Freeing Him: A Hart Brothers Novel, Book 2

by A. M. Hargrove

  We will now move to the next stage. With Case helping out, maybe my plans to gather more concrete evidence will materialize. I’m hoping to get to Kestrel. To get him to cave. But I can’t let him know I’m still around. That’s why I need Gabriella to meet with him, to try to get him to talk. The computer records that I have are dated, the information sparse. Case said they need something more current. I plan to create a list of contacts for him and then move from there. Case isn’t sure how that will help, but I am. Even if I have to go beyond the law, I will, though I didn’t mention this to Case.

  He suggested I stay away from Gabby for the next few days. Langston’s men are watching her like a hawk and he doesn’t want to peak their interest, any more than it already is. He promised to let her know what was happening and told me to go home, and when it seemed safer, he would let me know.

  Now I’m an even bigger mess than I was when I went to see him. As I sit here in my apartment, alone with my thoughts, my mind tumbles with ideas on how I can take down my father. I’m going to have to get inside his compound. But I don’t know how I can do that. My key is going to be Kestrel. But he can’t know I’m using him because his tethers to the dragon are too strong. He doesn’t have the strength to stand up to him. This is where I may have to rely on Gabby.

  Restless, I leave Brooklyn and hop on the subway. I ride the trains all day long in search of answers. But I find none, except in my Kestrel connection. I wish I could trust him enough to use him. But I can’t. My father would break him in less than a second. As I wait for another train, I amble around, lost in my thoughts, when I notice a man who looks familiar. I’m shocked to see it’s Kade. He’s filthy and looks awful. And he smells. I’m sure he hasn’t bathed in weeks, maybe even months.

  He hasn’t seen me so I walk up to him and say, “Hey.”

  He turns and not a glimmer of recognition flashes across his features. His eyes are dead. Hopeless. It crushes me.

  “Kade?”

  “Yeah. Whadya want?” He roots through a garbage can.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “What’s it to ya?”

  “Come with me. I’ll buy you some food.”

  He focuses his foggy eyes on me. “Why?”

  “Because you’re hungry.”

  He pauses and shakes his head. “Nah. I’m good.”

  “No, you’re not. Look at you. You need to eat.” I reach for his arm and his brows knit together. He’s so lost that it makes me want to hug him. But I know it’ll scare him off.

  “Come on, buddy, let’s hit Mickey D’s.” It used to be his favorite place when he was a kid; I’m hoping he’ll make the connection.

  “Yeah, okay.”

  We walk up to the street level, and I glance at him along the way. He looks like hell. As bad as I’ve ever seen him. If he doesn’t get help soon, he’ll die. I can tell it takes a lot of effort for him to move, but I see a McDonald’s up ahead. When we get inside, I tell him to sit and I go and order all his favorite things.

  His hands shake as he unwraps his Big Mac. He stuffs fries in his mouth so fast, I wonder when his last real meal was. He drinks his Coke and I get him a refill.

  “Kade, buddy, do you know who I am?”

  “Yep.”

  “Good. Just making sure.”

  “You’re not gonna try to make me go to rehab again, are you?”

  I drop my head into my hands. I literally could cry right now. He smells so bad and looks like he’s a week away from death, but I want to hug him so hard, he has no idea.

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Okay, but you know, I just might be ready this time.”

  What? Holy shit!

  I lean into him and murmur, “What did you say?”

  His glassy eyes, ones that used to be such a piercing blue, try to focus on me, and fail. Instead, he looks back down at his Big Mac and says, his words jumbled, “I think I might be ready this time, Kol.”

  I grab his hand. I don’t care that it hasn’t seen soap in weeks. “Kade, you have to promise me something.”

  “Yeah?”

  “You can’t tell anyone you saw me.”

  “Why not?”

  “Just because. Can you promise me?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  I give his hand a firm squeeze. “Good. If I tell you of a place to go, can you get there? It’s a place where someone named Case can help you.”

  “Yeah. I can do that.” Then his glazed eyes hunt mine again. “But Kol, I’m really bad. I don’t know if I’ll make it.”

  “You will. He can help you. Just promise me you’ll go. Promise.” I want to cry.

  Kade nods and finishes eating. When he’s done, I say, “Kade, I have to leave you now. But go see Case. And don’t worry. He’ll help.”

  I leave but before I do, I hand him some money. I don’t know if he’ll use it for food, transportation to get to Case, or drugs. Seeing him in such bad shape breaks my heart. I head back to Brooklyn, trying to figure out if he’ll actually go for help.

  I’m drinking my usual heavy dose of Jameson when the phone that Case gave me beeps. It’s a text from him:

  Gotta talk. Tonight. Where?

  I hit him back right away:

  A bar in Brooklyn.

  I give him the location of my favorite watering hole. One hour from now.

  I’m sitting in the corner when he arrives and spots me. He takes a seat across from me, barely controlling his temper.

  “Are you deliberately trying to get everyone killed?”

  His question derails me.

  “What? No answer? Your brother staggers into NA and tells me you sent him. After you took him to lunch today. Yes, you, who are supposed to be missing. What the fuck, dude?”

  I have no adequate response for him because he’s right.

  “Listen to me and listen good. You’re putting Gabby at risk. I love her. I would do anything for her. You, on the other hand, I could give a shit about. I’m only helping you because she would give her right arm and leg for you. So let’s get one thing straight: shut your fucking mouth from this point forward. I have no idea how I’m going to keep your brother quiet. Right now he’s a fucking hydrogen bomb on the verge of exploding. Do you have any idea what an addict is like when they go through withdrawal?”

  I shake my head. I obviously don’t know.

  “Let me clue you in. They’d sell their firstborn to the devil for a fix. So if your father gets wind that Kade’s in rehab, he’ll sweep in and try to find out whatever he can. And believe me, Kade will be singing like Pavarotti at the Metropolitan Opera and it’ll be a stellar performance.”

  My whole body is coiled and ready to spring. I rub the back of my neck as air busts through my mouth.

  “Fuck.”

  “Exactly.”

  “He’s my brother. When I saw him, I didn’t think.”

  “No fucking shit, dumbass.”

  “What was I supposed to do? Walk away and let him die?”

  “Some choices are tough ones, bud. But you have to weigh them out. Gabby was thrown into this situation and didn’t have one. Your brother did.”

  Images cascade through my head … all of us boys as kids and what the dragon did to us. My hand wraps around Case’s wrist as I grit out, “Now that’s where you’re dead wrong. None of us had any choices. The dragon took those away from us.”

  I release his arm like it burns my fingers. Case asks, “What the fuck did he do to you?”

  My hands fist in my hair and I can only shake my head. Throat burning with hatred and my mind stirring with horrific memories, I’m silent as I try to compose myself.

  “Fuck. No wonder your brother’s an addict.”

  After a few deep breaths, I add, “If you only knew the half of it, you probably wouldn’t believe it. He’s a fucking monster.”

  “That doesn’t erase the fact that we have to consider damage control.”

  When I am calm once again, I say, “We need to send Kade away some
where. Get Gabby on this. Have her set everything up.”

  “It’s not gonna shut him up, though,” Case says.

  “It may. Kade hates my father more than any of us. He had it the worst. My father was especially cruel to him.”

  “Did he abuse you kids?”

  “Oh yeah. But not in the ways you’re thinking. My father was … let me just say he liked to deprive us of things. And Kade was the most deprived of all.”

  “Jesus, I’m sorry, man.”

  “So, when I saw him digging through the garbage, I really didn’t have a choice. I took him to McDonald’s and fed him. I talked to him and I casually asked him if he’d ever consider NA. Never in a million years did I think he’d say yes. He’s resisted so many times in the past and I knew he was close to the end just by looking at him, but when he said he would, I had to tell him about you. I couldn’t walk away. For all his faults, he’s my brother. And if you knew the whole story, you’d want to reach out to him too. And so would Gabriella. I’m sorry, Case.”

  We’re both quiet for a time. Then Case breaks it.

  “I know of a place. It’s in Colorado. They are very discreet. They ask no questions but are extremely good. If you can provide the transportation, and pay for it, I can get things set up.”

  “Talk to Gabriella. She controls the money. Tell her what’s going on and she’ll take care of it. She needs to pay for it out of the personal funds, but she’ll know that.”

  Case taps the table with his palm. “I’ll take care of it. And stay away from her for a while. I’m worried about you. You need to lay low. Stay home, man. Watch some movies or something. Keep your nose clean.”

  I nod.

  “And one other thing. Stop hitting the juice or you’ll be in rehab too.”

  “Nah, I’m good.”

  “Uh-huh. I’ve heard that before.”

  “Spoken like a pro,” I say, loaded with sarcasm.

  “Because I am one, you idiot.”

  I take a good look at him. He knows what he’s talking about. His eyes are hard and don’t ease up on me. Case has been around the block with substance abuse, so I guess he is the pro and I am one big idiot.

  “I’m not doling out advice for shits and giggles. You may be smart when it comes to getting rich, but I know my shit when it comes to addiction. Stay. Off. The. Fucking. Bottle. Gabby is important. Don’t fuck this up.”

  “Aye, aye, captain.”

  He scoots out of the booth and walks out. When I think about it, Case isn’t one I would want to fuck over. He’s tough and has had his share of hard knocks. But he’s serious about taking care of Gabriella and he wouldn’t hesitate to grab me by my shirt collar and punch some sense into me. I stare at my half-full glass and push it aside. Getting drunk is not going to change the outcome of things. It’s only going to change the way I feel in the morning.

  I leave a stack of bills on the table and walk home. There’s only one place I want to be right now, and it’s in bed with Gabriella. Since that’s not going to happen, I go home and do my best to fall asleep without her.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Gabriella

  Kestrel is the only way to Langston. And I need to figure this one out. It’s been several days since I’ve seen Kolson and I’m dying to call him, but I can’t allow myself to do it.

  Ironically, when I come in from work, Lydia has dinner ready, but she also shows me “the little black thing” she found on the entryway table when she was dusting. I want to laugh hysterically, but I don’t. She asks if I know what it is, and I say that I don’t. We inspect it and determine it’s one of those nothing things that you often find laying around, so she tosses it in the trash and takes it to the garbage chute on her way out.

  I’m giddy when I call Case and tell him.

  He doesn’t laugh. Well, maybe a tiny bit, but not what I expect.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. You busy?”

  “No. I was going to eat dinner.”

  “Want some company?” he asks.

  He arrives about a half an hour later and I serve us both some of Lydia’s delicious veal piccata.

  He mm-mmms as he eats, and I can’t blame him. Lydia is a marvel in the kitchen.

  “So, what’s up that you couldn’t tell me over the phone?”

  “That is pretty funny about Lydia finding the bug.”

  I laugh.

  “Kolson found Kade. He’s going to rehab.”

  I drop my fork and it clatters on the granite countertop.

  “Can you repeat that?”

  “Is it really necessary?”

  “Um, yeah.”

  He tells me the whole mess and I’m torn between laughing and crying. Then he asks, “Do you have any idea what their dad did to them?”

  “Oh God, Case, I wish he would tell me. But he won’t. He says he will but he’s afraid.”

  “I ripped him a new one yesterday.”

  He tells me everything he said to Kolson.

  My hand covers my mouth to keep from yelling at Case. I want to curse him for being so unfeeling. But how was he to know?

  “Gabs, he grabbed my arm and I knew, I just knew there was something so wrong with it all.”

  “He won’t stop until Kade is better. He’s been looking for him. It’s odd that he happened to run into him like that.”

  “Yeah, isn’t it, though?”

  “I’ve been thinking,” I say.

  Case clears our plates and puts them in the dishwasher. I follow and lean on the counter as he works.

  “The only way to Langston is through Kestrel. I need to call him and set up a meeting and then try to manipulate him. I think I can do it.”

  “How?” he asks. “And this better be good.”

  “They all have issues. Kade’s is drugs. I won’t tell you what Kolson’s is. But Kestrel’s is touch. I only discovered this the other day by accident. I’m pretty sure I can get to him. But it won’t happen on one visit.”

  Case is quiet.

  “Well?” I ask.

  “I need to digest this for a bit.”

  “Case, I’m sorry this has involved you so much. That was never my intent. And the danger aspect of it.”

  “Gabs, I’m a former cop. Remember?”

  I grab and hug him.

  “I gotta run. Just be safe,” he says.

  I see him to the elevator. Once again I’m on Kolson’s computer, hunting for anything I can on his father. After several hours, I’m so tired, I call it a night. My phone buzzes. It’s Ovaltine.

  “Dr. M., I’m downstairs.”

  “Come on up, Ovaltine.”

  When he arrives, I’m ready to head to my studio. I’ve taken care of washing my face and brushing my teeth.

  “Ovaltine, are you sure you don’t mind this?”

  “No, ma’am. It’s my job.”

  We head down and he takes a seat in my tiny kitchen as I get in bed. It’s strange having someone here. We’re going to have to come up with another plan. Maybe Kolson can text me if he’s coming so I can just start sleeping in the penthouse. Then Ovaltine would be more comfortable.

  I’m surprised when I wake up in the morning because I didn’t think I’d be able to sleep. But I did, and pretty long from the looks of it. The sun is high in the sky and I look over to find Ovaltine wide awake.

  “What time is it?”

  “About nine, Dr. M.”

  “What!”

  I hop up and race through the studio, snatching things up as I go. “Come on, I’m late.”

  He laughs as he follows me up the steps to the back entrance. We barely make it in before Lydia.

  My shower is brief and I hightail it as I finish getting ready. Lydia is surprised to see me rushing through.

  “Sorry. I overslept.”

  Ovaltine is still laughing at me. I don’t know why, either. We take the elevator to the underground garage and get in the car.

  “What’s so funny?”

 
“I’ve just never seen you run so late before.”

  “I’m never late, that’s why.”

  “Hey, it’s all cool, Dr. M. You’re the boss, you know.”

  Then I stop and think, yeah, I am. And laugh.

  “My replacement is already here,” Ovaltine says.

  My door opens and the biggest black man I’ve ever seen stands before me. He’s bigger than Sam or Ovaltine, and that’s ginormous.

  “Dr. Martinelli, my name is Axel and I’ll be with you today.”

  “Axel. Nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise.”

  We take the elevator up to the executive level where the receptionist, Alice, says hello to us. I introduce Axel and we continue on our journey. When we get to Kolson’s office, I introduce him to Chloe, my secretary, before I show him in. But he stays right outside by the door.

  “Dr. Martinelli, no one gets into this office without your express permission. They have to get through me to get to you.”

  “That’s good, Axel.”

  He nods.

  “Um, would you care for some coffee?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  And then he stands like some kind of soldier, arms crossed, protecting me. Well, admittedly, I do feel safer with him here.

  An hour or so later, I hear voices and a knock. Axel sticks his head in and says, “There’s a Mr. Jack McCutcheon requesting an audience with you, ma’am.”

  Oh, for Pete’s sake.

  “Um, Axel, we’re not that formal around here. And yes, Jack can enter any time.”

  Jack walks in, a silly grin on his face.

  “What’s with Conan?”

  “Uh, yeah, after Langston’s threats, all my advisors have decided it’s best for me to have a bodyguard. Which reminds me, I need to pay a visit to Tom Barrett and have him call off that search.”

  “Oh. Well, I was going to see if you wanted to review some upcoming acquisitions, but we can do it later.”

  “You don’t mind?”

  “Not at all.”

  I follow Jack out and Axel and I walk over to security.