door. I have no idea what the next few hours will entail. I could be
in jail in the next hour if my brothers don’t cooperate. I wouldn’t blame them if they told the police. I wouldn’t blame them a bit, but I really hope they didn’t. All I want right now is to talk with them. I want to hug them. I pray to God they will give me this chance.
CLAIRE AND I hide in our spot, overlooking the pond. My palms are sweating and I’m pacing back and forth. Claire and I have a get-away-plan if the police arrive. We have parked the Beamer in the woods behind our favorite spot. We can make a quick escape if needed. I take deep breaths and run my hand down my face till the skin feels raw.
“Brandon, calm down.” Her voice gives me peace as I take in another deep breath. She grabs one of my hands and gives it a quick squeeze. I close my eyes and rest my forehead against hers. I feel her fingers on my face as her thumb caresses my cheek.
I am instantly relaxed, the fear of seeing my brothers vanishing. Her power over me grows each day, and I’m not sure how much longer I can hold on without giving her my entire soul. “Feel better?” she whispers, and I nod against her forehead. “They’re here.”
My eyes open and I snap my head around. I see them.
My brothers.
I don’t know which emotion I am feeling right now - hope or excitement - but I do know I’m about to break into tears…again. I don’t even care if the cops are right behind them. They are at the pond, looking around, waiting for me. I tear away from Claire’s embrace and almost sprint in their direction. They see me and both of their faces break into big smiles. Wow, they look like our mother.
The tears are falling down now, and when I reach them, there’s no holding back. I stop right in front of them, not knowing exactly what to do.
“Hi.” My voice is small and almost unrecognizable. They are my best friends and complete strangers, all mixed together.
Mark doesn’t hesitate a second longer. He lunges for me and grabs me tight. Luke follows afterwards and the three of us stand in a close embrace, nobody uttering a word. The tears continue to fall down my face, and I hear Mark sniffle.
I pull back and nod my head in the direction of Claire. “Come over here. I have us a spot and some lunch.” I walk in between them with my hands on their shoulders. “You both look good.”
“You too, Brandon,” Luke says, wiping the tears from his face. We venture behind the trees and the twins stop dead when they see Claire. She’s down on the blanket, setting out the food. She doesn’t seem to notice their hesitation as she stands up and walks over. She shakes Mark’s hand and then Luke’s.
“It’s so nice to meet you both,” she says, but then senses their hesitation. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re the girl who’s been kidnapped. We keep seeing your picture on the television.” Mark looks at me. “Is it true you kidnapped her?”
I pause, not knowing what to say. I don’t want to lose what little respect my brothers have for me. “Um…” I start, but I don’t know how to finish.
“Yes, I was kidnapped, but now I’m helping Brandon out. He will be returning me very soon. It’s nothing for you to be concerned about.” Claire’s soft and sweet voice instantly lifts the turmoil in the air. She motions us to the blanket, and I’m once again in awe of her. She could have easily thrown herself at the twins and asked to be taken away, but she didn’t. She stood by me. No woman has ever done that before.
We take our seats around the blanket and I start in on the questions. I don’t think I have ever talked this much in my entire life. What grades do you make in school? Where are you going to college…you’re going, right? What kind of parents are the Peoples?
I find out that their new family, Gloria and Terry Peoples, are decent parents and that both twins are enrolled at The University of Georgia. They have plans to start in the fall. I have never been so proud.
But then the larger issues at stake circle our picnic when Mark asks the loaded question. “What happened to you, Brandon?”
I swallow several times, laying my halfway eaten sandwich down. What should I tell him? I decide on the truth.
“I don’t know what Gloria and Terry have told you about me.” I run my hands down my face and hesitate before starting again. “You were both too young to understand what happened, but after Gramps and Gran died, I tried to win sole custody of you.” I see their eyes go wide. They had no idea. “We all spent a year in foster care, and when I turned eighteen, I was considered an adult. I didn’t want either of you to endure foster care any longer, so I set out to gain full custody. I didn’t know it at the time, but Gloria and Terry had already started the adoption process.”
I glance their way. They have both stopped eating, their eyes glued to me. “I was really happy at first. I knew this would be a better life for you than what I could offer, but when I asked for your new information, I was told the files were sealed. I fought to have them opened. I only wanted to be part of your lives. But they had a really great lawyer, and I had a state lawyer who sucked.”
I don’t mention that the really great lawyer is Claire’s dad. “The great lawyer brought up my troubled high school years. I don’t know if you remember, but I was always in fights. I had…still have…a pretty bad temper and it was no secret in school. Gloria and Terry’s lawyer brought that up, and to make a long story short, I lost the case. The judge ruled in favor of your new parents and…well, I lost it. I already felt so alone in the world, and I couldn’t control my emotions. I went crazy right there in the court room.”
Their eyes are still wide. I’m not trying to scare them, but they need to know the truth. “I threw over tables, chairs, threatened the judge. It wasn’t a pretty sight, and it’s nothing I’m proud of.” I exhale. “I just felt so lost in that moment, and I didn’t know any other way to release the pain. This obviously wasn’t acceptable in the courtroom, and the judge sentenced me to thirty days. So now, not only do I have a record of anger issues, but I have a jail sentence on me, too.”
I pause and look at the ground. “You two were all I had left, and I had just lost you. Because of my ‘anger issues,’” I say the last two words sarcastically, “The court ruled in favor of keeping the files sealed. Gloria and Terry adopted you, and I didn’t know your new last name. I thought I had lost you forever.”
Nobody speaks for a while. I’m terrified I have scared them. “Please don’t hate Gloria and Terry for this. They did what they thought best, and I’m sure you can tell from what you’ve seen in the news, I didn’t turn out to be the best role model.”
“How did you get involved in the largest car theft ring in Atlanta?” Mark asks timidly. I can tell they live an incredibly sheltered life, and I don’t want to overwhelm them with too much information.
“Do you remember my buddy Marcus from high school?” They both nod, and I’m shocked they remember him. “Well, we tried it one day, stealing a car, I mean, and the adrenaline rush was wild. So we did it again…and again. And before I knew it, I was running an entire ring of cars. And I was good. Too good. Now I’m in too deep. I can’t escape. I want to, dammit. I really do, but I can’t integrate back into society without going to jail. And I’m not about to turn myself in. I need money, so this is what I do. This is what I’ve become.” I pause for a second because I want them to hear every word. I look into each of their eyes.
“I’m not proud of what I’ve become. I don’t want to be this person, but my options are limited. I want to be in your lives, but because of my choices, I will always be at a distance. I want better for you. Go to college. Get a degree and an honest job. Always be honest.
“The thing is, one day this lifestyle is going to catch up with me. I am a ticking time bomb, and soon, it’s all going to come to a head and explode. I don’t know when or how much longer I have, but I’m not stupid. I know that it’s coming.
“I want you to know that I love you, and I want better for you. Whatever you do and whatever you become, make Mom and Dad, Gramps and Gran proud. I didn’t do this, and the opportunity for me is all but gone, but you stil
l have the choice. You still have the opportunity.”
Their brown hair blows in the wind, and I’m looking deeply into their brown eyes. I mean every word I say. This might be the only chance I have to speak with them, and I want to put all my cards on the table.
“We still love you, Brandon. We think about you every day,” Mark says, wiping his eyes. “We didn’t know what happened. Mom and Dad don’t ever speak about you. We know who you are…we see you on the news, but we aren’t allowed to ask questions.”
“We want you in our lives again, too,” Luke says in a whispered tone. “We’ve missed you.”
A feeling of warmth floods through me. They don’t hate me. They want to see me again. “Maybe we can do this another time in a couple of months,” I tell them. “This is a safe place. We can meet up and you tell me all about college. You can tell me all about your college girlfriends,” I smirk, hitting Luke in the arm playfully. He smiles back and I sense these two have the girls coming from miles around. They look just like our beautiful mother.
“I have a small gift,” Claire speaks, and I’m shocked because I forgot she was here. She reaches into the bag and pulls out two pictures. She hands them to each of my brothers. I’m speechless. This is the same picture I have by my lamp in my room.
“How…?” I ask, attempting to formulate the words.
“That day I went to the library. I took your picture and photo-scanned copies. After I found what I needed, I knew we would have this moment, and I knew they would want this.”
She gives us all her gorgeous smile, and in that moment I think I might be in love with her. I’m not totally sure because I’ve never been in love, but if I’ve ever wanted to kiss her, it’s now. Since the beginning, Claire has put a glitch in this entire kidnapping scheme. I was never supposed to fall in love with her, protect her, or care for her.
What has she done to me? Before she came into my life, I only felt anger and vengeance. Today I feel love and remorse. Who is this tiny blonde that has such an immense power over one of Atlanta’s most wanted criminals?
The Thief Redeemer Page 13