“I think it’s great he heard you out,” Kyle said softly. “That alone means you have a shot. If he’s not interested, he says so up front.”
“If Beckett wasn’t involved, it would have been a raging success.” Cole leaned down and kissed JB’s head.
“I’m sorry.” She turned to look him in the eyes.
“Don’t be. I get where he’s coming from, but I refuse to edge Beckett out of this. I know he’d step aside in a hot minute, but I want him to feel the movement of us as a brotherhood. You know there are times when he puts Blake and me on a pedestal he doesn’t think he should share.”
“I agree. He totally treats himself like a weapon for your destiny—that kind of bullshit.” Kyle sat up and turned to look at her husband and son.
“Yeah, that’s a good way of putting it.” Cole nodded. “I want him to be equal in this, not just behind the scenes. He’s doing so much good nowadays. I want that rewarded.” Cole started to scooch off the bed.
Kyle skipped ahead and readied the crib in JB’s room. They worked together to get him transferred to the mattress and adjust all the things to his liking: the fan turned on, the soft blanket over his feet. Cole took all the stuffed animals out of the crib where Kyle had put them earlier. They tiptoed out to the hallway and down the stairs to where they could see the monitor.
“That is one spoiled baby,” Kyle said as she hopped up on the kitchen counter. “You know I’ve watched Livia vacuum with one hand and hold a sleeping Kellan with the other.”
“You want a water?” Cole dug into the fridge and returned with two bottles when she nodded.
“That’s the second kid for you. I bet we’ll be more calm with our next one, too.” She smiled.
He opened her water and handed it to her. “Second? You ready to adopt again?”
“Not exactly.” She touched her stomach.
“What?” He set down the water and put his hands around hers.
She whispered then. “This morning. I’m only a day late, but my schedule was off…”
“Are you telling me you’re pregnant?” Cole’s mouth opened in disbelief.
“According to the test I am. Barely. And I don’t want to get all excited like last time—as best we can.” She watched as he did the math.
“JB will be…”
“Sixteen months,” they said together.
“If, and that’s a huge if,” Kyle warned. “We know our track record. And if this one isn’t meant to be, I want to figure out a way to stop the whole process from happening over and over again. I feel like JB makes it a bit easier to take, but still.”
“We’ll do whatever you want,” Cole said. “And if we’re meant to have this one, we’ll be very busy.” He leaned in to kiss her.
“Let’s just try not to focus on it. I’ll do all the normal stuff, but I want to just…be. Like, I don’t want to tell anyone until I’m showing.” She twisted her bottle top on and off nervously.
“It’s okay. I get it. And whatever happens, we’ll take it as it comes,” Cole promised. “I love you. I love JB. And he and I will always be here for you.” He hugged her to his chest, and Kyle smiled, excitement rising in spite of herself.
The rest of the summer passed beautifully, and almost every weekend either Cole or Blake manned the barbecue. The tradition became setting up a tent, catching fireflies, and roasting marshmallows on the fire. Sometimes there were huddles around Cole’s iPad as everyone added ideas for Brother’s Legacy and what it could be, and Livia offered a few names of potential staff members. Eve was at first reluctant to come to these gatherings, but soon enough she began to join them, kicking back with a glass of wine and her feet in Beckett’s lap. And when she finally wore her rings, Livia, Kyle, and Emme fussed over them.
Beckett made time to get his branded scar from Vitullo tatted over, and then of course Blake and Cole got matching protection charm tattoos as well. (Beckett figured a little extra protection couldn’t hurt any of them.) New man in town Hayden had to take the place of Chaos as the artist, because the latter was doing well with Chery and Vere in Maryland, and no one wanted to travel that far for the work. Further adding to Beckett’s joy, Ryan Morales had backed the fuck up off of Eve a few months back. After he’d told her he needed some time, some space to breathe (which mainly seemed to mean he stopped just dropping by), Eve got an excited phone call from Midian. The cop had asked her out, and from the squealing Beckett had heard through the phone, Midian thought the guy was a catch. Cheers to her.
Of course fall came before anyone was ready. Blake and Livia began preparing Emme for the wonders of first grade, and Cole readied himself to offer endless patience and compassion to the troubled kids he knew he’d find in his class. Every day Kyle’s secret grew a little bigger and more possible under her baggy shirts, and though Beckett’s search for Nicholas continued to return very little, Eve’s smile came out to play a bit more each weekend, and they learned to focus their attention on the things they could change: the people they could house, the troubled souls they could offer a different path.
As September began, Beckett announced—to anyone who would listen—that it had been the best summer of his life.
23
Air
Alison rubbed her large belly dry. The sonogram had required a sticky jelly.
The doctor seemed pleased as usual. “Development is spot on,” he told her. “You’re doing great work.”
She smiled and resisted rolling her eyes. The most important thing she had to do was make sure the people around her thought she was amenable to this situation. After her appointments, she would go on and on about the miracle of birth to whomever was sitting with her that day—the nurse, the doctor, or the worst, Nicholas.
Today the doctor was going to hang around and run some blood tests—yet again. The man was truly obsessed. He excused himself from the room to make a phone call before they began, and as soon as he shut the door, she was up and had her hand cupped, closing her eyes to listen as best she could.
“Yes, sir. The twins are healthy. Yes. Of course.”
The doctor paused and listened. “Well, these are your children as well, and in just three more months they’ll be yours to hold. The girl is calm and seems almost happy. I think she’s just happy to be pregnant. Of course. I’ll send you the sonograms now. And a picture of her belly. Great. I’ll be in touch.”
Alison scurried over to the sonogram pictures, touching one for added effect. “So do we know?” She tried her best to look pleased as the doctor returned to the room.
“The genders?” After taking the pictures from her, the doctor used the back of his pen to point. “Fetus A is clearly a girl, and her…brother looks great as well.”
“One of each. Flint will be so pleased.” She watched his face when she said Flint’s name.
The doctor sucked in his bottom lip and nodded—his tell for lying. He only did it when she asked something that compromised his sense of professionalism.
Then she hit him with her request while he felt guilty. “I’d love to go for a walk today.”
“Well, Nicholas will be here soon. I don’t want to make him wait.” The doctor pulled out a camera and motioned for her to reveal her stomach again.
She turned to show him her profile and chomped down on her revulsion. Son of a bitch made her feel like a science project.
“It’s better for the babies if I get exercise in fresh air,” she added.
He nodded after he’d checked the pictures. “Okay. Get your shoes on, but I need to draw your blood as soon as we get back.”
She tried not to whoop. The doctor was the only one who took her out. The nurse was too scared, and Nicholas was a creep. She got ready quickly, braiding her hair behind her.
“All right, missy, let’s go. You know the rules: no running or yelling.” He smiled and held the door.
Her hope soared. “Of course.”
These strolls allowed her to see the house from the outside. It was remote. Super remote. But on
the last walk she’d thought she heard a bit of traffic in the backyard, way off by the trees.
She took a deep breath and sped up a bit. It felt amazing to be out of that god-forsaken room. She could finally think clearly.
It had been nearly nine months since she’d been taken. Time was easy to keep track of with the close monitoring of the twins. Like a puzzle, she gathered pieces and tried to make them fit. As far as she could tell she was the only pregnant woman they were monitoring, and she was fairly certain she was alone in the house with her captors.
She had a deep sense that the babies in her belly were not related to her or Flint at all. It was the way the nurse acted, and the way the doctor had pontificated about all of his science. Plus, they never referred to her as the twins’ mother. It almost seemed ingrained in them. Little bits of conversation and information she’d earned with her compliance and silence painted a fairly clear picture.
Fall was coming. She saw a few early leaves littering the dry ground of the side lawn. She listened for vehicles again, tuning out the doctor’s voice as he went on about the beauty of the changing seasons. The steady white noise of a road close by was definitely there. She hadn’t imagined it. When she escaped, she would run this way, straight through the woods as the crow flies.
After escaping, she didn’t have any plans. The babies she carried meant a great deal to someone—someone evil. And they were her only protection. As soon as they could safely live outside her womb, she was as good as dead.
She surveyed the landscape once again: a slight hill, a small bump, and then woods. The back door looked like it had seen little use, and it might stay stuck shut if she tried to open it in a rush. It would be a plan B or C escape route at best. There was no garage, and her bedroom was on the second story.
“Why do I feel like you’re not listening, Alison?” The doctor stopped walking.
“Sorry. I just get overwhelmed at being outside. I miss it. You were saying?” She nodded and continued their walk.
“I was telling you that with multiples, we have to really make sure our lines of communications are open. You have to tell me if you have any cramps, bleeding, or pains. This will be a delicate time.”
He grabbed her arm quickly when she faked a stumble. He was an older man, but still had good reflexes. She had to escape when the doctor was in charge.
“Careful,” he admonished. “It’s time to go back inside.” He kept his hand firmly on her arm as he guided her back to the front door.
Just then Nicholas pulled up in the long driveway too quickly. He was out of the car in an instant, barely having taken the time to stop the engine. “You have her out?”
“It’s good for her and the babies.” The doctor looked pale. “Please don’t tell him. I’m really just trying to keep her healthy.”
“Get your things and leave.” His accent was clipped.
Alison hated when Nicholas had his eyes on her. He was a predator. Her motherly instinct made her want to cuddle her belly. She stood still, scarcely breathing as she waited, savoring the last moments of fresh air on her skin. The doctor was up and out in less than five minutes with not a parting a word, the blood tests forgotten.
“You’re obviously interested in seeing the old doctor part ways with his head.” Nicholas pointed to the door.
“I wanted to walk, not hurt anyone.” She wanted to slap the smug look off his face.
As she walked up the stairs to her room, she wished he wasn’t right behind her. As soon as the door to her room closed behind them, he pulled her by her neck against his chest. A surprised gasp passed from her lips.
The knife flashed before her quickly and was under her throat. “You will not ask that old man to take you out of here again. Do you understand?”
She kept trying to make a noise, but failed. He was aroused. With a knife to her throat he was sexual. It was sickening.
“As soon as you’re done with these babies, you’re mine. And don’t think for a second I won’t cut them out of you. I practiced on a few creatures growing up. I know how to do it.”
Nicholas was the kind of human that made her believe in the devil. He moved the knife lower, outlining her breast with it before holding it to her stomach.
She played the only card she had. Her Oscar-worthy cry of pain would alert a neighbor if they had any. “I’m cramping! Jesus. I’m having a contraction. I know it.”
He let her go and pointed at her while slipping the knife back into the holster he had at his hip. “You’re lying.”
“No, I think my water is breaking.” She went to her knees and reached between her legs. “Oh, God. They’re coming!”
Her hand was bone dry, but he was already on his phone, barking for the doctor to turn around and come back.
Fifteen minutes later, Nicholas stood at the foot of the bed while the doctor examined her. She waited to hear him confirm that she was indeed a liar.
“How’d you get that laceration?” The doctor pointed to her neck.
“Nicholas was threatening to kill me.” She writhed a bit on the bed.
The doctor looked her in the eyes before he bit his bottom lip. “She’s having early-term labor. Call the nurse. I’m hoping it will pass if we put her on fluids and keep her very still.”
She almost cried with relief when she realized what he’d done.
The doctor stood, and although he was shorter than Nicholas, he presented his opinion with a regal demeanor. “Stress-induced early labor. You better pray to God that we’re able to get this under control. Are you an animal, sir? Did it ever occur to you that putting a knife to her neck would endanger the babies? I’m going to have to call Vitullo myself and tell him we need a new caretaker.” The doctor went for his phone.
The knife was out immediately. “You’ll do no such thing. This is my detail. I can find your family in Belgium, don’t you worry.”
Alison began to moan and toss in the bed. “The babies. The babies. I think you better take me to the hospital. We need an NICU. Doctor, can they even make it this soon?”
“No, I’m sorry. They will likely not be viable at this stage.” The doctor bit his lip again, slightly, as he spoke. “Our best bet is to keep you here. And keep you calm.”
Nicholas snarled before putting the knife away, like a guard dog denied a steak. “I’ll get the nurse.” He stomped out of the room.
Alison met the doctor’s eyes. He shook his head no. No, they shouldn’t talk about the lie they’d entered into together.
She might have an ally after all.
Beckett surveyed the progress on the restoration of the school. The red tape involved with getting to this moment had been hilarious—ridiculously frustrating, but hilarious. There were meetings, zoning laws, certificates applied for. There were times Beckett had really doubted it would happen. And yet it was.
For two weeks now his crew had been had at work, tearing down anything that wouldn’t work with the new design. Everything had to be up to code and fresh and clean. It would take a while.
Cole was there after school as usual, blueprint rolled out on a sawhorse while he spoke to Rocky. Beckett waved as he left, confident the two would continue to work well together. Both were quiet, powerful forces. Both of them set on the same goal had to equal success.
On his way home, he drove past a few of the houses they’d renovated and rented. The first stop was one of his favorites. Blake had known a couple who’d both lost their jobs and had three kids to support. The house was in a great school district, the neighborhood chock full of other kids. And after he’d gifted the kids a trampoline, their yard was instantly the best place on the block.
He waved to the mom, who sat on her porch watching the jumping beans throwing themselves around. She knew his cell and could call if she needed help. Right now, while the kids were in school she worked at the laundromat Beckett had purchased during the day, and her husband put in the afternoons and one late night a week. They paid one hundred dollars a month in rent, and E
ve tripled the money and socked it away in a college fund for the kids.
The second renovated house Beckett passed was home for two male roommates. They’d met in rehab and seemed to be good for each other. Right now they were completing their landscaping, with the hopes of moving on to more landscaping projects together. Hard, manual work was what they needed.
The last item of business was at a house not owned by Beckett. Yet it still seemed to be a bit of a project. A few months back he’d had Eve drop by to talk with the homeowner about the treatment of a dog in the yard, which had been chained to a tree for most of its life. They’d had a very enlightening conversation. And since then, all his previous drive-bys had been good. The dog liked to lie on the back of the couch in the living room, so Beckett could see he was inside and happy.
But tonight the dog was out on a chain again. Beckett pulled into the drive and was half out of the car when the homeowner came running out the side door.
“I’m so sorry! My new girlfriend is allergic to the dog. I had to put him somewhere.”
Beckett just stood there shaking his head.
“No? No to the girlfriend?” The man unclipped the dog, who jumped around happily. He lifted his eyebrows. “What if the dog’s only out when she’s here, and I’ll make sure she only stays a few hours at a time?”
Beckett cracked his neck one way, then the other.
“I’ll break up with her. Right.” He pulled out his phone and told his girlfriend he was done.
Beckett headed back to his car.
“I’m sorry!” the man called. “I’ll never have sex again. Just me and the dog. We’re best friends. Please don’t send that blond woman back over!” He rushed the dog inside.
If only all Beckett’s issues could be solved that quickly. Next he drove over to the house where Spider was staying, because he supposedly had an update. Beckett parked on the lawn because fuck driveways and opened the door without knocking. Spider was at his computer.
“Whatcha got for me?” Beckett asked.
Spider looked up briefly, unfazed by Beckett’s entrance. “Well, I accessed another batch of Nicholas footage—this one more recent than Dr. Hartt but stored in a totally different location. I think they must have reorganized their servers after the fire and maybe since some of their staff was leaving and—”