by Elle Keating
“Thank God Aunt Day found you, son,” he said, pulling Luke into a hug. Luke stood, locked in his dad’s tight embrace for over a minute. His heart pounded, and he could tell by his dad’s quickened breaths that he too was losing it. The sexual abuse he had endured and his suicide attempt hadn’t been spoken about in years and even then it had been in a controlled setting, such as the therapist’s office or with the police present. But right now they were just father and son, sharing a moment that was years in the making. And it felt so damned good.
“Thank God none of you gave up on me,” Luke said, pulling away.
His dad wiped a tear from his eye and then gave Luke a heavy pat on his shoulder. The last time he had seen his dad cry was the day Luke and his brothers were brought to the hospital. Luke had told the doctors and the police what Warren had done to him, why he had the open wounds on his back, why his rectum bled. After he had given them the details, Luke had fallen asleep, only to wake up hours later to Patrick McGinnis, the policeman who had rescued him from hell, holding his hand and crying.
“So what is going to bring you peace?” his dad asked.
“Peyton. The woman who is probably halfway to Italy right now, if not there already.”
His dad’s eyes gleamed. “Italy, you say?”
“Yes, she’s a model and her next show is in Naples.”
His dad let out a hearty chuckle. “The first time you went to Italy, you came back with what some may say was a crazy idea…and look at how that materialized,” he said gesturing to the winery and its many, many acres. “Your mother and I can hold down the fort here.”
“Are you sure?” His heart was pounding at the thought of seeing Peyton again. But then the fear crept in. Would she want to see him? He had hurt her not once, but multiple times. Could she forgive him? There was only one way to find out.
“Go get her, son.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Luke
Fortunately, Lainey was every bit the romantic Peyton had alluded to.
He knew what he must have looked like, showing up at Lainey’s house uninvited and ringing the doorbell like a crazy person. But he had been desperate, and his pride had since dried up. At first Peyton’s sister seemed skeptical of his story, but the more he spoke, the more he told her about the night they had first kissed and then later how he screwed up the morning after they had slept together, the doubt in her eyes seemed to fade, eventually giving way to absolute shock.
But it was his admission that he knew about Reggie and Shelby’s prison stint, that had convinced her that he wasn’t a nut job. It had been a risk mentioning those two horrendous people by name since he wasn’t certain if they were triggers for Lainey as well, but he needed more information. Although he had known Peyton was traveling to Naples, Italy, he had no idea where the show was or the hotel she was staying at. That’s where Lainey came in. But he also knew she wouldn’t give her sister’s whereabouts up that easily. She had needed convincing, she’d needed to hear the words. And for the second time in a matter of hours, he had told someone other than Peyton that he was in love with her. Lainey had broken down and cried into her hands. Between happy sobs she had rattled off Peyton’s hotel and the show’s venue. He had thanked her a zillion times with intermittent hugs thrown in and left for the airport.
Two hours later he was coasting down the runway and flying over the Atlantic. Although he was able to get a nonstop flight, he had more than a few hours to kill and decided to get some sleep. He secured a pillow from a flight attendant and made himself comfortable. As he drifted off, his thoughts bounced back and forth from Peyton to the conversation he’d had with his dad earlier this morning. His eyelids grew heavy, the sounds in the cabin grew distant and he succumbed to sleep…
“Brennan is so hot, Luke. His face looks like a cherry.” Luke had just taken a piss when Gabe busted through the bathroom door. “You got to feel his head.”
Luke pushed past his brother and entered their bedroom. Brennan had woken up this morning with a fever and complaining that his belly hurt, but those two symptoms had been going on for the past three days. But now a new symptom was present. Brennan’s face was covered in an angry looking rash. Luke drew back Brennan’s covers and discovered that the rash had spread to his back and chest. Fear gripped him by the throat. Brennan needed help. The fever had gotten worse and now he was covered in red bumps.
“Gabe, I need you to man the door. Don’t let anyone in but me. Do you understand?”
Gabe’s eyes widened. “But what if Mom… or Warren…”
“We haven’t seen either of them in almost a week. I doubt they’re even coming back.”
“Okay, but where are you going?”
“To the CVS on the corner. Brennan needs medicine.” Gabe nodded. “Lock the door behind me and remember what I told you. Don’t open it for anyone unless it’s me.”
“I won’t, Luke. I promise.”
Luke made it to the drugstore in under two minutes. Although his mother barely allowed him and his brothers to leave the apartment, even for school, he knew exactly how to get there. The large drugstore could be seen from his bedroom window.
Once inside, he searched for the medicine he had seen advertised on television. The commercial had shown a little boy around Brennan’s age lying in bed looking completely miserable. His television mom had come to his bedside with some white liquid in an orange and white bottle. She had called it Motrin if he remembered correctly. Luke was starting to panic and had almost given up when he spotted the medicine. He looked around, ensured that he wasn’t being watched, and stuffed the medicine into his shirt. He was almost to the front door when his eyes caught a most delicious sight. His stomach growled as he stared at a box of Ritz crackers and a jar of Jif peanut butter. He was so hungry. And so were his brothers, though they would never complain to him. Yesterday, they had polished off the remaining scraps of bread in the pantry. It hadn’t been nearly enough. And with his mother gone, who knew the next time they would get to eat. Without another thought, he grabbed the crackers and peanut butter and sprinted out the pharmacy doors.
Luke pounded on the apartment door, and God love him, Gabe asked him to identify himself. Luke heard the multiple locks disengage before Gabe threw the door open. “I got it, Gabe. Brennan’s going to be just fine. You’ll see. Once we get this medicine in him…”
“Luke?”
“Gabe, shut and lock the door,” he said, walking to Brennan’s room with medicine in hand.
“Luke?”
“What is it, Gabe?” Luke asked, turning around.
“It’s alright, son. I’m a police officer and I’m here to help. My name is Patrick.”
Luke stared at the man in the doorway. He looked like a police officer. Even carried a gun and wore a cool badge. And then it hit him. “Please don’t arrest me. I’ll pay for the medicine and the food. I promise.”
“Is your mom home?” the police officer asked.
Luke could feel the tears coming. “No.”
“How about your dad, then?”
“We don’t have a dad,” Gabe chimed in.
“I see,” the officer said. “May I come in, boys?”
There was no way he could tell this man no. Luke nodded. The officer stepped into the apartment and closed the door behind him. “I understand that you shoplifted some medicine. Is someone in your home sick?”
“Yes, our brother, Brennan. He’s my twin. He has a fever and a rash,” Gabe said.
“I would like to help him, if that’s okay with you, Luke?” Patrick’s eyes were kind, so different from the eyes of the men his mother brought around. Luke had learned quickly not to trust anyone but his two brothers, but for some reason this police officer made him believe that not all men were animals.
“Yes, please help him.” Luke led Patrick to the bedroom they all shared. Brennan was shaking. His fever must have gotten worse while he had gone to the store.
Patrick took one look at Brennan and sai
d, “He needs to go to the hospital, Luke. You’re the man of the house. Is it okay that I take him?”
Panic and relief surged through him. He was grateful that his brother was going to see a doctor, but what if he never saw Brennan again? “Yes, but can you take me and Gabe with you?”
“Of course,” Patrick said, lifting Brennan’s frail body into his arms. “I’m not leaving you.”
And with that, those tears Luke had been fighting back broke free. From the back seat of Patrick’s police car, those tears continued. He was just about done when he arrived at the hospital. All three of them were rushed into the emergency room, where their vitals were taken and a series of questions were asked. Just as he promised, Patrick never left them. About an hour later, Gabe and Brennan were transferred to their own room. Luke was told that he had to remain behind. He was just about to fight it with everything he had when he learned that his brothers’ room was directly across from his. A pretty blonde nurse accompanied his brothers and despite Brennan feeling miserable, he actually smiled when she doted on him.
“Luke, Brennan has a strep infection, but he’ll be okay. And Gabe, he appears to be in the very early stages of it as well. They are both being treated with antibiotics and will need an IV to give them fluids. All three of you boys are dehydrated,” Patrick said.
“But they’ll be okay, right? If anything happens to them, I…”
“They’ll be annoying you in no time. I guarantee that,” Patrick said, smiling.
“They don’t annoy me,” Luke said.
Patrick’s smile faded. “Luke, a friend of mine from the police station is coming to see us. She’s going to ask you some questions and I need you to answer them truthfully. Are you up for that?”
“Is she going to ask me about my mom?” Luke asked.
“Yes. And she’s also going to want to know how you got those sores on your back. Many of them are infected, which is most likely causing you to have a fever.”
Luke didn’t feel hot, but then again, he had been so worried about Brennan that he hadn’t even noticed that he too had come down with a fever. “Okay. I’ll tell her the truth.”
“Good,” Patrick said. He sighed deeply. “My friend will also ask if you have other injuries, in places we cannot see.” Patrick searched his eyes. “Do you know what I mean by that?”
A wave of nausea overtook him and he reached for the water pitcher on the tray before him. The pitcher was halfway full, but it didn’t matter. It could still get the job done and catch his vomit if need be. “Yes. I know what you mean.”
Five minutes later, Patrick’s friend showed up and introduced herself as Detective Kearns, though she asked him to call her by her first name, which was Joy. Joy reminded Luke of that mom he had seen on television, the one who had been taking care of her sick son and giving him Motrin. She had long blonde hair and didn’t wear a lot of makeup, unlike his mother. He also liked the sound of Joy’s voice. Her calming tone instantly put him at ease and for the next hour he unleashed one demon after another to sweet, unfazed Joy. When he was finished, Luke rolled to his side and drifted off to sleep.
He awoke several times that night only to find Patrick at his side, as if standing watch. On one occasion he thought he had witnessed Patrick crying, but Luke quickly closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. Eventually, exhaustion overtook him once more. Hours later he awoke, but Patrick was gone and a dark-haired woman sat in his place. She introduced herself as Lucrezia McGinnis and told him that she was Patrick’s wife.
“Where is Patrick?” he asked, looking around the room.
“He went across the hall to check on your brothers. Gabe is doing well and Brennan no longer looks like a ripe cherry tomato.”
Despite their current surroundings and situation, he laughed. Lucrezia gave his arm a pat before placing her hand back in her lap. Her touch calmed him. And her accent. He absolutely loved it. Where was she from? Somewhere far away?
Take me with you.
Luke had no idea where that thought had come from, just that this woman put him at ease.
“Are you hungry?” she asked.
He was starving. His thoughts took him back to the CVS where he had shoplifted that box of crackers and jar of peanut butter. He could almost taste that smooth peanut butter wedged between two buttery crackers. “Yes, I am.”
Lucrezia smiled, as if his answer pleased her greatly. She stood from her chair. Patrick walked in at that exact moment and said, “Sleep well, son?”
No man had ever called him son. Maybe that was why he loved that word so much, especially when it came from Patrick. “Yes, sir,” Luke said.
“I’m going to run to the cafeteria, but first I’m going to check on your brothers to see if they’re hungry, too. I’ll be back soon.” Lucrezia smiled and left his hospital room.
Patrick walked over and sat in the chair next to his bedside. “Luke, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Patrick’s eyes looked worried and…sad. The sight made his stomach do flip flops. Why did the man who rescued him look so scared all of a sudden? “What’s wrong? Are my brothers okay?”
A small smile tugged at Patrick’s lips as he rested his elbows on his thighs. His chin lay on his folded hands. “They’re going to be fine…thanks to you.”
“I broke the law,” Luke said.
“You had little choice.”
The worry in Patrick’s eyes persisted. “What’s wrong?” Luke asked.
“Luke, sometime last night while you were asleep, I was informed that your mother passed away.”
“She’s dead?” He knew what passed away meant, but he had to ask. He needed to hear it again.
“Yes…along with the man who you identified as your mother’s main boyfriend. Warren is dead, Luke. He can never hurt you again.”
Dead. Both of them.
“They were most likely killed over a bad drug deal,” Patrick said, watching him closely.
The news didn’t make him sad or send him into a state of grief. But he wasn’t numb, either. No, he was overcome by relief. But then reality set in. “What happens now? To my brothers and…me?”
Patrick leaned closer. “Well, since you don’t have any relatives and…”
“No! We can’t go into foster care. They’ll split us up! Mom said that was what would happen if we were ever taken from her. It’s what she threatened me with if I ever told anyone that she let Warren…do those things to me… to pay off her debt to him.”
Patrick’s jaw clenched and he saw the vein in his neck pulsate. And then he took a deep breath and let it out. “That’s not going to happen, Luke.”
“How do you know?”
“Luke, how would you feel about living with my wife and me and our two children, Jake and Carina?”
“Live with you? All three of us? Me, Gabe and Brennan?”
“Yes, all three of you. Lucrezia and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Stunned, Luke asked, “For how long?”
Patrick’s smile grew. “I was thinking forever. How does that sound?”
“On behalf of American Airlines and the crew, we would like to thank you for flying with us and look forward to seeing you on board in the future. Enjoy your stay in Naples.”
Luke jolted awake to hear the last of the pilot’s announcement. His dream still clung to him, but he was grateful that he had slept so soundly. Because he was going to need all his energy to win back the girl he loved.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Peyton
So, this is what the close of a model’s career looks like.
Peyton smiled for the cameras as she latched on to Frederick Kyle’s arm. The world-famous designer was grinning ear to ear and mouthing thank yous to those in attendance. From the applause and Frederick’s great mood, she knew his show had been a success. Which was bittersweet. This would be her last show with Frederick, the same designer she coincidentally had started her career with.
“Are you certain I c
an’t change your mind? Are you sure you want to leave all this behind, my love?” Frederick whispered in her ear.
Peyton squeezed his arm. Although Frederick could be a demanding prick when he wanted to be, as many in the business were, he was one of the good ones. He had worked her ass off over the years along with all the other models he chose for his collections, but he always showed her genuine respect. “It’s time, Frederick. I can just feel it.”
He drew her hand to his lips and kissed it, which prompted more applause and said, “If you ever change your mind…”
“You’d be the first I would call,” she said.
After the show, she quickly washed off all her make-up and got changed into her normal post-show attire: jeans, sneakers, and a t-shirt. It was pure chaos backstage, with models running about half-naked, trying to get ready as fast as they could. Some of her colleagues would be staying in town, extending their weekend and enjoying after-parties and whatever else Italy had to offer. Others would be leaving tonight, jet-setting off to their next show or shoot. It was the life of a model. Some days were hectic and exhausting, others were amazing and beautiful. But the one thing those days always had in common, at least for her, was that they were always lonely. When she had first started out she had a lot of friends, or so she thought. Over time, it had become obvious that they weren’t attracted to her, but to her exploding bank account. Not one person had stood by her when she was at her lowest point. Instead, those friends had taken pictures of her when she was clearly shitfaced and plastered them all over social media. A couple of years later she had met Tasha, and though they weren’t close, she knew that she wasn’t being nice to her because of her money and fame. So at that point, Tasha was the closest thing to a friend. But her lack of friends didn’t bother Peyton too much because she would always have Lainey.