by Bex Dane
Zook waved toward the kitchen and Destry left us alone. "You okay?" Zook held my hand as he checked over my body.
"I'm fine. Nothing happened." Except I kissed him and asked him to take my hot pocket.
"Right. Destry's never at fault." Zook tugged on my hand. "C'mon, let me introduce you to my family."
Chapter 14
"Cecelia, this is my twin brother, Destry." Zook tilted his head toward Destry as we walked into the kitchen.
Destry closed the fridge, twisted open a beer bottle, and took a barstool at the island in the center of the room. He nodded at me with his lips quirked. "Pleasure."
My cheeks burned as I returned his smile. Destry was just as gorgeous and charming as Zook. "I'm going to make coffee." Coffee. Yes. Coffee would help me through all these confusing feelings.
"It's two in the morning," Zook said.
Oh. Hmm. "Decaf. I'll make decaf." Some kind of coffee was going to be made.
"What's with the hot pocket? She kinky like that?" Destry laughed and looked from me to Zook.
Oh my. I turned away and searched the cupboards for decaf. Did we even have decaf?
"How'd you find me?" Zook's angry voice hit my back.
"Vanity Barebones now Tessa Saxton," Destry answered casually.
"How'd you get in?" Zook had worked long and hard on the security in the house and prided himself on it.
"The alarm took a picture of my face and let me in."
Zook sat opposite Destry at the island. "Switching that damn thing to retina scanner tomorrow."
I found some decaf and got the machine started. The comforting sounds of brewing coffee filled the kitchen. Comfort was on its way. "Okay. Who is Lyric?"
"What does she know?" Destry asked Zook.
"A lot more after the fight we just had in front of her."
I grabbed a coffee mug and placed it next to my machine. "Who is Lyric and why did her begging cost you two years?" I focused on Zook because he was the one who should tell me.
They both kept their eyes glued to the countertop, looking like guilty puppies who had torn up the pillows while Mommy went shopping. "What did you not tell me? How did you sacrifice yourself for him? Oh my god! Is this about the rape conviction? Is Lyric the victim?"
Zook's head snapped up. His eyes begged me to stop asking questions. No way.
"Did Destry rape her, and you went to jail for him?"
Destry slammed his beer down and stood up. "I did not rape her."
"Then what the heck happened with Lyric? Tell me right now."
Zook ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "Destry slept with her, pretending to be me."
"Did she know it was really Destry?"
Zook looked to Destry to answer. "I did everything I could to let her know it was me. Jeb was in the room. I'm not sure if she knew. We needed to convince Jeb it was Zook."
"This is crazy. Why would Jeb want Zook to sleep with Lyric?"
Zook stepped to me and placed his hands under my jaw, tilting my head up to look into his eyes. "I told you that part. Jeb declared me a seed bearer. He ordered me to sleep with Lyric. The part I didn't tell you was Destry had a history with her."
Destry turned his back on us, his shoulders hunched. I could see Destry's pain reflected on Zook's face.
"He'd been cast out. But I contacted him and told him the situation. He came back to the compound to help." Zook's voice held so much compassion. This wasn't easy for any of them. "I said I did it." His thumbs caressed my cheeks, his eyes warm and soft. Destry left the room, his head down.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He served time for a crime he didn't commit? And he didn't tell me?
"If anyone found out, Destry could be tried and serve time too."
"So you didn't trust me not to tell anyone, and you let me believe you raped that girl?"
"You loved me anyway. You believed in me and loved me despite it."
The coffee maker chimed my decaf was ready. His warm hands on my face made it incredibly difficult to think, much less stay mad at him. I broke out of his hold. "Yes, because I knew you were under pressure from Barebones. You paid your dues. But you could've trusted me with this."
He paced away from me and turned back to look at me. "What difference would it make? I was guilty. I didn't rape her, but I was guilty. I stood by while Jeb Barebones beat up Tessa. I did nothing when he pointed a gun at her head. I'm still guilty."
I took a deep breath as I poured my decaf into a Bravo Construction mug. "You were trying to collect evidence against him." I took my first sip and yes, yes, I could handle this.
"I did collect a shit ton of evidence, and I got a reduced sentence because of it. None of this matters. Our love isn't based on what we did or secrets we've kept. Our love is based on us. You and me. Here and now. Nothing could make me stop loving you."
He was right. Knowing this information about him didn't change the way I loved him. If anything, I loved him more because I knew him better. His arm around my shoulders pulled me close and he kissed me. I loved Zook and he loved me. Our secrets were irrelevant.
But… someone needed to step in and set these brothers straight, and now that I knew the truth, the responsibility fell on me. "Destry, come back in here."
He skulked back into the kitchen and sat down.
I started with Zook because I knew him best. "If you sacrificed yourself for him, you must love him. Right?"
"'Course I love him. He's my twin. He's in my head. I have to. Otherwise I'd be hating myself too. He's talented and smart. Unlike me. If one of us shoulda been free, it was him."
That was so Zook. Always wanting to give everything for the people he loved. I was lucky to be one of them.
I turned to Destry. "And you must be grateful to your brother for what he did for you?"
"I am." He leveled his gaze on Zook. "Thank you. Humbled by it."
"And did you make good use of your freedom?" I asked Destry.
"He did." Zook answered for Destry. "He took third place on Idol Factor two years ago. He just signed with Topside Records. He's gonna be huge." Zook beamed with pride.
"You follow me?" Destry asked with a shy grin.
"Absolutely. Took some grief in the slammer for spending rare TV viewing time watching myself on Idol Factor. Confused the hell outta them when they saw me up there singing those cheesy-ass songs."
"Dude. Those songs were so lame."
They both chuckled. I didn't know. I'd never followed that show, but I'd look him up as soon as I got the chance.
"Great. So you're a successful businessman, and he's a rising rock star, right?" I motioned from Zook to Destry.
"Right." They answered in unison.
"And you both did well for yourselves despite whatever happened years ago?"
"Right." Again, perfect synchronicity.
"So can we get past this and love each other? Because I've never had a brother before, and I'd love to know Destry."
Their eyes paused on me for a moment as they took in my words. Matching grins grew on their beautiful faces. Like it was choreographed, they bumped fists over the counter.
"Oh c'mon. It's been years. Go hug each other." I motioned with my arms that they should meet in the middle.
Slowly, they stood and walked around the island. They embraced and smacked each other's backs. The love radiating off them could heat this whole house in the dead of winter. Zook closed his eyes and tightened his arms around his brother. Destry rested his forehead on Zook's shoulder. Yes, they both needed that hug. Identical wounds were healing deep inside them. They broke apart and smiled at me.
Okay. Good. Next problem. "Now. If Lyric knew both of you, don't you think she'd like to know the truth?"
"We can't take that chance." Zook shook his head.
I understood how hard the truth could be to face, probably more than they did. "This poor woman. I think you should tell her what happened." Sure was easier to tell someone else to do it than to do it myself.
"But…"
"No!" The anger in his tone made me flinch. "The issue is closed." I dropped my head and nodded like the subservient princess I was. The sharp edge of his tone hung in the silence. They had decided. For her. No one had asked Lyric. No. I needed to stand up for her now.
I locked determined eyes with Zook. "You need to contact Lyric."
"We keep her out of this." His voice softened. Admiration glowed in his eyes like it did every time I showed my brave side. And when he looked at me that way, I only felt more courage to speak up.
"You can't make that decision for her. She's probably going through hell, and you two have decided to keep the truth from her. Didn't you think of her?"
Destry leaned forward, his palms flat on the counter. "You think I don't think of her? I think of nothing else. If you believe for a second she's not in every song I write, every note I sing, you're mistaken."
Oh my god. Destry talked a lot like Zook. Every nail I hammer.
"Then why not go tell her?"
"It's like turning myself in to the cops." He took another sip of his beer.
"Not if she keeps the secret."
"She hates me. She'd love to watch the media shitstorm when this blew up."
"If she loves you like you love her, she will keep the secret."
"I don't love her."
"You do. Her name is tattooed over your heart. When Zook said her name, your eyes burned and we could all feel the pain pouring out of you. You said it yourself, she's in all the songs you sing. This isn't about her reporting you to the authorities. This is about the guilt you feel for leaving her for all this time. And if she did think it was you, imagine how confused she must've felt watching Zook confess and go to prison."
His eyes widened and he looked from me to Zook. "You had to go and pick a smart one. She's gonna walk all over us, Z."
Zook laughed. "CeCe can walk all over me anytime she likes. I'll lay down and let her do it."
"Yeah, me too." Destry wiggled his eyebrows.
"I'm tired," Zook said. "Let's go to bed."
"Where're we sleeping?" Destry asked.
"We're sleeping in our bed in the master suite." Zook took my hand. "There's ten empty rooms in this place. You can choose whichever one you like. Just stay the fuck away from CeCe."
"Deal."
"Goodnight, sucker. We'll see you in the morning."
"I'm a rock star. The morning is at least noon. Maybe later."
"CeCe has school all day. I have work. We'll meet you here for dinner tomorrow. I'll bring takeout."
"See you then, brother. Goodnight."
***
As usual, I got home before Zook. I kicked off my heels and flopped face down in our bed.
Zook's warm lips touched my neck, and I twisted to my back to make sure it was him and not his hot rockstar brother.
"Hey, babe. Love having you in my bed when I get home from work." He kissed my lips.
"Love being in your bed." I smiled at him and he grinned back at me.
"I brought you moo shu from Takei Tommy's."
"Mmm. Yum."
"Where's the prodigal brother?" He looked toward the hallway.
"Don't know. Haven't seen him."
"Let's go eat." He wrapped an arm behind my back and helped me to my feet. "He doesn't show, more for you and me." He smoothed my hair over my ear with a sweet, loving look in his eye. Man, just being around him made me happy.
"Okay."
We walked to the kitchen. Zook grabbed some plates and the bag of food. "Let's sit on the patio by the fire. Grab a jacket. Sun's going down."
"Okay." The sandstone pit was built in to a table, so you could sit around it in a circle and eat. I snagged two beers, a bottle of chardonnay, and a glass for me. I slipped on my jacket and a pair of shoes I kept by the door. Zook and I loved to cuddle and chat by the fire.
The flames flared to life as I spooned the food onto our plates. Destry appeared in the open sliding door and rested his shoulder against the door jamb as he yawned. "Mornin'." His voice scratched as he scrubbed his hand over his face. He still wore the same jeans and tee as last night, but he'd added a black leather jacket with bullets draped over one shoulder. He was a grungy replica of Zook.
"You're just getting up?" Zook asked him. "We worked an honest day already."
"Telling you. Vampire. Sleep all day. Wake at night." He squinted into the evening sun as he took a few steps outside. He eyed the Chinese food cartons on the table surrounding the fire pit.
"Sit down and eat breakfast then." Zook pushed a plate in front of an empty seat close to Destry.
"Don't mind if I do." He sat down and accepted a beer I offered him.
As we scarfed down moo shu pork in little Chinese burritos and spicy kung pao chicken, I noticed something new. The restlessness in Zook's hands had left. He chewed with a relaxed jaw. Comfort flowed between them like a part of him had returned and he was whole again.
Zook peered at Destry over the fire. "So why'd you come besides you want to connect with me?"
"Isn't that enough? Family is forever." Destry leaned back in his chair and spread his knees. Curly dark hair and the white cotton corner of his pocket showed through the shredded holes in his thigh.
"Not our family. Why'd you come to Boston?"
"Mom needs our help."
Zook dropped his fork and stopped chewing. "Mom? You know where she is?"
"She's in Idaho."
"With Dad?"
"No. Dad left her. She's married to Elder Grimsol now."
Zook grimaced. "God, how old is he?"
"Ancient."
"Tell me what you know."
"They're poor. Jeb's losing control and out of money. She's ready to leave, but scared. Doesn't know how. Begged our forgiveness and help."
"Huh." Zook scratched his chin and looked to me.
"Wait. This is the woman who let Jeb force you to work since you were children? The one who didn't teach either of you to read? Didn't fight for you? And now she wants you to help her?" Anger bubbled up in my throat, but I bit my tongue because she was still their mother. "Can you forgive her?" I asked Zook. She caused so much misery and now Jeb is in prison and she's out of money, she wants her sons, who became successful despite her, to bail her out?
"If she's willing to leave the cult, I'm willing to forgive her. We all did things we regret under Jeb's command. I've been granted forgiveness by those I hurt, she deserves it too," Zook said.
"And you, Destry? Didn't she disown you when you were cast out? Can you forgive her?"
Destry nodded, his face grim. "I can. But I'm not going back there. I won't go see her while she's inside. That's why I needed Zook."
"I'm not going back either." Zook's voice had a finality to it as he resumed eating.
As we finished our food, Destry remained quiet and stared at the fire. Zook asked me about my day and we talked briefly. But the topic of his mom hung heavy in the air, all of us contemplating how to handle this new information.
Zook leaned back in his chair and gazed out at the sunset. A layer of yellow and orange faded to deep blue at the top. "I'll write her a letter."
Destry sat up straight and raised an eyebrow at Zook. "You're going to write a letter?"
Zook nodded. "Cecelia taught me to read and write." He smiled at me and grasped my hand. "This will be good for me. I'll write her a letter telling her we love her and we'll help her if she agrees to leave the Brotherhood behind. No more Jeb or talk of damnation. If she's willing to accept us as we are, she can be part of our lives. We'll pay for her to relocate and we'll support her financially and emotionally. Agreed?"
"Sounds good to me." Destry downed the last of his beer. "I knew you'd fix this for me."
"Let's wait and see if she agrees. She might want our money but not be willing to give up Jeb. If that's the case, no deal." Zook packed up the empty cartons and t
ossed them in the trash. He walked to the kitchen and came back with two more beers. He handed one to Destry and topped off my wine. "I'll write to Mom tomorrow. Tonight, I'm catching up with my twin brother and spending time with my girl."
He pulled me into his lap and Destry smiled. This was nice. I liked having Zook and Destry together. It felt right and I was happy Zook had part of his family back.
Chapter 15
Three months later
Zook
I walked down the Hale corridor like I belonged here.
When you appear confident, people don't question you. In the nine months I'd been dating CeCe, I'd been to her office once. Her professor was there, so I made up some shit about class work, and he bought it.
Hopefully, the prof wasn't there today. With the house almost done, and my stress level down, I could focus more attention on her. CeCe had final exams and spent all day in her office. One thing I knew how to do, calm my girl down when she felt stressed.
I held a cup from the Golden Goose Bistro in the doorway, jiggling it like a puppet.
"Hello, teacher. Can you spell caffeine?"
She laughed.
"Spell caffeine correctly, and you'll win this magical coffee made by golden geese."
"C-A-F-F-E-I-N-E."
"Ding, ding, ding. You are correct!" I had no idea if she'd spelled it right, but I figured she did. I walked in her office and set the cup down next to a stack of papers. She grabbed the cup and inhaled it.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you." She swiped at a hair in her face. Her eyes were wild, like she needed that coffee to live.
"You're way too stressed." I placed my palms flat on the desk and gave her a smile. That usually helped when she was anxious.
She shook her head and rattled the papers. "I have to grade all these exams for Professor Connery and finish my thesis by Friday."
"You need to take a break."
"A break? No. I don't take breaks. I just go go go. Breaks are for weaklings."
"Breaks are for sanity." When I stood behind her chair and bent to kiss her neck, she stiffened. "You need to unwind."
She sighed and angled her head. "Professor Connery could come in anytime."
I nibbled up to her ear. "Mmm. That would be hot."