“Well you can tell him that you spoke to me, and everything is under control,” Landen assured his brother.
“Would you like to tell me what’s going on?” Finn asked, giving Landen as smile as he leaned forward in his seat. “Who knows, maybe I might have a bright idea to help you, and her. I am a genius after all.”
Landen couldn’t help but laugh at his brother’s comment. He knew if he was going to trust anyone with Amelia’s secret, Finn was the only one he would. But he had promised Amelia he wouldn’t tell anyone who she was, and he really didn’t want to break that promise.
Also, Landen couldn’t help but believe the safest thing to do was to keep his family out of it as much as he possibly could.
“Landen,” Finn sighed as he held his brother’s gaze. “It’s me. You know there is nothing you could tell me that I wouldn’t keep to myself. You know you’re in over your head. I mean, you called Liam for goodness sake.”
“I promised her that she could trust me,” Landen replied giving his brother a sad smile. “If I tell you, how will she ever trust me again?”
“Why does she need to know?” Finn shrugged. “I mean, there is only you and me here. So who’s is going to tell her?”
“I guess you’re right,” Landen sighed, knowing that his brother was right.
“So, this is about the girl,” Finn repeated. “Kate wasn’t it?”
“Yep,” Landen nodded. “Only her name isn’t Kate, it’s Amelia, and she also needs my help. I just don’t know if I will be able to keep her safe like I told her I would.
“Why don’t you start at the beginning,” Finn replied, sitting back in his chair.
So, Landen told Finn everything that he knew about Amelia along with her situation. Finn listened to every word he said, never once offering his thought or opinion.
Even when Landen was finished talking, Finn didn’t speak for a moment.
“Okay, say something,” Landen said as he leaned forward in his seat.
“I don’t know what to say,” Finn sighed as he stood up and began to pace up and down as if he was thinking. “I mean, I can understand why you want to help her, but…”
“But?” Landen asked as he watched his brother carefully.
“This girl needs help,” Finn said as he finally stopped turning to look at Landen. “I mean real, proper help. Hiding her away isn’t the answer, and it isn’t right either. This Pete Reynolds is the problem, and he needs to be dealt with.”
“But how do I do that?” Landen asked, knowing his brother was right. “I mean, how can I make it so he can never get out of that place they have him in?”
“I have no idea,” Finn sighed as he walked back to the chair he had been sitting in, and stared at his brother. “But we need to find a way.”
“We?” Landen asked, giving his brother a question.
“You’re my brother, and you need help,” Finn replied. “I don’t know what I can really do to help you. But I will do whatever you need.”
“And what about Liam?” Landen asked knowing that Finn would have to tell Liam something.
“Well,” Finn replied with a sigh. “I think that if anyone could help, then it would be him. But until you tell me that it’s okay, I promise I won’t breathe a word.”
“Thanks, Finn,” Landen sighed, grateful for his brother's support.
“I do have one question,” Finn asked as he checked his watch and stood up. “Have you thought about what you’re going to tell Mom; because you know what she is like. She is going to see through whatever crap you try to feed her, and if Liam says anything to her or dad, you can be sure she is going to want answers.”
“I know,” Landen sighed, knowing that this whole situation was getting more and more complicated with each passing moment.
“Anyway,” Finn said, checking his watch once more. “I need to get back to class.”
“Thanks for coming all the way down here,” Landen said as he too stood up. “I’m sorry Liam dragged you into this, and I’m sorry I dragged you both into this too.”
“Hey, it’s what brothers do,” Finn replied with a smile. “It took me a long time to figure that out. I guess I never really felt part of the group, but I do now. Well, most of the time.”
“Finn,” Landen said as he gave his brother a smile. “You were always part of the group. But I’m sorry if you ever felt like you weren’t.”
“I know,” Finn replied, smiling once more. “I’ll call you later, Big Brother.”
“Okay,” Landen nodded before he watched his brother walk out the door, disappearing down the hallway.
Landen smiled to himself as he walked back to his desk. Maybe asking for help wasn’t the worst idea in the world. God knows he needed it.
“Landen,” Nikki said from the doorway, pulling Landen from his thoughts. “I knocked, but you didn’t hear me.”
“What’s up, Nikki,” Landen asked as he smiled up at his assistant.
“I heard back from my friend,” she said as she held up the file she was holding in her hand. “Have you got a minute?”
“Sure,” Landen replied, and from the look on Nikki’s face, he knew that whatever she found out, it wasn’t good news. She walked to his desk sitting down where Finn had been sitting moments earlier.
“So,” she said as she slid the file across the desk to Landen. “I was talking to Andrew, and this is all the information he had about Pete Reynolds. It’s not great.”
“Oh,” Landen said as he flipped open the file, quickly glossed over the information Nikki’s friend had sent them.
“It says he has been in and out of mental health facilities since he was eighteen,” Nikki explained trying to give Landen the main parts of the file. “He had a breakdown after his mother died, and he drove his car into a lake. When he was released, he got a job and even started dating a girl.”
“It says here that the girl was found dead in her apartment three weeks after they broke up,” Landen said, looking up from the file to Nikki.
“Yeah,” Nikki replied. “The coroner ruled her death a suicide, but there were some who believed that Pete might have been somehow involved. The girl had a friend who said that Pete didn’t take the breakup so well, and well, he hounded her to death, literally. After her death, he spent another few months at a different mental health facility. Then signed himself in again a year later when he was arrested for harassing some married woman.”
“Fuck,” Landen said as he read down through the file. “This guy is a fucking lunatic.”
“Yep,” Nikki replied.
“Why didn’t the police in New York or DC find any of this when Amelia went to them?” Landen asked as he closed the file and stood up. “What is the point of her going to them if they aren’t going to check into this asshole?”
“He was never charged with anything,” Nikki shrugged. “Every time they closed in on him, he would agree to seek medical help. And health records are private unless they get a warrant from a judge.”
“And without reason to look into his mental health,” Landen sighed knowing that the law was a complicated mess at times. “They let him go, so he was free to keep terrorizing her.”
“He is still locked up in a hospital in Chicago,” Nikki said looking Landen in the eye. “But if he can convince a doctor he is better; there is nothing stopping them from letting him walk.”
“Then I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure that never happens,” Landen said, feeling determined to stop him at all costs
Chapter 7
Amelia
It had been almost a week since Amelia moved in with Nikki, and while part of her still felt unsure that she had made the right decision, she found she actually loved living there.
Nikki was amazing, probably the funniest and sweetest girl Amelia had ever met. She found she could talk to her in ways she had never been able to talk to other girls before.
Amelia had always been quiet, and a little shy. For most of her life, it had jus
t been her and her dad. When she was growing up, she spent most of her days after school in the shop with her father.
She had made a few friends over the years, but Pete Reynolds had seen to it that she was now completely and utterly alone in the world. At least she used to be. Since she met Nikki and Landen, somehow Amelia felt a little less alone.
She had seen Landen a few times since she moved in with Nikki, but he called her every day to check in with her while Nikki was away at work. He also messaged her each night before he turned in for the night to check she was doing okay, and update her on any information he had, which was very little usually. Still, she liked to talk to him, she found she looked forward to his messages.
Amelia was a little nervous about starting work on Monday. Landen had told her that his brother found the perfect job for her, but she had no idea what that actually could be. She wasn’t really sure what she could possibly do in a multinational company, when her only experience was her years at medical school, also working in her father’s Pharmacy. She had worked at a couple of other jobs when she lived in New York and Chicago, but nothing that could be used in an investment company. She didn’t even know what an investment company did.
Landen had assured her that whatever Callum had planned for her, she would be amazing at, but she didn’t feel quite as confident.
She decided that she wasn’t going to worry about it that night. She had bigger plans.
It was Saturday, and Nikki had a date, so Amelia was planning a night in front of the TV, watching a girly movie, and she had a tub of Ben and Jerry’s and a bottle of wine with her name on it. All she needed now was to make a big bowl of popcorn.
“How do I look?” Nikki asked as she came rushing into the kitchen as the buzzer sounded in the hallway of their apartment. She was wearing a one-shouldered black sequenced dress, which left little to the imagination. Her long, slender legs looked fabulous, and she was wearing a pair of black Chanel stilettos. She looked sensational.
“Wow!” Amelia exclaimed, as she gave her a broad smile. “You look stunning.”
“Not too demure?” Nikki asked and raised her eyebrows.
“Definitely not demure,” Amelia replied with a laugh. “Your date isn’t going to know what hit him.”
“Perfect,” Nikki grinned before she picked her clutch up from the countertop. “Don’t wait up! I doubt I will be home tonight.”
“Well, have fun,” Amelia called after her, as she turned, disappearing down the hallway. A few moments later, Amelia heard the apartment door slam, and she knew she was alone.
She opened the microwave, putting the bag of popcorn in and switched it on for three minutes. They just began to pop, when Amelia heard a knock on the apartment door. As she rushed to the door, she knew that it was probably Nikki, she had forgotten her key. Nobody could get past the hulk of a doorman that was down in the foyer without being announced first.
“What did you forget?” Amelia asked as she opened the door, but she froze when she saw Landen standing there. Then slowly a smile filtered across her face, and Landen instantly smiled back.
“Nikki let me in the front door,” he said, then held up a bottle of wine. “I knew she was going out, and I thought maybe you might like some company.
“Sure,” Amelia said as she stepped back and let him into the apartment, but then she realised she was wearing her PJs and her hair was probably a mess. “Just give me a few minutes to change.”
“Why?” Landen said as he looked down at her and smiled. “You look beautiful.”
“I look a mess,” Amelia laughed as she self-consciously patted down her hair. “But thank you.”
“Will this help,” Landen said, kicking off his shoes, as he reached up and tossed his hair. “Now I’m a mess too.”
Amelia couldn’t help but laugh.
“Honestly,” Landen continued. “You really don’t need to get changed, not for me.”
“Okay,” Amelia replied giving him a smile just as the microwave pinged. “You’re just in time; the popcorn is ready.”
“Great,” Landen said as he followed her down the hallway to the kitchen. “You get the popcorn, and I will pour the wine.”
When they reached the kitchen, Landen went straight to the cupboard that the wine glasses were in, once more Amelia wondered if there was ever something between Landen and Nikki. He seemed so comfortable here in Nikki’s home, and she wondered just how much time he spent here.
She watched him for a moment as he reached into the utensil drawer and pulled out a corkscrew. When Landen looked up, and his eyes met Amelia’s, she could feel her face flush with embarrassment. She quickly busied herself with the popcorn, as she ripped open the bag and poured it into a large bowl. Then she walked to the freezer and pulled out her tub of Ben and Jerry’s.
“I only have the one tub,” she said as she turned and looked at Landen.
“No problem,” Landen laughed as he pulled open the drawer once more. “I have two spoons.”
“Perfect,” Amelia laughed as she picked up the popcorn and carried it to the living room, followed by Landen, carrying two glasses, and the bottle of wine.
“I almost forgot,” he said as he turned back to the kitchen, where he picked up the two spoons and slipped them into his pocket before he hurried after Amelia to the living room.
When he reached the living room, he set down the glasses and the bottle of wine before he pulled the spoons from his pocket. Landen gave Amelia as smile before he sat down on the sofa next to her.
“So,” he said as he leaned forward, and pour two glasses of wine. “What are we watching?”
“Well,” Amelia said with a smile, as she looked at Landen, knowing he probably wouldn’t be interested in the movie she had selected. “I was going to watch Steel Magnolias, but I don’t think it would be your kind of movie.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Landen said as he handed her a glass of wine. “It’s just about my all-time favourite movie. I love magnolias, and steel ones are my favourite.”
“You have no clue what I am talking about,” Amelia giggled as she looked at Landen. “Do you?”
“No,” he admitted with a grin. “But this is your party, so whatever you want to watch is fine with me.”
“Are you sure?” Amelia asked.
“I am,” he replied and smiled again.
“Okay,” Amelia replied, as she picked up the remote control, and started the movie before they both settled down to watch the movie.
This wasn’t the evening Amelia was expecting, but she was happy to have Landen there. She liked him, but she also liked the feeling of safety she had whenever he was around.
She took a sip from her glass of wine, trying to focus on the movie, and not on the fact that Landen was sitting next to her, sharing her ice-cream.
“I can’t believe she died,” Landen exclaimed two hours later when the movie ended. “Why would you watch a movie where one of the main characters die is such a sad way, leaving behind a little kid, it’s just heartbreaking.”
“But it’s life,” Amelia shrugged as she reached for her wine glass. “I’m curious about the human condition.”
“It made you cry!” Landen exclaimed with a laugh. “That to me is the strangest part of it.”
“It’s good to cry sometimes,” Amelia laughed. “It’s cathartic.”
“My mother says that too,” Landen replied laughing too. “And it always confused the hell out of my brothers and me. My dad would always say it was one of the things he liked best about her. The fact that she cried was a good thing; it proved she had a good heart.”
“I like that,” Amelia said before she took a sip of her wine. “The only time I ever saw my dad cry was the day I graduated high school. I made the honour roll, and I was Valedictorian. He said he wished my mom had been there to see that she had been right. I didn’t know what he meant, but he said that she told him the day I was born that I was going to be great. She said that one day, she would
sit in the front row of my graduation ceremony, and she would watch me giving my Valedictorian speech. She said I was destined for greatness.”
Amelia’s smile faded a little knowing that Pete Reynolds had ruined that for her now.
“What’s wrong?” Landen asked like he knew there was something she wasn’t saying.
“Nothing,” Amelia shrugged. “I just wonder what my dad would say if he saw me now. He was so proud of me the day I was accepted to medical school, but Pete has taken even that from me.”
“You could always go back,” Landen suggested. “He can only win if you let him.”
“I know,” Amelia said, forcing a smile. They were having a good evening, she didn’t want to spoil it with thoughts of Pete Reynolds. “So, tell me about your family. They sound fascinating.”
“They are pretty awesome,” Landen replied, and Amelia loved how his face lit up when he talked about his family. “My dad was a cop, and my mom is a lawyer like me. Or I am one like her. Anyway, I’m the eldest of five sons. After me there is Finn. He is a professor at Stanford. He’s a genius. He was actually the youngest ever professor at Stanford. He is nothing like the others, I’m probably the closest to him. After him, there’s Callum, who I have already told you about. He is the serious one, but he is still a good person. Then we have Liam and Dylan. They’re twins. Liam is a detective with the San Francisco Police Department, just like my dad was, and Dylan is a surgical intern at UCSF Medical Center.”
“Wow,” Amelia said, impressed by what Landen had told her. “I’m sure both your parents must be very proud of you all.”
“They are,” Landen nodded, but then added with a smile. “But I think they would have been proud of us no matter what we did. My mom used to say that as long as we were happy, then she was happy too. My dad was the same, but I think he was secretly happy that one of us followed in his footsteps and joined the police force. All his brothers and my grandfather were all police officers too. So at least the tradition lived on.”
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