Wyatt-1(Lane Brothers, Book 1)(29)

He doesn’t know that I still fight a fear of the dark, and that for me food was a weird thing because of my ordeal. When Bolton had me, he’d starve me for days before giving me the worst things to eat.

I force myself away from these thoughts. Instead. I think about the attractiveness of the Lane brothers. They all look the same, except that Jace has green eyes instead of that intense navy blue.

What are they talking about in there? Why are they here? And more importantly, what’s going to happen? As observant as I’ve become over the years, I saw all that tension flowing off Wyatt and the man had a bigger gripe with his siblings than the harmless flirting they’d done over breakfast.

I’m basically the Jamie Lee Curtis of stalking survivors, because no matter how scary stuff is, I just always need to creep down that dark hallway and take a peek.

I need to know what monster is coming for me next, because I know that if I’m going to win whatever battle comes next, information is key. With that in mind, I slowly rise from the sofa and make my way to the arch separating the living room from the foyer. From there, it’s a left turn and three doors down the corridor and I’m at the door to his office.

Creeping slowly, quietly, I press my ear up against the door and listen, praying that what I hear doesn’t prove me wrong and make the trust I’ve given him my biggest mistake.

“She’s still too fragile!”

Me? Fragile? Oh man, as if!

I’m superwoman, Halle Berry from Gothika and every other surviving heroine alive. I may be a little messed up and downright quirky thanks to Bolton Conrad, but one thing I will never be in my life is fragile.

“Fragile? That chick is Xena Warrior Princess wrapped in a five-three package of blonde bombshell, bro. She’s strong and I know if you just tell her everything she’ll be able to hack it.”

That sounds like Miah, and I smile at the trust he has in me. It’s flattering and humbling to think that a man who’s only just met me believes in me that much.

“Yeah, bro, I mean she’s so cool and funny and she seems like one of those good people I never thought to meet outside the family.”

Was that Jace or Jared? I think Jace, since Jared is a little gruffer than the others.

“She is, but that’s beside the point. She’s not ready to hear it all and I don’t want her involved in this before we finish it. Have you talked to Roman? What’s happening on his end?”

“He’s setting up the wiretaps and watching the money. Gathering evidence is a process, you know that, and being a cop, he can’t do anything that’s not completely by the book, especially if he’s connected to Jerry and Robert.”

I don’t understand a word of that, but I keep listening because eventually something should make sense. I hope.

“I don’t want any of this going wrong, Jared. Jerry needs to be nailed for this, and when he is we can bring his kid in for his crimes. While I understand you wanting to just off them, you know how I feel about it. The worst thing for them would be being locked in a box with no comfort or luxury.”

Oh, Wyatt, what are you involved in, babe?

“You still need to get this squared with Ellie, because, bro, you cannot stay here with everything up in the air. Jerry knows that something went wrong with the hit, and he’s moving some money around to make new arrangements. I spoke to my boy Case and word is, he’s putting out feelers for something more reliable. You need to get your girl home where she’s safe.”

“Dammit, Miah, what do you want me to do? I’m scared shitless she’ll leave me when she finds out, and why shouldn’t she? I mean—”

“None of it was your fault!”

“No? If I’d never laid eyes on her, if I hadn’t pulled away and actually went for it instead of being a coward and backing off. If, if… There’s no comfort in any of it.”

He sounds so sad and afraid, and despite the nerves bombarding me, I just can’t bring myself to get upset. For one thing, I don’t know what he’s blaming himself for, and for another, I know that whatever it is that’s bugging him, he’s probably looking at it from the wrong angle.

Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself right now because I don’t want anything to burst the bubble I’m floating in right now.

I hear a few mumbles before Wyatt speaks again.

“It’s that serious, huh?”

“Bro, if Ellie was my girl I’d have brought her home yesterday,” Miah growls.

“Fine. Get ready to head out. I’ll go talk to Ellie and pack us both up. For God’s sake, one of you call Ma and tell her not to pull out all the bells and whistles just yet. It would overwhelm Ellie, and after we talk, I don’t think she’ll be ready for that.”