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

by Laura Acton

  The frown was replaced by a smile as he recalled the four-wheeling again. His smile disappeared again as Zach’s thoughts strayed in another direction. He had always wondered why Dan and Uncle Will’s relationship was so different from their relationships with their dads.

  All Broderick’s could be described as hard men. It was part of being a military man and came from a deep-rooted sense of duty. But they were all soft hearted with the family because it was safe to show their real emotions—no masks needed.

  So, it confused Zach for years when Dan was so different from the rest of them and didn’t have a warm relationship with his dad. It was only last Christmas that his brother Adam explained to him why.

  Zach had been furious Dan never came to the family Christmas and made Aunt Yvonne cry. He stormed out of the house because he was so sick of Dan using the excuse he was in the field to avoid his dad. Adam sat him down and told him about Sara and how the accident changed Dan profoundly.

  He knew Sara’s name, but he and Kyle were too young to even remember Sara. Adam sharing the story helped him understand somewhat, but he still didn’t fully grasp why it would affect their relationship so much. As he continued to muse, a pang of guilt hit Zach for accusing Dan of lying about being in the field all those years. How the hell did Dan survive six years straight in the field?

  Zach reached the couch and startled Adam when the anger from his last thought surged as he knocked Adam’s feet out of the way so he could plop down.

  “Ow, hey, Bro, that hurt. Ya just had to ask. You didn’t have to manhandle me so hard,” Adam grumbled with fake hurt as he readjusted his position on the couch and threw his legs onto Zach’s lap.

  “Sorry, Bro. Was lost in my thoughts. I didn’t realize you were such a pansy though. Getting soft in your old age?”

  That got a chuckle from several cousins because just before Zach went to get more coffee, Adam had been grousing that it was only four more years until he turned forty. Adam wasn’t happy about it. Scott reminded Adam he would turn forty a week before Adam so to shut up about it.

  The cousins were kicking back, teasing one another, and generally wasting time until they could visit Dan. They were getting antsy and wanted to leave for the hospital now, but their dads ordered them to stay here. So they stayed.

  Scott called out to his dad, “Hey, is Mom coming to see Dan since Aunt Yvonne can’t?”

  Erik was about to answer as he studied at Kyle—his son could use a dose of his mother right about now. When Kyle’s face went ashen, Erik changed what he would say as he stood and headed for Kyle. “Kyle, what’s wrong?”

  Kyle swallowed the terrified lump in his throat as he turned to stare at Scott. He managed to get out, “Dad, she can’t … she shouldn’t. Scott … Mom …”

  Scott leaned forward and put his hand on Kyle’s knee as his dad put his hand on Kyle’s shoulder. His brother’s pallor worried him. “What are you thinking?”

  “Twins!” Kyle looked back to his dad. “We have to protect Mom and Scott. They’re twins. We don’t know if Plouffe hired more people, and Pletcher doesn’t know, what if they’re mistaken … they’re in danger.”

  Erik’s face drained of all color. He never once considered that. Ann? His Ann could be at risk. Erik’s eyes turned to Scott—and his son.

  Mark pulled out the encrypted phone which Sutton arranged for him and dialed Mike. When the call connected, he said, “We have a potential problem none of us ever considered.” Using the code names William had explained, Mark said, “Hestia’s and Phoenix’s twins.” He quickly related the concern.

  Mike watched Mrs. Broderick as she played a game of scrabble with Becca and Craig. His mind worked quickly. “I’ll send two of my men to bring Iris here. Hestia could use some emotional support, and it will protect Iris, too. You can arrange to watch over Gemini.”

  Mark chuckled. “Iris? Gemini? I like the plan. I’ll talk to the guys here. We’ll get things set on this end. Let me know your plans when they are solidified.” After a few more bits of information were exchanged, Mark hung up and informed the others of the arrangement. “Mike is sending Craig and Jack to get Ann and take her to the safe house. She now has a code name, Iris. Mike loves to use Greek gods and goddesses.”

  Erik smiled. The goddess of the sea, sky, rainbows, and a messenger of the gods—that fit Ann so well. “Ann will be okay with the name and with going to Yvonne. She’s missed her sister terribly.”

  Mark’s gaze shifted to Scott. “Gemini, you’re under our protection for the time being. Scott, that means you don’t go anywhere unarmed and without at least one of us with you.”

  “Gemini as in the twins Castor and Pollux which Zeus transformed into the constellation Gemini?” Zach asked as a droll smile crossed his face.

  Mark nodded, and everyone except Scott chuckled.

  Scott shook his head slowly as he muttered, “The trouble with being twins.”

  Adam lightly punched his arm and joked, “At least this time it didn’t land you in jail or get you punched in the face by a jealous boyfriend.”

  Turning to Adam, Scott growled out, “Don’t mention the jail thing again. I do not look anything like that goddamned Maks Gennadiyevich!”

  Moving away from the touchy subject of Maks, Jeff teased, “Well it’s not all bad you and Runt look alike. Danny was quite busy shall I say when he attended advanced training for the MP’s Quick Reaction Force at LFAATC near Halifax. How many women did you say approached you wanting another night with the Sinner?”

  Scott blushed as he grinned and recalled many of the provocative things the gorgeous women whispered into his ear. Dan sure had great taste in women. “Way too many. I swear, most never believed I wasn’t Dan. Doppelganger was sure randy in the short time he was stationed there.”

  Kyle looked at his brother eagerly wanting to hear more about his cousin. “You never told me about that. Do tell.”

  Liking the color back in Kyle’s face, Scott teased him, “You were a baby. Even now your ears are too innocent to hear the things the women wanted to do to me.”

  “I’m twenty-one. I’m old enough. I’m not a baby anymore,” Kyle groused.

  Adam, Jeff, and Scott shared a quick look, and then the good-natured teasing started. They loved to yank Kyle’s chain about being the youngest.

  Erik grinned as he went back to the table. He had calls to make to get Ann ready to leave for God knows where. Erik was comforted by the thought his wife would be safe, and Yvonne would have the support of her sister while she waited until it was safe to return.

  He only hoped she wouldn’t be away too long because Erik needed his wife just as much as his brothers needed theirs. The love of the Broderick women was the keystone of their indomitable spirit and kept them stouthearted even when facing seemingly insurmountable odds.

  Never Too Old for Father’s Comfort

  25

  July 20

  Jon’s Home – 12:00 p.m.

  Kent shouted as he approached his parent’s room, “Dad, Mom wants to know if you want cheddar or swiss cheese on your sandwich.”

  Jon finished a long, hot shower a few minutes ago. Damn, it felt excellent to be home. He pulled on a pair of comfortable jeans when he heard Kent. “Either.” Actually, both sounded tasty, but Jon was tired of making decisions at the moment so didn’t. He pulled on his t-shirt as he sat on the edge of the bed.

  Kent entered his parent’s room, ambled to the bed, and sat next to his dad. He missed his dad for the last few days. Kent had been frightened when he saw the news reports. But at thirteen, Kent wouldn’t admit being scared. That was for little boys like Joey.

  Jon felt drained emotionally. The past days had been tough, and they still had more ahead. He needed to recharge. Jon turned his head and scrutinized Kent. Damn, he was lucky—he had a fantastic son. Actually, he had two terrific kids, and though he didn’t father Joey, he was as much his son as Kent.

  He slung his arm around Kent’s shoulders and pulled him
close for a hug. Jon was surprised when Kent allowed it. Typically his gangly teenage son pulled away. Kent had reached the age where it was no longer cool to be hugged by Dad. Jon remembered that age and how he pulled away from his own dad.

  Jon enjoyed this rare moment. “Missed you, buddy. Sorry I was gone so much this week. I missed your concert. How’d it go?”

  Kent enjoyed the closeness with his dad. Part of him wanted to pull away, but part of him wanted to be close to Dad. Thoughts that it could have been his dad who got shot kept intruding into his mind. So he let his dad hug him for as long as he wanted.

  He was also worried about Dan, so the hug was comforting. In the past few months, Dan came over to the house several times. Mom and Dad kept inviting Dan to dinner. Kent liked Dan and sorta thought of him as an older brother.

  Dan willingly hung out with him when he came over and did things with him which Joey was too little for—like shooting hoops one-on-one or playing street hockey with him and his friends. Dan even bought him a cool demolition derby video game. He wanted to play it with him after he opened it, but Mom made them wait until after Joey went to bed. He got to stay up late that night playing the game with him. Dan was like a cool brother.

  Kent finally said, “Missed you too, Dad, but I know you did something important. The concert was awesome. Everyone played well.”

  “Guys, lunch is ready,” Jennifer called from the kitchen.

  “Guess we shouldn’t keep your mom waiting.” Jon stood and tugged his son up with him not releasing him from the hug. They walked all the way to the kitchen that way. Jon wanted the contact with his son. Watching Dan and his father struggle so badly deeply affected him. Jon wondered how he would handle it if he were in the general’s shoes. Thankfully he wasn’t.

  Kent pulled away and sat down at the table next to Joey who was already devouring his sandwich. He loved his little brother slash cousin. The older Kent got, the less often the slash cousin bit came to mind, and the more only brother did.

  Picking up his sandwich, Kent eyed it wolfishly. Double stacked with meat and cheese—perfect. “Thanks, Mom, this looks awesome!” Kent took a huge bite. Speaking with a full mouth, he added, “Tastes yummy, too!”

  Jon watched his teenage son tear into his sandwich, it reminded him of what Lexa described when Dan had eaten the lunch they got him after the Bennie’s Gas Station call. He had been shocked when Lexa told him Dan actually took the aspirin he included. He picked up his own sandwich and noticed Jennifer had added both types of cheese and double stacked the meat on his, too.

  Jen tilted her head and pressed her lips together in a small smile as Jon bit into his sandwich with gusto. “Kellie and I talked last night. We decided to postpone the team picnic indefinitely. We can’t have it while Dan is in the hospital. We’ll pick a new date after he is released.”

  Jon appreciated the way she talked about Dan—making plans as if she knew for certain he would pull through. Her positive outlook always strengthened him. He winked and grinned at her. “Sounds like a plan.” He took another bite of his sandwich. When he swallowed, he said, “Kent is correct. Delicious!”

  As lunch continued, Jon enjoyed the pleasant family conversation. Joey begged him to get a dog. Jon laughed when Joey insisted it would be good because if they got one, then Joey could take baths with the dog and they wanted him to take baths—perfect logic for a four-year-old.

  Kent excitedly talked about music, his concert, and shared the latest song he was teaching himself. Jon marveled at how different his teenage son was from him. But then again, maybe not as different as he thought. The kid always stepped up and took care of his mom and Joey when Jon couldn’t be here, they shared the trait of taking care of those important to them.

  Jennifer told them all about the latest event she planned. It was a fundraiser for the Aviary Sanctuary and occurred near the indoor pond. Jen related how everyone laughed when the geese chased the little boy. He ran and launched himself into his dad’s arms, but the force of the jump knocked them off balance. They ended up in the pond soaking wet.

  The lunch conversation had been so ordinary, exactly what Jon needed to rebalance himself. When they finished eating, Jon gazed at Jennifer. “You’re awesome. Are you aware of how much I love you?” He stood then pulled Jennifer into a hug and kissed her passionately. As one hand slid down to her backside, he whispered in her ear, “Missed you.”

  “Eeewww! Do you have to do that in front of us? Get a room, Dad. Going to my room to practice now,” Kent said as he stood. He grabbed Joey’s hand, “Come on, you can bang on the bongos and make lots of noise.” Both boys hurriedly left the kitchen.

  Jennifer and Jon chuckled, and Jen leaned in close and whispered amorously, “Missed you, too. We have a room if we want to use it. We can make out to the sound of island drums.”

  Jon’s eyes glazed with steamy heat as he replied seductively, “I’m all yours. Lead the way, my island beauty.”

  Grand Citadel Hotel – Main Suite – 12:30 p.m.

  Zach was about to shove Adam’s legs off his lap when a knock on the door interrupted him, he started to rise, but Adam grabbed his hand and nodded towards Kyle. Zach grinned and joined Scott, Jeff, and Adam as they directed their gazes to the youngest of the group, and ordered him with their eyes to get the door.

  Damned lack of seniority, Kyle thought. “Fine! I’ll get it. You can keep your old lazy asses in the chairs.”

  That earned him a barrage of small pillows thrown at his head. Kyle ducked them. “Missed me. Your aim sucks.” The knock sounded again, and Kyle rolled off the couch and sauntered to the door. He was hit in the back with four pillows in rapid succession. He chuckled—their aim was just fine.

  Kyle made it to the door with no more projectiles hitting him. He opened it and found and a cute woman standing outside. He vaguely recognized her as he said with an inquisitive tone, “Hello?”

  “Hi, I thought I’d stop by and check in on the general.”

  Kyle stared a moment longer—it hit him—she was the nurse who told them about Dan last night. Kyle stepped back and waved her into the room.

  Heather noticed several pillows on the ground and smiled at the young man who let her in as he stooped to pick them up and tossed them into a chair.

  “Hey guys, the nurse from last night said she’s here to check on Uncle Will,” Kyle said as picked up the pillows on the way to the couches.

  Strict manners training from their mothers had the guys standing immediately. Scott the eldest by a week and their designated spokesman when the cousins were en masse addressed the nurse. “Hello, ma’am. I didn’t catch your name last night.”

  Heather still in awe these men all looked so similar to Dan and the one who spoke, more so than all the others. At first, she thought he was Dantastic’s twin, but close up she noticed he was older. The Broderick men sure got lucky in the gene pool, especially those stunning sapphire eyes set in the hard planes of their rugged faces.

  Although now that they were in regular clothes she could see more differences than she saw last night. Each was his own man. They each had their own style, but they all exuded an air of confidence some might call swagger or conceit. All together they made and extraordinary sight.

  “My name is Heather Barkley. I’m a surgical nurse at St Michael’s Hospital,” she stammered out before getting a hold of herself and her own confidence reasserting itself.

  Scott said, “Nice to meet you, Heather. You were the nurse who told us about Dan last night, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “I guess I should introduce this motley crew,” Scott said gesturing to his cousins. “I’m Lieutenant Scott Broderick, Able Seaman Kyle Broderick is my brother. My cousins Sergeant Jeff Broderick, Captain Adam Broderick, and Adam’s brother Second Lieutenant Zach Broderick. At the table enjoying their coffee are our dads, Major Mark Broderick, Commander Erik Broderick, and Colonel Ryan Broderick.” Scott cringed inwardly when he heard the snickers from his cousins and re
alized he had given their ranks and full names. He was so used to doing military introductions—it was an ingrained habit.

  Heather was amused by the formal introductions. “Wow, so let me guess who’s whose father.” With a big grin, she took a moment to study at each one, logging their names and faces in her mind. She compared it to the uniforms she remembered them wearing last night. “My guess is … Mark is Jeff’s dad, Erik is Scott’s and Kyle’s dad, and Ryan is Adam’s and Zach’s.”

  Everyone stared. How in the world did she do that?

  Heather added, “Oh, we can’t forget the general is Dantastic’s dad.”

  “How’d you figure that out?” Jeff asked.

  “Easy, I just reckoned you all went into the same branch of the military as your father.” Heather couldn’t stop the little giggle which popped out at their expressions. She explained, “Powers of observation. Essential for a nurse.” A curious look appeared on Heather’s face as she asked, “Are there any more of you?”

  They shook their heads no.

  Her curiosity was replaced by a teasing countenance when Heather playfully said, “Whew! I began to worry at some point our whole military would be run by Brodericks?”

  They all laughed with Heather because they had all thought the same thing.

  “If you don’t mind me asking, why are you here to check on Uncle Will?” Adam asked with a protective edge to his voice.

  Heather’s face softened. “The general didn’t look well last night, and I’m worried about him. He’s been through so much since Tuesday. I was happy he and Blondie were taking the first tentative steps to building a relationship. The general looked so distraught. I thought he might need a little looking after today.”

  Confused looks crossed their faces. They wondered why Heather called Dan, Blondie. That’s what Dan’s former unit called him. How would she know? Jeff and Adam unconsciously moved closer and in front of Scott to protect him if need be. Their expressions became closed-off.