I can’t believe he was attacked the other night.
It was surreal that after so many warnings from Evan the threat had manifested itself. Gary had seen nothing out of the normal on a day-to-day basis, so it had been easy to discount his oldest brother’s worries as somewhat delusional.
Despite Derek’s assurance that Sara wasn’t a part of the problem, Gary had wanted to see for himself. His brother hadn’t experienced love in a long time, and it was clear Derek didn’t recognize the signs of growing attachment within himself. He was six years Derek’s junior, but he had more experience with real relationships than his brother did.
He caught up with the others.
“I saw it all!” Sarah said. “I didn’t look away once, and I didn’t feel sick the entire time!”
The surprise and pride in her voice was clear. She was the epitome of happy, elated woman.
“I wish I could say I knew that would happen, but that’s giving myself too much credit,” Derek said. “Kind of surprised it wasn’t a disaster, but you have to start somewhere to get over your fear of heights. I mean, you weren’t always this way, so you should be able to conquer it if we try hard enough.”
A glowing smile lit her face. It transformed her from merely pretty to stunning, and Gary could see what had hooked his brother.
“I can’t wait. Do you know how annoying it is to be afraid to go higher than the ground floor in any building?”
They all thought about that one for a moment. It was no life at all. Gary shuddered. I hope I never find myself afflicted with any phobia that crippling.
“Do you all want to go out to dinner?” Derek asked. “There’s a fantastic burger place just a short distance from here.”
The women were up for it, and Derek knew Gary would never turn down a visit to the burger shack. He’d been a fan since the first time Derek took him along a couple years before.
“Hey, Gary,” Derek said. “Why don’t you ride with Becky in their car, and I’ll take Sara with me?”
Becky gave a little squeal. “I’ll drive Gary! He’ll be more than safe with me, don’t worry!”
She had fawned over him ever since he’d met her, and it made him uncomfortable. He gave his brother a pleading look, but Derek either didn’t recognize it or ignored it.
He sighed. “Okay, let’s do this. We’ll see you guys there.” Thankfully, it wasn’t a long drive.
They made the short walk to the parking lot in silence, and after they got in, he braced himself for an awkward ride.
“Gary?” Becky asked.
“Yes?” He was surprised at the tentative tone of her voice.
“I don’t know if Derek told you much about me, since I’m sure his focus was on Sara, but I have certain goals and ambitions.”
Oh, no. Here we go. Gary had to bear the brunt of more than a few of these conversations ever since he had come into his wealth. Certain women thought it was his duty to propose to them within an hour of meeting them so they would be taken care of forever without having to lift a finger.
“I have dreams of becoming a big fashion designer. I know my work is good, but I need help—a business partner—to get to the next level. Derek was gracious enough to invite me along with him and Sara to a club to meet and network with a few people in the industry the other night, and that was great, especially since my dress was a major hit. But it made me realize if I went in with any of them then I would be under their control. I wouldn’t have the final say in anything I did.”
“Oh… I didn’t think… okay.” He wasn’t sure what to say, or where she was going with this.
“I guess what I’m asking is whether you’d be open to going into business with me. I could have asked Derek, but whatever’s going on between him and Sara would complicate things, especially if it were to end for any reason. I need a partner willing to put up money—not a lot—and let me run things the way I see fit. I’ve studied the hell out of this business for years, I know what will work, and I’ve got the hustle and the dedication. I need capital to help me get there.”
“Wow. I don’t know that much about the fashion world, to be honest.”
“That’s okay,” Becky said, her eyes intense as she looked over. “I know enough for the both of us. Please tell me you’ll at least consider it and let me put together a proposal for you to look over.”
He didn’t have a good reason to say no. It couldn’t hurt anything, and this was a new side to the woman he hadn’t even suspected might exist under the earlier flirty demeanor. He’d wanted to find worthwhile investments—he had so much money that it seemed like the right thing to do, but he hadn’t known what to move into first. “You have a deal.”
“Awesome! I’m so excited! I’ll blow you out of the water, I guarantee it!” She reverted to her bubbly self. “Just promise me you won’t tell Derek or Sara. I’m a little shy about it and I’d rather surprise her with my success than burden her with my failures if it doesn’t work out. You can even pretend like I was creeping you out for the entire car ride.”
They were just pulling into the tiny lot of the burger place. It was nearing the end of the day, and most of the spots were claimed by pilots and spectators from the airport. It was a busy place, but they hadn’t expanded yet. The owner had promised more space for over a year, but there was no sign of any work about to be done on the rundown exterior.
The two pairs met outside the restaurant and headed in together. Sara’s cheeks looked a little redder than usual, and Derek’s smile was ear to ear. They look like a couple of rambunctious kids who snuck time together out from under their parents’ watchful eyes.
The interior of the burger joint was as shabby and faded as the outside. Good thing the food tasted nothing like the appearance had led Gary to believe. Only a high level of trust in Derek’s judgment had gotten him to take the first bite, but before that he’d been a little worried the endless Californian sun had turned his brother’s brain into powder.
There was nothing high class or expensive about the meal. Within ten minutes they received massive burgers, huge helpings of sizzling French fries and large sodas.
“Here’s to a great flight, a wonderful day, and to conquering fears,” Derek said, raising his cup in salute. “And heart-killing, extremely fattening goodness.”
They toasted with him and then set to the food in silence, the mark of a great meal.
“So tell me,” Sara began, catching Gary’s eye, “what do you do when you aren’t here visiting Derek? I’m afraid that although I’m a journalist, I don’t keep up on celebrity news or gossip—not my area of expertise.”
Gary laughed, surprised and charmed. She wasn’t afraid to tell things like they were, which was a good trait to have in a journalist and probably came with the territory.
“I live in Boston—I went to school at MIT and fell in love with the city. To be honest, Father died shortly before I graduated school, so when I finished I stayed to figure out my next steps.” He shrugged. “Still have to figure out what those are. It’s amazing how time can just pass away without achieving anything productive if you have no real goals set.”
“Sounds like you need a woman to set you straight and tell you what to do,” Becky said. “I might have a few in mind, if you’re taking applications.”
The redhead gave him a shove with her elbow before helping herself to as big a bite of her burger as she could manage.
You know, I might admire that woman. She surprised him at every turn—going into business with her wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.
“Not looking,” he said. “I just ended something serious, so it’s time for a little break. In the meantime, I’ve been spending a lot of time involved with a few charitable endeavors—there are so many interesting museums and not-for-profits in Boston that you could spend years just doing that all day every day, and each of them is such a worthy cause.”
Derek smiled at him. “Thinking of going monk, little bro?”
“Are the
y allowed to eat like this?” Gary asked. “Because if not, then there’s not a chance in the world. How does something that costs five bucks taste better than anything I’ve eaten at a fancy restaurant?”
“It’s because it’s also killing you at the same time,” Sara said. “You get a discount for that.” She wasn’t shy about digging into her own burger, proof that no matter what one’s views were, sometimes a bit of a bad thing was okay.
She and Derek sat close together, closer than necessary. Gary decided to see if he could make them uncomfortable. Derek had done it often enough to him with his past girlfriends.
“So, are you two planning on moving in together soon?”
A glob of burger flew out of Sara’s mouth and landed in the middle of her fries.
“Oh my God! I’m so sorry!” She covered it up with her hands as her cheeks flamed brilliant scarlet. “Don’t look, it’s disgusting. I can’t believe I did that.”
Becky laughed so hard her face almost dipped into her plate—she was having difficulty keeping it lifted. “Oh, God, Sara. That was the funniest thing I’ve seen since we got to this city. But answer the man’s question! I want to know if I should head back to Chicago and look for a one-bedroom apartment all on my lonesome.”
Sara froze with her hands extended over her plate, and she and Derek looked at each other. Words formed and died on each of their lips more than a handful of times. Gary sat back and watched with immense satisfaction, hands folded in front of him as he waited with an expectant expression.
“Uh, that’s a loaded question, Gary. Sara and I have only started to spend time with each other. We’re not on the verge of moving in any time soon,” Derek said diplomatically.
Sara nodded emphatically. “Yes, it’s way too early. It’s not even applicable. Now’s not the time to think about that sort of thing.”
“If you say so,” Gary said. “Are you saying you aren’t serious, then?”
Again he sat back and watched as they floundered like fish out of water.
This is far too fun. I can see why he does it to me all the time.
His phone beeped, and he checked it.
“Ah, you know what, my friends are here to pick me up. I’m seeing a show with them, so I won’t be back until much later. Enjoy the rest of your burger!” Gary got to his feet. “Oh, and Becky, you can get my number from Derek, for that thing you asked me about. We can set up a meeting for later.”
“Great!” she said. “It was fantastic meeting you!”
“You too.” He looked at his brother and Sara. They were still speechless. “Don’t think about it too hard, guys. I was just teasing you. I’ll see you later.”
As he walked away he heard Sara’s voice. “Wait, what do you have going on with Gary?”
Derek dropped his duffel bag inside the front door of his house. He wanted nothing more than to take a nap. It had been a tiring day, between the training, lunch, and dealing with the aftermath of Gary’s little game. He regretted playing the same game on his little brother so many times, and had a newfound respect for how difficult it could be to deal with seemingly innocuous questions in the beginning stages of a courtship.
He sank into the comforting embrace of his favorite recliner, set up so the excellent view out his rear windows spread before him. He could look at it forever, had even thought of commissioning one of his more artistic friends to paint it for him so he could appreciate it when he wasn’t at home.
The sun fell to the horizon, the bloody rays spearing the clouds in simulated slaughter. It was no wonder certain cultures had myths and traditions surrounding the omens foretold by such a sunset.
He had a handy remote that controlled all the blinds and lights in the house. With the press of a button, he set the house to change from day mode to night mode, and the electronics and automation set to work closing the blinds and turning on the lights he needed most. Unfortunately, the rest of his problems weren’t as easy to deal with as a setting sun.
If I lay out them one by one, maybe they won’t seem so overwhelming.
First problem was that someone was trying to kill him. That was overwhelming on its own. The second part of it was that the same people were also trying to kill his family. If they got their way, it would look like an accident. The attack in the alley by the club was much less subtle, but if it had been successful then it could have looked like a mugging gone wrong. It didn’t explain why the mysterious man hadn’t used a gun or a knife—Derek wouldn’t be alive, if he had.
The mugger hadn’t even spoken during the attack.
Maybe it’s because he knew I’d recognize his voice if he did.
There was only one person in Derek’s life who might have it out for him enough to attack him. Rex Trator. The other pilot would have the reflexes and precision to keep up with him on the windy back roads.
Rex? He couldn’t be that good of a fighter though, could he?
Derek never willingly talked to the man and never deigned to find out anything about him. Still, he didn’t have the feel of a murderous mastermind.
The second problem was Sara. She represented a major change in his life if he let things continue to grow between them, and he still wasn’t sure if that was a good thing. She had been open and honest with him as best as he could tell, but there was no way to be sure. She could have connections to the people after his life.
Even if she wasn’t related to that business, she was still a complication. If she was innocent, then she could get caught in the crossfire and hurt, and then he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself. Above it all, he wasn’t sure he was ready for the level of commitment she represented, but she made him laugh and think about things in a way he hadn’t for a long time.
His third problem was Onyx. What should have been a big help and source of stability and advice for him instead gave him a bad taste in his mouth. Their secrecy about even the most basic parts of their operations struck him the wrong way, and he intended to figure out what was going on there. He had ignored them for too long, and it was time to do something about it.
Evan came to that realization months ago. Derek thought he’d been foolish, but then he’d also shrugged off his brother’s insistence they weren’t safe. That had been proven false. The respect he held for his brother, already high, increased beyond measure.
Derek took his phone out and pulled up his brother’s information. It was impossible to know which time zone Evan would be in, but dusk in California was just about the perfect timing so long as he was still in the continent.
There was half a ring before it picked up.
“Derek? Oh, thank God, are you on your way yet?” Evan’s voice was harsh and rough.
“On my way? What are you talking about, Evan?”
“What am I…? Do you not know?” Evan asked. “Derek, Gary’s been in an accident. He’s at the hospital in critical condition. I thought you would have heard before I did and be there already.”
What? Gary?
“Gary’s hurt? What happened?” Derek asked. “I saw him an hour or two ago, how could this happen? Is he going to be okay?”
“I’m not sure yet. The details are very fuzzy. I heard this second-hand.”
Derek’s heart dropped. Gary was his little brother, the life he grew up protecting and championing. If anything happened to him… He couldn’t handle it.
“Where is he?” Derek’s voice grew rough. “I’ll get there in no time.”
~
Derek blew through the ranks of paparazzi that waited like jackals outside the hospital doors. By the time they recognized him in their midst, he’d passed through. He swept up to the reception desk.
“Where is he?”
The receptionist took a moment to look up. “Look, hun, if you want me to tell you where whoever you’re looking for is, I’ll need a name. I don’t know how you people always expect me to…” She trailed off as she caught his face. “Derek Devereux! I’m sorry, your brother is in room 401B. The elevators are just
back there around the corner.”
“Thank you,” he said, making sure she knew he meant it.
When he approached his brother’s room, it was eerily quiet, and he didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. If it was a bad accident, shouldn’t there be doctors in there trying to save his brother’s life? He couldn’t imagine that would be a quiet process.
He poked his head around the doorframe. Gary lay on the bed with his hands crossed over his chest, face light and easy. He could have been sleeping, or he could have been dead.
“Gare?” he asked. “Are you… there?”
His brother opened one eye enough to peer through. “Am I here? Jesus, Derek, has your eyesight gone? I’m literally right in front of your face.” The deadpan ended, and Gary’s face cracked into a wide grin. “Sorry, bro, but you should have seen your face, it was priceless.”
“Fucking hell, Gary, I might throttle you to death. You can’t do stuff like that. You better watch yourself the next time we spar, because after the questions you dropped at the burger joint with Sara and this, I might show you who the true master still is.”
Gary’s fingers unlaced, and he raised his hand in consolation. “Whoa, easy there, Derek. I was just having fun. Besides, you can’t talk to a cripple like that, it’s not proper.”
“He’s right, you know.” A nurse in scrubs entered the doorway behind Derek. “Gary needs his rest, and you won’t have the chance to beat him to a pulp for some time. He won’t have a quick recovery.”
He had almost forgotten where they were. Gary wasn’t faking the entire thing. “What happened?”
“I fell,” Gary said. “Which is embarrassing enough. Breaking clean through my lower leg is even worse. Talk about an instant regret situation.”
“You mean no one did this to you?” Derek had berated himself for not hiring security or following Gary around himself to protect him. “It wasn’t an attack?”
His little brother rolled his eyes. “Accidents happen, you know. I was walking along the street and I tripped on something and sprawled down some stairs. It wouldn’t have ended too badly, but there was a pile of scrap metal at the bottom and I fell into it. My leg slammed against something solid and it fractured both my bones. I almost blacked out from the pain, but my friends were right there with me and called an ambulance. My phone disappeared, though, so I couldn’t call anyone. I didn’t think you would make it here until you found out through the magazines.”
Taking Flight (A Devereux Novel) Page 10