OUTLIER: Blood, Brotherhood, And Beauty (Beauty 0f Lifee Book 4)

by Laura Acton

  She indicated Dan was already out of the clearing when the second subject tried to shoot her. She described how Frank was injured saving her. Lexa explained why Aaron was forced to take lethal action against an active shooter. Lexa ended her report with the actions she took to secure the remaining subject and to provide first aid to Frank.

  Kendall took notes, and they matched with Constable Hudson’s account of what occurred in the clearing. Next, she would address the chase and the ravine. Since only Dan could provide the details, she must engage Broderick in explaining his use of lethal force. She spared him as much as she could. “Constable Broderick, please give the details from the point you began the chase of Mr. Pedro Basto which resulted in your injuries and the deaths of Constable Plouffe and two subjects.”

  Dan gave a full and steady report of all the actions taken. He finished his account saying, “The terrain is extremely rugged. Basto moved fast going up and down the ravines. We had a significant head start on Aaron because he dealt with the subject in the clearing and we outdistanced him rapidly.”

  Images of Aaron at the bottom of the ravine bleeding out assailed him. Dan sucked in a breath and said, “When I needed him … Aaron was there.

  “Our intel was wrong. None of us expected a fifth subject to be in the area. After I dove for my MP5 and aimed at Basto, I thought we attained the upper hand—two against one. Blood dripped into my eye. As I wiped it away, I heard the unknown subject.

  “I looked up as Aaron tumbled down the ravine. I wanted to fire at the subject, but blood dripped in my eye again. The subject shot as I wiped it away. I returned fire and neutralized the subject. I turned to Basto a fraction of a second later. We both fired, and I neutralized Basto. Somehow Basto missed me. I’m not sure how. He had me dead to rights.”

  Kendall supplied the answer. “It appears your service weapon was damaged in the fall down the ravine or during your struggle to apprehend Mr. Basto.”

  Surprised, Jon stared at the NRB agent. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Constable Broderick’s gun blew up in Mr. Basto’s hand as he fired it. The bullet never left the chamber. The injuries to his hand correspond to where the right side of the handle’s frame exploded. Additionally, the mag release was missing.”

  After explaining, Stevens turned to Dan. “Constable Broderick, it would appear you have a guardian angel.”

  Dan examined his hands in his lap. Guardian angel? What would’ve happened if I didn’t lose my weapon in the fight? Would Aaron be alive or would I be dead also? No telling what would’ve happened. Dan took a shallow, shaky breath and felt several hands land lightly on his back.

  He looked up at his team surrounding him. The Boss’ customary words filtered in, ‘I have my hand on your back.’ It is true. They all had his back. Guardian angel or no guardian angel, Dan understood his team, his chosen family would watch his six. He glanced at Blaze and caught a glimpse of a smile and slight nod. The baton passed, and Blaze accepted where he belonged now. Blaze’s expression of approval pleased him.

  Turning to the NRB agent, Dan said, “Aaron saved my life. I wish I could’ve saved his. Aaron was a credit to the TRF and an honorable man.”

  Dan studied Lexa and sensed she might still be upset at Aaron. She needed help to remember Aaron in the right light. They all needed to know this. He lowered his voice as he said, “Before he died, Aaron apologized to me for being a jerk.”

  Aaron apologized? Shocked, all her unkind thoughts about Aaron assailed her as she silently forgave him. “I’m glad he did.”

  “Do you know who Tammy is?” Dan asked, recalling Aaron’s last words.

  “Yes. Why?” Lexa worried why Dan was asking about Aaron’s fiancée. What would it do to him to find out Tammy was pregnant?

  Dan’s voice choked. “He wanted me to tell her something. Do you think she’ll be there?”

  Nick’s mind was on the same path as Lexa’s. Dan had too many shocks lately. He would spare him this one. He patted Dan’s back. “How about you tell me, and I can pass it on to her for you?”

  Dan saw the grave concern on Boss’ face. “Who is she?”

  As visions of his late sister-in-law, came to mind, Jon hoped Tammy would cope with Aaron’s death better than Lillian dealt with Joe’s death.

  “She has to be important. Aaron wanted me to tell her he loved her,” Dan said when no one answered him.

  Realizing Dan would find out eventually, Lexa decided telling him here would be kindest, so he didn’t have to display his shock in public. Softly, she said, “We met Tammy at last year’s Christmas party. She and Aaron were engaged, and she is expecting their first child.”

  Dan sucked in a deep of a breath and his ribs protested with a throbbing ache. He dropped his head to hide the tears which threatened and wrapped his arms around his chest trying to ease the hurt.

  Witnessing Dan’s physical and emotional discomfort, Kendall didn’t bother asking the use of force questions. Aaron’s death and Dan’s injuries showed justified cause for the action. Dan’s capacity to forgive the man for his behavior amazed her, though she agreed with Dan’s reasoning.

  Kendall swiftly wrapped things up knowing Dan needed to rest. “Based on the information gathered here I will also recommend justified use of lethal force in all four subject deaths. Constable Broderick, you will receive official word in a few days’ time regarding the findings in each case. If there are no questions, this will conclude the interview.”

  Dan lifted his head and eyed the clock on the desk, amazed to find it was only eleven. He couldn’t believe they finished so quickly. Though short, it exhausted him physically and mentally. The process took a lot of his energy and finding out Aaron had a pregnant fiancée added to his burden of guilt.

  With one glance Patch comprehended Blondie’s exhaustion. He came up to him as the others dispersed and placed Beauty in his hand. Quietly but firmly, he said, “You need to rest. I’ll wake you when lunch arrives.” Then he helped his little brother rise and steadied him on the walk to the bedroom.

  The others monitored Dan as he moved lethargically from the room—all glad the interview concluded rather speedily. Agent Stevens gathered up her documents, said goodbye, and left with Director Caldwell.

  Nick decided they all needed to take a break from anything critical to regroup mentally. They dispersed into small groups chatting about nothing in particular. Bram left the room to privately call his wife, Kellie, needing a dose of her support. Jon did the same thing to call Jennifer. Walter sat with William in a quiet corner and offered an encouraging ear as his long-time friend discussed plans for Dan to visit Yvonne.

  Beauty and Venom

  7

  July 19

  Grand Citadel Hotel – Dan’s Room – 11:10 a.m.

  Dan lay on the bed with his eyes closed listening to Beauty as his mind wandered. Damn, he was lucky to have had Brody in his life. Not everyone had a true friend and brother—a brotherhood which benefited each equally and provided something the other needed desperately.

  He needed someone to make him laugh, pull him from the edge, and loosen him up—Brody did that for him. Brody needed to be cherished, valued, and to be needed by someone. Dan provided that to Brody in spades. They gave each other a sense of purpose and a reason for being and living.

  Both were so screwed up when they met in basic training. Each built strong defenses and held them firmly in place to protect their real selves from the hurt of the world. Somehow, they recognized the shields and saw past them to the real people beneath. Their budding friendship turned out to be the first time either experienced the sense of peace which comes with belonging.

  Brody had a diverse taste in music. His brothers promised to be the guardians of Beauty but to never to listen to it. In the beginning, Brody repeatedly threatened to disembowel them if they listened to Beauty. ‘Danny’s ears only,’ Brody reiterated often. They never did listen, and Dan thought the guys would be surprised by some songs on the music player.
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  Though Brody understood he needed to be reminded of all the beautiful facets life offered. Brody did that for him through music—he built playlists designed for that purpose. Brody spent hours upon hours finding the right songs and creating the lists to fit what Dan needed.

  Dan lifted Beauty and inspected her—worse for wear now after years in the desert. Once she had been shiny and new—a gift from Bella after being rescued from the terrorists. How did Bella know what I needed?

  He probably never would figure out how. But she sent two music players, Beauty and Grace, and tons of gift cards for purchasing music. Brody called his music player Grace because his mother’s name was Louise Grace and he always said, ‘My beloved mother was full of grace.’

  It was a fitting name, just like Beauty. Regrettably, Grace was blown away with Brody—or at least Dan suspected. Grace was not in Brody’s personal effects he received shortly after arriving in Toronto.

  One more thing to add to Dan’s layer of guilt. Brody’s Grace contained all the music Brody listened to with his mother when he was a boy—all the songs which expressed her love for him. It is how Brody maintained the light in his life—his beloved mother had been so special to him. Dan secretly envied Brody’s mother’s love—he wanted his own mom to love him like Brody’s did.

  Sadly, they both built walls and shields to protect themselves after tragic childhood events. They were both nine when they lost the person most important to them. He lost Sara and Brody witnessed his mother’s murder.

  The words from West Donner’s suicide note rolled around in his head as bagpipes played “Amazing Grace,” in his ears. Brody loved this song because his mother loved the sound of bagpipes and this song reminded him of her. As he listened, Dan wished he could hear Brody singing the song. Brody’s singing voice was clear and pitch perfect.

  Dan let the music wash over and through him, and he acknowledged both he and Brody were powerless to stop the deaths of the ones they loved so much—they were only little boys. But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt—it still hurt so very much. Dan was unsure he would ever get over Sara’s loss nor release the guilt he carried. Without Sara’s laughter, the world is sadder.

  When the song ended, Dan hit repeat as his mind wandered to his own mother. Regret washed through him—she had loved him. All these years he had the love of his mother, but never accepted it—his mind screwed him over.

  His eyes welled with tears for all he lost, and a few slipped down. Mom … the general would arrange for him to see her though she is in a safe house. Dan wanted to see her, but also afraid … anxious and scared to see the heartbreak he caused her by rejecting her love all these years. He pushed those thoughts away for now—it is still too raw.

  Dan wiped his eyes then pulled up the playlists and scrolled through them, trying to find one which suited his needs. Brody always picked the one he needed, but now Dan needed to do this for himself.

  As he looked over the lists, Dan marveled again at how diverse the music was. He preferred hard rock if he listened to music, like when he worked out—but Beauty had a different purpose. Beauty included everything from classical music to contemporary tunes, and the playlists contained many obscure songs from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s.

  She had plenty of hard rock anthems and angst-ridden music. Brody added lots of songs dealing with grief and inspiration. He also included tons of happy tunes which made Dan smile and tap his foot along with the beat. It was truly an eclectic mix of music. It was odd, but the same song evoked different emotions from him depending on his state of mind.

  So much of what Beauty contained he would never include on his own—it wasn’t his style. It had bizarre stuff. But Brody knew exactly what was needed. All the songs Brody included helped Dan remember there was more to life than hurt and death.

  It worked, even the weird shit. It helped Dan feel the emotions he was dealing with, accept them, sort them out, and tuck them away in a safe place so he could handle whatever came next. Brody would tell him he couldn’t carry all the hurt and guilt, to lay them down, and let them go so he could move on and laugh again.

  The song changed, and Dan snorted when he recognized the upbeat song playing. Talk about weird shit and laughter. Brody’s sense of humor could be so bizarre. Brody told him to replace Mickey with Danny as he listened to “Mickey” by Toni Basil. His brother sure made him laugh. Brody insisted the song would’ve been named Danny if she had ever laid eyes on him because Danny was ‘just so fine.’

  He recalled the first time Brody played this song for him when he was doing physical therapy after being rescued. “Damn, Brody, you had Ripsaw and me laughing our asses off at your antics. Stewie was stunned and thought you had a screw loose.” Dan laughed out loud as the memory crystallized how much Brody had done for him.

  “Thanks for everything, Brody. Miss you every day.”

  He listened to random songs, unable to select a playlist. It would take work to choose ones which fit his needs. By the fifth song, Dan’s mind settled, and he was doing better, maybe Brody had a hand in selecting the random songs.

  Dan realized he was okay now and moving steadily toward good. His world changed significantly, and he needed to relearn his childhood—sort out what was real and what was imagined. It would be tough, and he wished Brody was here to help him.

  The little boy in him yearned for his mother—he sensed she might be a source of comfort. Conflicting emotions battled. He wanted her but still feared she might reject him. It made no rational sense. Dan shelved those unproductive thoughts. Eventually, he would work it out and get on with the business of living like he promised Brody. The dream seemed so real—like Brody was right there with him.

  The song “A Real Fine Place to Start” by Sara Evans played. It brought an image of Lexa to mind. A place to start? To live? Lexa?

  Oh yeah, Sexy Lexie is what I need in my life right now. She’s more than any woman I have known. She’s strong … she’s heart … she’s passion … she’s captivating … she’s beautiful … she’s life, Dan thought as he smiled.

  Lightning struck him every time he came close to Lexa. Is this what Broderick’s feel when they find their one? Wow, what a thought! God, I’m so messed up. I must slow this down.

  Dan sucked in a breath and exhaled to a count of four then repeated that several times to calm his rapidly beating heart. He had no clue how to proceed. If Lexa is his one … then she would be worth whatever it would take to win her heart. Without a doubt, Dan would go to the ends of the earth for his one. His heart warmed to the idea it might be Lexa. Can it hit me this fast?

  Maybe … a question formed. With Lexa by my side, can I make it from good to great?

  A seed of an answer slowly embedded itself deep in his soul … to live … to laugh … would take the love of the right woman. He needed to nurture this seed and guard it closely as it bloomed … it could be Lexa. What would it be like to finally live?

  His door opened after a light knock, interrupting his thoughts.

  “Dan, you awake? Lunch is here. You need to eat something before we go,” Lexa called softly into the room.

  Opening his eyes, Dan gazed directly at Lexa. He felt the pull and lightning strike from across the room as he drank in her lovely, delicate features and the sparks of fire in the golden flecks in her hazel eyes. Unhurriedly his WOW smile blossomed. Beautiful, Sexy Lexie … yeah, an excellent place to start.

  Lexa witnessed Dan’s magnificent smile grow as he looked at her. Something reached in and claimed a piece of her heart and soul as she saw the light which shone brightly in his gorgeous sapphire blue eyes. Breathe, just breathe, need to breathe to live, Lexa told herself.

  Dan started to sit up. “Be there in a moment.”

  “Need any help?”

  “No, I gotta …” Dan inclined his head towards the bathroom.

  “Alright.” She wanted to help but understood he didn’t want to appear weak. So Lexa settled for helping in a small inconspicuous
way. She left the bedroom door ajar as she exited, so Dan didn’t need to turn the knob, it would be less taxing on his injured arm.

  Dan shifted, so he sat on the edge of the bed. Carefully he set Beauty down on the nightstand. Dan drew in a slow deep breath, gently expanding his lungs. Even though it hurt, he knew it was important to breathe deeply occasionally to stave off potential problems with his lungs. After several deep breaths, Dan rose and headed for the bathroom.

  Ottawa – Major Mark Broderick’s Home – 11:45 a.m.

  Mark hung up the phone and turned to his wife, Kimberly. He smiled broadly, hugged her, and kissed her passionately.

  Kimberly hugged and kissed him back ardently. After a few minutes, she pulled back enough to gaze into Mark’s shining eyes. Even after thirty-seven years of marriage, Kim never tired of looking into his eyes. The desire of the nineteen-year-old man she married reflected in them to this day. But his eyes were alight with something more … a joy she hadn’t seen in a long time.

  She kissed him again, then said, “Good news from Will?”

  Mark’s ear-to-ear grin increased. “Yes! Excellent news. He had coffee with Danny this morning. They talked. Yvonne will be so happy. It is terrible but also incredible what William told me. He’s going to arrange for Danny to go to Yvonne in a few weeks.”

  Kimberly gasped as her eyes and mouth rounded wide open. “Really? Oh my, how wonderful. Oh, Yvonne … Danny.” Her eyes sprouted tears of joy. She didn’t care her mascara ran down her cheeks. “We’ve waited so long for something good on this day … today of all days. How?”

  Mark agreed, fate had strange timing, but he wouldn’t question it this time. “It seems the driver who killed Sara left a suicide note. It is the missing piece. Will said Danny now recognizes his young mind twisted things. Danny’s too colorful to visit Yvonne and needs to heal some before traveling. William still wants all the guys to visit Danny soon because the boy needs our help.”

  “Dear, I’m so happy but … you need to slow down. Years of misconceptions won’t change overnight. Danny will need time to reprocess everything. It could be quite a distressing process in itself,” Kimberly cautioned.