The Wrong Perfect Match (Fullilove in the House Book 1)

by Sidney Bristol

  He merely grinned at her. “Yes. Of course.”

  There were a million things to think about with an office move. This would be the third that she’d been part of, and neither of the previous two moves had gone smoothly. But she’d deal with that later.

  Stepping into the hall, she tapped the answer button. She glanced over her shoulder to ensure neither Nina nor Mary saw her before ducking into the cluttered conference room. Yeah, they did need to move, but there could have been some heads up or conversation about it. She’d get a word in, regardless.

  “Hey,” she finally said into the phone.

  “So, you should sit down.” Nicole’s voice was tense. Whatever she’d found out wasn’t good.

  Brandi gripped the back of a chair. “Tell me.”

  Her heart hurt for Jayden already.

  “Asher is in prison. He’s okay, but he’s been there for a little over three weeks.”

  “Shit. What happened?”

  “I can tell you that he’s charged with assaulting a guy. Beat him up so bad the victim was in the hospital for a few days.”

  Brandi frowned. It was hard to imagine Asher. In her head, he was Jayden in ripped jeans and a worn T-shirt. She couldn’t picture him being violent. It just wasn’t Jayden’s nature.

  “Jayden isn’t going to like hearing this,” Brandi muttered.

  “There’s one more thing,” Nicole said slowly.

  “Okay.”

  “Asher has made it clear that he doesn’t want any of his family visiting him. They won’t let any family member in to see him. His request.”

  “But—okay, why? Is he...taking responsibility? Trying to avoid getting yelled at?”

  “I don’t know,” Nicole said softly.

  “You know what? Talking about this is pointless, why don’t I just talk to him myself? Telling Jayden is only going to make him more worried unless I have more answers.”

  “Should you get involved though? That’s not really like you.”

  Brandi considered the question. No, she wouldn’t typically stick her nose into someone else’s business. But this was Jayden. She cared about him and wanted to ease this burden. The more answers and facts he got, the less stressed he’d be.

  “No, this isn’t like me at all,” she agreed. “But that’s kind of the point. I really like Jayden and I want to help.”

  “Wow. Who are you and what have you done with Brandi?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Shut it, you.”

  “I’m just giving you grief. Actually, I like you two together. He’s totally different with you than how he was with me. He’s so, I don’t know. I like it.”

  “Do you ever wonder—”

  “You better not start asking me if I want him. I don’t. I told you, we weren’t right for each other. I like Jayden as a person and for you, but he showed me I want something different for myself.”

  The last of Brandi’s guilt evaporated. “Okay.”

  “Now, go and do whatever you’re going to do. Tell me about it later?”

  “Are you free after work? We should just go over, tell the guys everything ourselves.” Plus, it might sound better and less like they were sticking their noses where they didn’t belong.

  “If you think it’s a good idea, I’m in.”

  Brandi knew this was out of character for her. When it came to men, she didn’t meet their family or get involved if she didn’t have to. At some point, when she’d finally decided maybe this one wouldn’t leave her, she’d give in. Ultimately, that was where things always went wrong some way or another.

  It would be different with Jayden.

  BRANDI HADN’T KNOWN what to expect when it came to visiting hours at the detention center where Asher was being held. She’d considered calling him, but given how Jayden spoke about his brother, she thought her chances of getting straight answers would be better if she were there in person.

  The guard led her through check points to a large room with what looked like cafeteria tables. Each table was a different scene. A prisoner and his family, playing cards with the kids. At another table, two men shared a can of soda. If it weren’t for the uniforms, this could be anywhere.

  At the opposite end of the room, a single man sat at a small table. He had his legs stretched out and he surveyed the people as if he were bored. But she didn’t miss the alertness, how he saw and noted everything.

  His gaze darted toward her. She locked eyes with him and had to hold her breath for a moment.

  It was Jayden’s face. And yet, it wasn’t.

  She would never mistake Asher for Jayden. Asher had a small scar slicing through his left brow. His head was shaved clean. And there was no mistaking the ice wall around him.

  The officer gestured at the table and said something she didn’t hear.

  Instead, Brandi stood there, almost toe-to-toe with Asher.

  “Mind if I sit?” She gestured at the empty seats across from him.

  “Do I get a say?”

  “Of course.”

  Asher shrugged.

  Brandi circled to the other side and sat down.

  He turned to face her after a moment. Almost as if he wanted her to know he was doing this because he wanted to.

  That was fine.

  “So, what are you doing here?” Asher drawled.

  “I was hoping you might have more to tell me than what’s in the police report.”

  His eyes widened and he pressed a hand to his chest. “What? My brother’s not happy about a report? Say it isn’t so.”

  Brandi snorted. “He would get bent out of shape about a report, wouldn’t he?”

  “Yeah.” Asher chuckled, then caught himself and stopped. “What’s he want?”

  “Oh. Oh, I get it.” She propped her elbows on the table. “You think Jayden sent me here.”

  Asher’s brows rose. “He didn’t?”

  “He doesn’t even know you’re here.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Who are you exactly?”

  “I’m Brandi. I guess... I guess I’m dating your brother.”

  “You’re his girlfriend?”

  She shifted on the seat. Labels were uncomfortable things to wear. Especially when her heart wanted more, but her head kept trying to pump the brakes. Then there was the fact that Jayden hadn't called her his girlfriend.

  “I suppose so,” she said slowly. “We haven’t really gotten to the point where we put a name on things.”

  He took a toothpick out of his pocket and slid it between his lips. “You aren’t what I expected.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You’re a little fiery, ain’t you? All my brother’s girls have been like beige paint.”

  Brandi laughed, the sound busting out of her so loud it startled her into snorting. She bent forward, shoulders shaking.

  Asher was so right.

  She could picture Jayden’s type down to her toe nail polish. And that wasn’t Brandi at all.

  Asher chuckled. The cold wall was gone and he looked at her with interest and a familiar light in his eyes. “What’d he do to find you?”

  “Well, that’s a funny story.” She wiped at her eyes. “See, he was trying to date my roommate, but that crashed and burned. He showed up trying to fix things and I told him to hit the road. And somehow we wound up here.”

  He propped his chin in his hand and sighed. “Shoot, of all the times for me to not be around.”

  This was as relaxed as he was going to get. It was time to dive in. “He’s been worried about you. Sounds like everyone is.”

  Asher glanced away.

  “So, my roommate? She works for this company that does background report stuff. That’s how we found you.”

  “And now you’re going to tell Jayden and everyone else?”

  “Yes.” There was no sense in lying. “I was hoping you’d tell me what isn’t in this report, because it sounds like there are a lot of holes. And I have to admit, sitting across from you, I don’t exactly
see what would make you beat a guy so badly.”

  “Does it matter if they’re going to release me tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow?” She frowned and reached for her bag. “I didn’t see that.”

  “They want all of this to go away.”

  “Okay, so what happened? I get the feeling you had what you think or feel was a good reason, so tell me.”

  Asher glanced at her with narrowed eyes. “How mad is my brother?”

  “He’s mostly worried right now.”

  He shook his head and closed his eyes. “This guy—I will not say that piece of shit’s name—he was doing things to a kid. That’s why.”

  Brandi’s heart and stomach dropped. Her body went cold and the rest of the room faded away.

  Asher kept staring at the floor.

  “I think I’d be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn’t have reacted similarly, and I work in construction,” she said softly. It was the loudest she could muster. Her body was so tight from anger and rage.

  If Asher was telling her the truth, he was a damn hero in her book. Maybe that wasn’t right, but when it came to kids, they were off limits.

  “Yeah, well, maybe you don’t know my brother as well as you think you do,” he muttered.

  Brandi couldn’t see Jayden not siding with his brother on something like this. Hell, it wasn’t a man thing, it was a people thing. Most humans she knew would have a similar reaction to a story like Jayden’s.

  If a kid were in that much trouble the only thing that mattered was keeping them safe.

  She’d had Grandpa to watch out for her when she was little. And he’d been as protective of her as a father could be.

  No, Asher had to be wrong.

  Jayden would understand.

  Asher lifted his head and looked at her. “You’re alright. I wasn’t sure what to expect when they called me out here, but you’re pretty cool.”

  “Thanks.” She mustered a smile. “So, got any great Jayden stories I need to hear?”

  Asher grinned, and he looked so much like Jayden her heart seemed to quiver.

  The brothers looked alike. She’d give them that. But they were distinctly different. She couldn’t put her finger on what that was yet, but she’d figure it out. Eventually. There was time, after all. A lot of it.

  JAYDEN STARED AT THE lengthening list of friends and places the family had put together.

  Most of it was crossed off.

  They’d called hospitals. Morgues. Rehab centers. Old girlfriends. Previous landlords. Employers. Kingston had even begun messaging Asher’s social media friends on every network looking for a lead.

  Nothing.

  Where was he? What was he doing? Why wasn’t he communicating with any of them?

  Didn’t he know how worried Mom was?

  Jayden and the others were doing their best to keep the mood upbeat so as to not stress Mom out, but there was only so much they could do. Asher was missing.

  “I think it’s time we went to the cops,” Luca said.

  Jayden glanced at his younger brother and grimaced.

  “Yeah.” Kingston nodded. “Something’s not right.”

  Behind them, Maddox, Sawyer and Diego were still eating. Axl was pulling yet another late night at work, though according to him this was the last one.

  When they’d first gotten together, they’d all agreed there wasn’t much point in getting the police involved with a missing Black man. Besides, Asher would likely try to dodge any cops he saw. But now? Jayden was starting to think that should have been one of the first things they did.

  “Okay.” He sighed. “Tomorrow morning I’ll—”

  His phone rang.

  Frowning, he pulled it out. They’d all given their name and number out to so many people, all calls had to be answered.

  Brandi.

  His soul felt as though it sighed.

  He held up a finger, then tapped the screen and turned his back on his brothers.

  “Hey, babe. I—”

  “Are you still doing the brother thing tonight at your place?” she asked in a rush.

  “Yeah, everyone’s here now. We’ve got pizza. You want to come over?”

  He thought he heard her exhale. “Be up in a minute.”

  Jayden pulled the phone away from his face and frowned at the end call screen.

  “Who was it, bro?” Kingston asked.

  “Brandi.”

  Kingston’s eyes went wide and he swiped his napkin across his face. “Oh, is this the girl?”

  “It’s the girl,” Maddox confirmed.

  Jayden crossed to the door.

  There’d been something in her voice, something not right. She wouldn’t be here to break up with him, would she?

  He unlocked the door and pulled it open.

  Diego pitched his voice louder. “What do you suppose she’s like?”

  Luca snickered. “I think she’s a robot.”

  “Man.” Kingston shook his head. “That’s what you wish she was.”

  Why was Brandi here?

  She knew his brothers were meeting here tonight. They’d talked about it. And she’d seemed hesitant to meet them.

  A moment later Nicole stepped off the elevator, followed by Brandi. They were both dressed for work still and wore similar grim expressions.

  Without realizing it, he crossed the hall and met her halfway. Lifting a hand, he cupped her face.

  “What’s wrong?” he whispered. Was it her grandparents? Her father? Something with her sisters?

  Brandi glanced at Nicole. “Let’s talk about it inside.”

  Jayden glanced from woman to woman.

  He didn’t like this one bit.

  He took Brandi’s hand, but instead of pulling away from him, she held on tighter. Almost like it was for his benefit.

  Nicole entered the apartment first with Brandi and Jayden brought up the rear.

  Kingston, Luca and Diego were twisted around on the sofa to openly stare at the two women while Maddox and Sawyer still stood at the bar.

  “Holy shit, she does exist,” Kingston muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.

  “This she? Or that she?” Nicole pasted on a nervous smile.

  “I’m just shocked my big brother knows real women. Real out there in the wild women.” He seemed to realize he was, in fact, speaking to a real, live woman and jumped to his feet. “I’m Kingston, ma’am. You sure do have a beautiful smile.”

  A bit of life lit Nicole’s smile for a moment, and she held out her hand to Kingston. “That’s sweet of you. It takes a nice smile to know one.”

  “Guys?” Brandi’s tone was cool. “Sorry, but this is serious.”

  Nicole glanced back at Brandi and clasped her hands together.

  Jayden finally remembered to shut the front door.

  Brandi glanced at him, and he could feel the bad news coming.

  What was going on here? Had Nicole found out something about Asher?

  That made a lot more sense than Brandi trying to break up with him in front of an audience. Hell, he should have thought about that first.

  He nodded. “Let’s hear it.”

  “Okay, well, I guess that’s my cue.” Nicole pulled the cuffs of her oversized black cardigan down to cover her hands. The silver sheath dress she wore underneath tied just below her chin, giving her an angelic look. An angel of bad news. “So I told Jayden back when we were emailing that I work in an IT department doing admin stuff. What I didn’t tell you then was that the company deals in expunging criminal records for background checks. Personally, I can’t do anything. But Monday I asked my boss if I could have someone run a report on Asher.”

  Every fiber in Jayden’s body went on alert. Every eye in the room was on her, and not a soul moved.

  Nicole’s gaze met his. “I got permission to have one of our people do the report this afternoon.”

  “And?” Jayden prompted.

  “He’s currently being held at King County Detention Center
,” she said in a softer voice.

  For several moments no one spoke.

  This was one of the possibilities they’d floated. While Asher liked to play at being the bad boy with his image, he’d never so much as had a speeding ticket.

  “What’d he do?” Kingston asked.

  Now Nicole darted nervous glances at Brandi.

  Jayden turned toward her, studying her profile and the way her gaze was locked with Nicole’s. There was a whole conversation passing between them right now.

  “Asher got into a fight,” Brandi said.

  Kingston scowled. “Why? Asher wouldn’t do it if there wasn’t a good reason.”

  Jayden wasn’t so sure his twin needed a reason.

  Honestly, he was still in shock.

  Something else passed between the two women Jayden was too stunned to try to decipher. Brandi nodded and Nicole’s shoulders sagged.

  “Nicole called me after running the report. She told me the highlights. Asher and another man had an altercation. The other man was taken to the hospital. Asher was arrested. He’s refused to post bail. And he’s stated in clear terms that he doesn’t want to communicate with anyone from his family.”

  “What?” Maddox roared.

  Kingston threw up his hands. “What the hell, man?”

  Jayden just watched Brandi.

  She darted a look at him.

  Guilt.

  He’d seen that look often enough from his brother to recognize it on her.

  He crossed his arms over his chest as coldness wrapped around him. “What else?”

  Somehow those two words silenced the room.

  Brandi glanced at him again before managing to hold his gaze. “Maybe it wasn’t my place, but—if we’d just told you, it wasn’t like you could talk to him. So, I went to see him.”

  Jayden’s brows rose. “And did he speak to you?”

  “A little. I think I startled him.” She shrugged. “He told me he’s getting out this week, maybe as early as tomorrow, and he will be at Sunday dinner.”

  Jayden nodded, then stared straight ahead of himself.

  Asher was in prison.

  That fact made Jayden infinitely sad.

  Everything about their lives was a statistic. This was one he’d hoped to never check off for either of them. Just what was worth getting into it like that? What was Asher thinking?