by Carol Lynne
Bram covered his baby brother’s hand with his own. “I love you but I can’t let you go back there. Promise me you won’t follow me.”
Thor gave Bram’s arm a slight squeeze as he studied him. “As long as I hear from you every day, I won’t come after you. That’s all I’m gonna promise.”
Bram put the truck into gear and waited for Thor to get out of the way. “I’ll call you tonight.” At Thor’s nod, Bram pulled out of the parking lot.
Chapter Four
Driving to the airport, Bram couldn’t help but worry about Declan. The few relatives Bram had left in the area hated him and his brother. They blamed Bram for Lucky Blackstone’s death. But then the Blackstone family had always believed what they wanted to, and in their eyes, Lucky could do no wrong.
Bram had been thrown out of the house and told to never come back after reporting his father to the police for child abuse. Bram had been barely sixteen when his father kicked him out onto the streets. Bram should’ve known his father’s family would never help him out.
The first time Bram had reported his own parents, he’d made the mistake of going to the local police. The Blackstone family was wealthy and very influential around the area. Needless to say, nothing came of Bram’s complaint save a few more bruises handed out by his parents. When he’d finally gathered the guts to go to the state police, they’d sent him home and called his father. Just like that, his father had kicked his eldest son out of the house. It seemed the police officer who took his statement owed the Blackstone family a favor.
Lucky Blackstone had fooled them all for years. He’d ordered Bram out of town and at the time he had the power to do it. Bram vowed to never return and he hadn’t until the day he got the call his baby brother was in the hospital. Thor had been hit on the back with a steel pipe at the hands of his father as his mother watched. Doreen Blackstone often laughed while Lucky beat Bram. Bram, who was only eighteen, left New York for Arizona as soon as he received the call from the state police. He flew to Flagstaff and his entire life changed. Thor was still too sedated to talk much but had named his father as his attacker. The police finally stepped in and arrested Lucky Blackstone.
Bram was the star witness for the prosecution. He relived his life of physical and mental abuse at the hands of not only his father but his mother as well, while under oath. Because there was no proof his mother had anything to do with Thor’s injuries, she got off with a warning while his father was sentenced to seven years in prison. The people in power on the reservation still believed in Lucky’s innocence and had told Bram he was no longer considered one of them. They ordered him off the reservation and told him to never return. Clear up to his death, his father’s cronies believed in his innocence. Stabbed to death by a fellow inmate, Lucky Blackstone only served two years in prison. As far as Bram knew, his mother was still alive and living in the family home.
* * * * *
As Bram landed in Arizona, his skin began to crawl. He’d decided to check with the lodge first and go from there. Pulling out the map and directions the rental agency had given him, Bram wound his way down country roads until he reached the Prickly Pear Lodge. He pulled his SUV out front and went in to talk to the desk clerk. He left ten minutes later with no clue as to where to look next.
Bram didn’t like what he was thinking. If this whole thing had to do with him and his brother, the only place to really look was in the small town where they’d grown up. Evidently, whoever Lon was, he was trying to lure Bram back there.
When he was on the road headed for his parents’ home, he called Thor.
“Bram?”
“Hey. No luck at the lodge, so I’m heading to Lucky and Doreen’s.” Bram kept one eye on the road and one eye in the rearview mirror.
“Bram, just stay put and let me come out there.”
“No, little brother. You stay right where you are. Evidently, someone’s playing games with the people I love and I won’t let them get away with it. I’ll call you sometime this evening.” Bram disconnected the call. He pushed a little harder on the gas and tried to come up with a plan.
His anxiety increased the closer he got to the reservation. Pulling into the little town he’d grown up in, Bram’s skin broke out in goose bumps. Declan was here. He couldn’t explain it but he knew the man he loved was here. Bram stopped and parked his SUV in front of the grocery store. He decided it would be better to walk the two blocks to his parents’ home.
He crept across the neighbors’ yards. Knowing that if someone expected him, they’d be looking out the back or front, Bram came at the house from the side. He looked at the large house he’d grown up in. There wasn’t one pleasant memory associated with the five-bedroom house. Bram didn’t even know if his mother was still alive or if she even lived there, but something was telling him Declan was close. He waited behind the neighbor’s car until he determined no one was looking out the window. Stepping lightly, he crept to the side of the house and passed the old-fashioned cellar doors. God, he remembered being locked in that small dank cellar for days at a time without food or water. Folks in town considered having a wine cellar to be a big deal but Bram always felt his father built it just as a punishment chamber for his children. He looked in the dining room window. Seeing nothing, he moved to the living room window. Still nothing. Taking a chance, he moved to the back of the house. Through the kitchen window at the back of the house, he spotted a bound and gagged Declan.
Bram’s breathing picked up and his hands fisted at his side. He could tell Declan was either unconscious or asleep by the way his head hung down. Bram refused to even consider anything besides those two options. Feeling like his heart was going to beat out of his chest, he looked around for some form of weapon, finally picking up an old brick from the edge of the patio. Holding it in his hand, he made his way to the back door. Looking through the glass, he tried the knob. Damn, it was locked. Seeing no other choice, he used the brick to break a corner of the glass. He reached his hand in to unlock the door. Opening the door, he knew he needed to move fast. He didn’t know who or how many people were in the house but he was unarmed and Declan was hurt. As he quickly made his way across the kitchen to his lover, Declan’s head came up slightly.
His eyes were open but just barely. Someone had beaten him badly. Bram slipped into rescue mode, found a kitchen knife and quickly cut Declan free. Hoisting his lover into his arms, Bram made his way out of the house. He didn’t know where he found the strength but Bram ran with Declan cradled in his arms the entire way back to his SUV. He opened the door and laid Declan in the back seat. “Hold on. I’ll get you to a hospital.”
Bram jumped in the front seat and opened his phone. After calling 9-1-1, Bram drove Declan to the nearest hospital. Pulling up to the emergency room door, he scooped Declan into his arms and ran inside.
* * * * *
Two hours later, Bram sat next to a sleeping Declan. The doctor told him Declan had only superficial injuries with the exception of a mild concussion. Whoever had kidnapped him hadn’t been too hard on him at least. The more Bram thought about it, the more he decided he couldn’t take Declan back to the facility. He didn’t know who this sick fuck was but they didn’t need to lead him back to a place full of kids.
Making up his mind, he gave Declan a kiss on the forehead and left the room. Walking outside the small hospital, Bram opened his phone and called Mac.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Mac. I need a favor.”
“It’s about time you called. Thor called us over an hour ago telling us what happened. We didn’t know whether to jump on a plane or what.”
“Well, I’ve been sticking close to Declan. Can you blame me?” Bram eyed the parking lot as he spoke.
“Not at all, buddy. What can we do to help?”
“Well, I need somewhere to take Declan until this guy is caught. I can’t take him back to the facility for obvious reasons.”
“Bring him here. Nicco’s mom has a nice guest apartment above the
garage. And the three of us will be close enough if you need backup.”
“They’ll release him in the morning but we have to go by the police station before we can leave the state. We should be in Albuquerque by sometime tomorrow afternoon. And, Mac?”
“Yeah, buddy?”
“Thanks.” Bram disconnected and called Thor to let him know of his plans.
When he finished the call, he noticed he had several messages from the detective he’d talked to earlier. He punched in the number Detective Smally had given him.
“Smally,” the detective answered in a gruff voice.
“This is Bram Blackstone. You needed to speak with me?” Bram paced the sidewalk, wanting to get back inside.
“Mr. Blackstone. I’m glad you called. We’ve got a bit of a…uh…situation. I don’t know how to tell you this, Mr. Blackstone, but we found your mother’s remains in the basement of her house. She’d been covered with a good amount of lye but it looks like she’s been dead at least two months, maybe more.”
Rubbing his hands over his eyes, Bram pinched the bridge of his nose. “What about whoever did this to Declan?”
“We haven’t been able to lift any clear prints yet from the house, and until Mr. O’Malley is coherent enough to give us some information, I’m afraid our hands are tied. I just figured you’d want to know about your mother.”
Bram could hear the disgust in the detective’s voice. He must’ve thought Bram was one uncaring SOB. Bram didn’t give a shit. “I’m glad you told me about Doreen. Do me a favor and look up my family’s history on that fancy computer of yours, and you’ll figure out why I don’t give a shit that she’s dead. I’m bringing Declan by the station in the morning after he’s released. You can talk to him then, but after that, we’re flying to Albuquerque.”
Bram didn’t give the detective time to argue. “We’ll see you in the morning, Detective.” He disconnected the call and turned off his phone. Heading back into the hospital, Bram stopped off at the gift shop and bought a single red rose. Bram knew it would never be enough. Hell, he could fill Declan’s room with roses and it wouldn’t be enough to take away his guilt. It was because of him that Declan was kidnapped, beaten and who knew what else. All because some wacko asshole had it out for Bram, and probably Thor.
After taking Declan to the emergency room, Bram had gone straight to the little chapel in the hospital. It had been a long time since he’d prayed. Bram remembered praying every night as a kid for someone to take him away, but after a while, he figured God must be busy with the good kids. Bram had given up on God and it felt like God had given up on him, but in the chapel, he tried his best to make peace with the man upstairs. He’d promised a whole host of things if Declan could just be spared. Now, as he smelled the rose in his hand, Bram felt an unseen hand on his shoulder, giving him strength.
Walking into the room, he was surprised to see Declan awake. “Damn. I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up. I had to make a couple of phone calls.” He walked over to the bed and gave Declan’s mouth a light kiss, not wanting to hurt him. He held out the rose. “I brought you this.”
Declan tried to smile and winced. “Find a glass and put it in some water for me, would you?”
Bram went to the sink and found a paper cup. “I’ll do anything you ask.” Please, God, just don’t let him hate me, Bram silently prayed. He put the rose in the cup after breaking off most of the stem. He placed the makeshift vase on Declan’s tray table and sat down on the edge of the bed. “First things first.” He leaned over and kissed Declan again. “I love you. When I saw you through that window, I didn’t know whether I’d ever be able to tell you those words again.”
Wiping the moisture from his eyes, Bram laid his head on Declan’s chest. “I love you so much. I’m sorry. I’ll never forgive myself for what you’ve been through because of me.” Bram felt Declan’s hand in his hair. Looking up at him, Bram could easily see the same love shining in Declan’s eyes. His heart felt a little lighter knowing Declan could still look at him with love in his eyes.
“I love you, Bram. You’re my knight in shining armor. The way you charged into that house, not knowing who else was inside. It was fucking awesome.”
Bram chuckled at the phrase. It sounded so much like something Thor would say. “I can’t wait to get you out of here so I can make love to you.” He stroked Declan’s arm. “I called Mac and he invited us to stay in the apartment over Lilly’s garage. I don’t think we should go back to the center right now. Not until they catch whoever did this.” Bram knew he should probably tell Declan about Doreen but he thought it could wait.
Running his hand through Bram’s hair, Declan sighed. Bram looked back up at him. “What’s wrong?”
“The guy who did this,” Declan motioned to his face, “he looked just like you.”
Bram lifted off Declan’s chest. He shook his head and looked at Declan again. “You mean because of my heritage?”
Closing his eyes, Declan turned his head to the side. “Not just that.” Declan opened his eyes and looked at Bram. “He could have been your twin, Bram. He was definitely related to you and Thor. He met me at the airport. I remember pulling off the main road but then nothing. I don’t know what he hit me with but when I came to I was tied up and gagged. We must’ve driven about another thirty minutes before pulling up behind that house where you found me.”
Bram ran his fingers over the end of his braid. “That was the house where I grew up. Did he tell you why he took you there?”
“He never would tell me anything. He just walked around the kitchen mumbling to himself. He’d take a break from that occasionally to come over and hit me again but then he’d go right back to pacing. The funny thing was, every time he hit me, it would make him cry, but it was like he was so confused he couldn’t help himself. I’m sorry, Bram, but I don’t think he was right in the head. I don’t mean just kidnapper-type crazy, I mean certifiably crazy. It was honestly like there were two people. One side of him seemed almost calculating, while the other side acted like a confused, scared boy.”
“Do you know where he went? He wasn’t in the house when I got there. Did you hear him mumble anything about going out?” Bram took Declan’s hand and squeezed reassuringly. Bram wondered what was going through Declan’s mind as a man who looked just like Bram beat him. Would he see his kidnapper’s face every time he looked at Bram?
“He kept talking about you and something about the airport. I don’t know. A lot of what he said didn’t make sense. But I picked up on your name and the airport.” Declan yawned and Bram leaned in again.
“I’ll find him. One way or the other. I’ll find him.” Declan drifted off to sleep again and Bram went to talk to his nurses. He asked them if it was okay for Declan to sleep so much. They told him his concussion was very minor and as long as he woke every couple hours and was coherent, his body needed the rest.
Bram went to the cafeteria and bought a sandwich and a cup of coffee. He took them back to Declan’s room and sat beside his bed as he ate. He kept looking at Declan to make sure he was safe, trying to work out in his head who could have done this. He had two male cousins that he was aware of but neither looked enough like him to be his twin. He knew he didn’t have an actual twin, so it had to be someone related to him that he didn’t know about. The more he thought about it, the more suspicions crept into his mind. He stood and went to the nurses’ station. He told the nurses he’d be outside using the phone if Declan woke and needed him.
Walking out into the evening air, Bram called Thor again.
“Bram?”
“It’s me. Listen, I need to ask you some questions. First though, I need to tell you that Doreen was found dead in the basement of the house. Evidently whoever did this to Declan killed her at least two months ago.” Bram waited for a reply from Thor. When there was none, Bram figured Thor felt the same way about their mother as he did. “I need to ask if you ever remember hearing anything about Lucky having a mistress.”
“What? What’s this about, Bram? Of course Lucky had girlfriends. Hell, everyone knew that. I think Doreen tried to pretend they didn’t exist but she definitely knew about them. Lucky wasn’t one to be subtle, you know. Why are you asking?”
Bram’s jaws tightened. He didn’t like where his mind was taking him. “Because Declan said the man who kidnapped him could be my twin. I know how often people tell me the two of us look like each other, so when Declan told me this guy could be my twin, my mind started working. Did you ever hear about Lucky having children with any of these girlfriends?”
After a few seconds, Thor finally answered. “No. Do you really think this guy could be our half-brother?”
“Fuck no. This sick fuck’s not my half-brother. He may be Lucky’s offspring but he’s no brother of mine.” Bram needed to get off the phone. “Look, I need to go back up and sit with Declan. I’ll call you later.”
“Bram? It’s not your fault. Even if this guy is Lucky’s son. None of this is your fault.” Thor hung up.
Taking a deep breath, Bram turned off his phone and stuck it back in his pocket. How could it not be his fault? He was the only tie between Declan and this Lon guy. Shit, if it weren’t for him, Declan would be safe in his little log house. Instead he was upstairs with a face covered in bruises. Bram shook his head and went back up to sit with his love.
Chapter Five
Declan was quiet on the ride from the airport to Lilly’s ranch. He’d said little since leaving the police station where they’d answered a battery of questions and retrieved Declan’s bag. Bram tried not to read too much into it but he just couldn’t help himself. He finally couldn’t take any more silence. “Do you hate me for getting you involved in this mess?”
Swiveling his head away from the passenger window to look at Bram, Declan’s mouth dropped. “Hate you? Why would I hate you?”
“Because I got you into this. I wouldn’t hold it against you, ya know. Hell, if anyone’s to blame, it’s me. I don’t know who this guy is but I have a sneaking suspicion he’s my father’s illegitimate son.” Bram glanced at Declan before returning his eyes to the road.