Discovered

by E. D. Brady

  She stopped short and looked at him, feeling love and relief pour over her. “What did you say to him before we left?” she asked.

  “What?” Jay questioned, looking confused.

  “Before we walked out of that horrible room, you turned around and said something to Robert. What was it?”

  “Oh…I told him to burn in hell,” Jay answered. And then Layla slammed into him, nearly knocking him backward. She clung to him for dear life. “What?” he asked, chuckling.

  “Arturo!” she gushed. “I could listen to you speak Spanish for the rest of my life. It’s so beautiful.”

  He laughed and hugged her tight. “If you promised me the rest of your life, I wouldn’t dream of ever uttering a word in English again,” he answered.

  “Then you wouldn’t be doing a lot of talking,” she replied, pulling away from him, “because there’s only one thing I want to do to those lips when I hear Spanish falling from them.” She leaned in and kissed him forcefully.

  After many heavenly moments, he pulled away. “Mi amor, me gusta su forma de pensar,” he said.

  “I don’t even care if you just called me a fat, ugly beast,” she replied, laughing. “Say it again!”

  He shook his head and looked deep into her eyes. “Eres la chica más hermosa en el mundo.”

  “Whatever!” she blurted out, attacking his lips once more.

  He pushed her away gently and looked down at her. “Are you feeling better, mi amor?” he asked.

  She smiled sadly and nodded. “I’ll be fine,” she answered seriously. “And you sound like Ben when you say ‘mi amor’,” she added.

  “Ugh!” Jay yelped. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” she answered. “I love it.”

  “And…speak of the devil,” Jay blurted out, staring over her shoulder.

  Layla let go of his neck and turned around sharply to see Ben walking down the street slowly as though he was out for a stroll, his arm loosely over Issy’s shoulder.

  Issy put up her hand and waved.

  Joey walked beside them. He stopped short, crossed his arms over his chest and nodded approvingly at Jay.

  But if they were just out for a leisurely stroll, they weren’t dressed accordingly. All three were decked out in camouflage combat pants tucked into Doc Marin boots, with dark T-shirts under black leather jackets. These three looked like they meant business. Layla didn’t doubt for a second that between the various pockets on their outfits, they were armed to the back teeth.

  Jay walked sharply toward them. “Did I not tell you three to stay away from this?” he fumed.

  “Yeah, well, we’re your family, moron,” Joey replied. “We weren’t going to let you deal with this alone.”

  “And since when do we ever listen to you?” Ben added, shaking his head.

  “Besides, it’s after midnight,” Issy added. “Which means it’s officially Thanksgiving, and we have spent every Thanksgiving together since the thing started.”

  Jay shook his head disapprovingly. “Well, you’re late, anyway,” he informed them.

  “Oh, we would have been here ages ago, but a little birdy told us that you had things under control, so we slowed down, figured we’d let you impress your lady…y’know…play the hero,” Joey answered.

  Jay narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

  “We should get going,” Issy said awkwardly.

  “Um…” Ben mumbled. ““Rabidomente, mi amor,” he added and bit the inside of his cheek.

  “Oh, Arturo!” Joey gushed in a mocking voice and threw his arms around Ben’s shoulders. “I could listen to you speak Spanish for the rest of my life.”

  Layla stopped short and felt her face heat up.

  “Cut it out, you two,” Issy scolded.

  “Start talking,” Jay ordered, glaring at them both.

  “When you came into the living room just after Robert had kidnapped Layla, and you were all distraught and y’know, kicking over the furniture and stuff, well, I noticed you rubbing your back, and you had a strange look on your face for a split second. It kind of dawned on me that maybe you’d felt something back there, like maybe Robert had placed a bug on you. So I got to thinking that if he did, it shouldn’t take me more than an hour or two at the computer to find the signal. Then, if I found the signal, I figured I’d have no problems tapping into it,” Joey explained, beaming from ear to ear.

  “Clever,” Jay replied, nodding.

  “Not really,” Joey contradicted. “What kind of a guy would I be if I couldn’t read my best friend after five hundred years?”

  “Well, I suppose I owe you,” Jay said appreciatively.

  “Um….if you promise to owe me…” Joey said, smirking wickedly, “I wouldn’t dream of ever uttering a word in English again.” Then he and Ben fell about the place laughing and high-fiving each other.

  “Idiots!” Jay snapped, unlocking his car door with the remote keychain. “Come on, mi amor,” he added, grabbing Layla’s hand.

  “I’m sorry, Layla,” Ben shouted after her as she climbed into the passenger seat. “I’ll make you breakfast as a piece offering.”

  “Don’t bother, Ben,” Layla called out the car window. “I remember what a disaster that was the last time.”

  “Ignore them, Layla,” Jay yelled, walking to the driver’s side of the car, “I’ve been doing it for hundreds of years now.”

  A few minutes later, just as they approached the BQE, Jay picked his phone up from the little compartment beside his seat and hit the front. “Where can we get a pay-as-you-go-phone at this time of the night?” he asked.

  “I’ll meet you there,” he replied. “Okay thanks. Oh, and by the way, one more wise-crack from you or Joey and I’m going to start throwing punches.” He tapped the front of his phone and placed it back beside him.

  “Ben?” Layla asked.

  “Yeah,” Jay said with a smirk.

  “What did he say when you told him you’d punch him or Joey?”

  Jay sighed and rolled his eyes. “He basically busted his gut laughing.”

  “You’re really not the violent type, are you?” she asked.

  “Never with my brothers,” he replied. “I don’t think I’ve hit Ben since I was four years old. He knew it was an empty threat. But, that said, if anyone threatened one of the four people I love, I’d kill them without the slightest bit of remorse, as you’ve just unfortunately witnessed.”

  “It was self-defense,” Layla informed him. “We weren’t walking out of there alive. Robert told me that himself.”

  Jay nodded. “I know. I figured as much. He probably knew that if I handed over the water, I’d have enough money to track him down eventually.”

  “That’s what he thought,” Layla confirmed. “He was going to kill you, and then lure Ben, Joey and Issy to their deaths by claiming he had you held prisoner.”

  Jay nodded, staring straight ahead, his nostrils flaring briefly. “I can’t begin to tell you all the things that were running through my head as I watched them carry you off,” he said through clenched teeth. “I ran all the scenarios through my mind quickly and was bewildered as to what to do. It was a blessing that Robert placed that listening device on the back of my jacket. When I knew that he had, the plan came to me in an instant.”

  “How did you know?” she questioned.

  “As the scene kept playing over and over in my mind, I suddenly remembered the strange way he grabbed the back of my jacket,” he answered. “Without really giving it much thought, I knew I had to convince the others that I had every intention of handing Robert over what he wanted. I knew he was listening in.”

  “But you weren’t considering that?”

  “For you, I would, Layla, please believe that. But I knew that we weren’t going to survive the night that way anyway.”

  “I know,” she answered, gripping the top of his arm. “You took a big chance on the poison not killing us.”

  “We were as good as dead anyway,” Jay responded. />
  “What are we meeting them for?” she questioned.

  “We’re not,” Jay stated. “Ben will take care of it. He’s heading to Flushing now. There is a twenty-four hour, full service gas station on Northern Boulevard that sells pay-as-you-go phones.”

  “For…?”

  “He’s going to call the police and let them know where to find James’ body,” he answered solemnly, grabbing onto her hand. “We need to do that anonymously from a phone that can’t be traced back to us.”

  “That seems wrong,” she uttered, wiping a tear from her eye.

  “I know, but if your mother found out that you hadn’t been home this entire time, it would open a whole other can of worms. And besides, wasn’t he due in New York today anyway?”

  Layla nodded, rested her head against Jay’s shoulder and closed her eyes, exhaustion engulfing her. “Is this alright?” she questioned. “Can you drive like this?”

  “It’s so much better than alright,” he answered. “Try to sleep, Layla. We have over two hours of driving ahead of us.”

  Layla was not fully awake when she stretched out her legs and hugged the pillow to her face. ‘This isn’t right,’ she thought and forced her eyes open.

  The last thing she remembered was nodding off on Jay’s shoulder, somewhere on the Long Island Expressway.

  She sat up and threw her legs off the bed, still dressed in the same clothes she’d worn the day before.

  She pushed at her belly when the horrifying memory of James’ face, as a knife slid into his throat, flashed in her mind. ‘Please, God, no,’ she thought, hoping the scene was not going to play relentlessly like a video on loop, over and over.

  She walked down the stairs and into the kitchen to find Issy alone, standing at the counter spooning stuffing into a large turkey. She looked up and smiled at Layla then wiped her hands on a dishtowel and floated over to throw her arms around the girl. “Good morning,” she said, rubbing Layla’s back, “and happy Thanksgiving, my friend.”

  Layla hugged her back, grateful and flattered to be considered one of Issy’s friends. “Happy Thanksgiving to you also,” she murmured.

  “How did you sleep?” Issy asked, pulling away.

  “Well, but I don’t remember going to bed,” Layla replied.

  “You fell asleep in the car, apparently. Jay carried you upstairs when he arrived. He didn’t want to wake you. He figured you needed sleep after the traumatic night you’d had.”

  “The guys aren’t up yet?” Layla questioned.

  “Nah, they stayed up late, I think,” Issy responded. “Poor Jay was taking a razzing from Ben and Joey when I went to bed.”

  “Ugh!” Layla muttered, rolling her eyes.

  “It’s childish, I know,” Issy said. “But it’s just their way of expressing how delighted they are for him. They’re happy that he’s happy.”

  Just then, the man in question walked into the kitchen looking adorably disheveled in cut off sweats and a tight black T-shirt, his stubbly cheeks and chin giving him an irresistible air of danger. He sauntered up to Layla, took her hand and bent down to press his forehead to hers.

  “Happy Thanksgiving,” she said, staring into his dark eyes.

  “Um, yes, it is,” he replied. “The happiest one I can remember, and I can remember all of them.”

  “Old man,” Layla teased quietly.

  “Un anciano que ama,” he answered, gazing deep into her eyes. Layla melted on the spot, causing Jay to laugh; delighted by the effect he had on her. He turned to look at Issy. “How’s my beautiful sister this morning?” he questioned.

  “Wow, someone’s a happy camper,” Issy replied, throwing her arms around his back.

  Ben walked into the kitchen next. He walked over to Issy, picked her up by the hips and spun her around. “Happy Thanksgiving, beautiful,” he said, beaming. He carried her over to Jay and Layla and held out his fist for them to tap, one at a time.

  “I should go get dressed,” Layla said to no one in particular.

  “NO!” three people exclaimed in unison.

  Layla raised her eyebrows.

  “In this family, we eat Thanksgiving dinner in our jammies,” Ben stated.

  “Oh,” Layla huffed.

  “And Christmas dinner also,” Joey added, walking into the kitchen.

  “But I’m wearing the same clothes from yesterday,” Layla said.

  “Then I’ll give you a clean pair of p.j’s to change into,” Issy stated.

  By two o’clock, they were seated at the dining room table and ready to tuck into the feast that Issy had prepared.

  Layla was uneasy all morning and afternoon, dreading the unpleasant phone call she was expecting from her mother that didn’t come until four o’clock.

  “How is she?” Issy asked when Layla hung up.

  “She’s pretty upset and shaken up. I told her I’d take the seven o’clock flight to New York to be with her.”

  They spent the remainder of the day lounged out on the various couches watching a Star Wars marathon.

  Layla bided her time until she had to leave for the city, sprawled out on one couch with Jay, wrapped in his arms.

  “Can I get the keys to your apartment?” Jay asked Joey when it was almost time for Layla to leave.

  “Sure, but for what?” Joey asked.

  “I’m going to stay in Manhattan with Layla,” Jay explained. “To be there for her and her mother, help out any way I can.”

  “Thank you,” Layla whispered. She turned her attention to Joey. “You have an apartment in Manhattan? Where?” she questioned.

  “Park Avenue,” Joey answered.

  Layla rolled her eyes. “Of course it is. Where else would it be?”

  At eight thirty, Jay’s phone rang: a call from Rick to let him know that he had arrived with Lucia and was waiting for them at the large field.

  “I’ll drive you over,” Joey offered.

  Issy threw her arms around Layla once more. “I’ll see you in a couple of weeks. We’ll be down for Christmas,” she said.

  “I can’t wait,” Layla replied honestly. “We’ll have a sleepover at my house—a girly night.”

  Issy’s eyes lit up. “Really?” she gushed.

  Layla nodded. “I’ll call you in the meantime.”

  As Jay said good-bye to Issy, Ben hugged Layla tight. “Take care of my brother, okay?” he said.

  “I will,” Layla promised.

  “So, Jay, what are you going to do in North Carolina without us?” Ben asked.

  “I have an English project to work on,” Jay replied with a smirk.

  “How many college degrees do you have, and you’re willingly going to high school?” Ben questioned.

  Jay shrugged his shoulders.

  “What are you doing the report on?” Issy asked.

  Layla said, “Dante’s Inferno,” just as Jay answered, “Harry Potter.”

  “No way,” Layla laughed.

  “We’ll see,” Jay replied confidently.

  Joey was already waiting in the driver’s seat with the car revving as Layla and Jay entered. “Are you sure you won’t come with me?” Jay asked.

  “Nah, it’s six to one, half a dozen to the other, at this point,” Joey answered, driving slowly down the driveway.

  “What do you mean?” Layla questioned.

  “I can stay here and watch my sister and Ben make kissy faces at each other constantly, or head south and watch the two of you,” he replied.

  “We have to find you a girl,” Layla stated.

  “I like your friend Julie,” Joey exclaimed, smirking at Layla through the rear-view mirror.

  As Lucia came into view, Jay told Joey to stop the car.

  “I’ll drive you right over,” Joey said, confused.

  “No, stop here,” Jay requested.

  They took turns hugging Joey good-bye, then he got back in the car and drove off, leaving Jay and Layla waving after him.

  “What are you up to?” Layla asked, l
ooking straight ahead.

  “I have an idea, mi amor,” Jay stated.

  Layla turned and raised her eyebrows questioningly.

  “I’ve figured out the perfect way to end the debate about the English assignment.”

  “What is it?” she queried.

  Jay took her arm and coaxed her toward the green fence that surrounded the field, then, facing her, he put both hands on the tops of her arms and pushed her back up against it gently. “I’ll race you to Lucia,” he answered. “Whoever wins…” he trailed off, looking at her expectantly.

  “Oh, you’re on!” she blurted out.

  He stood shoulder to shoulder with her. “Are you ready?” he asked.

  She nodded enthusiastically.

  “Okay then,” he said. “On your mark…get set…go!”

  About the Author

  Originally from Forest Hills, New York, E. D. Brady is a wife and mother of two, living in a small town outside Raleigh, NC. Since childhood, she dreamt of writing stories and spent countless hours entertaining her friends by making up romantic tales for them. Giving up the Manhattan business world has allowed her the time to finally put pen to paper.

  E. D. Brady is also the author of the New Adult, Romantic Fantasy ‘The Vistira Trilogy.’

  Visit her at http://www.edbrady.net

  Remembered (The Vistira Trilogy: Book 1)

  Emily's past is a mystery. Left abandoned on the steps of a police precinct as a young girl, she is unaware of the love she left behind in another world. When she seeks hypnotherapy to deal with haunting dreams of a handsome stranger, she is thrown into memories of being kidnapped and almost murdered.

  Kellus's heart is torn apart by the strange and devastating disappearance of the only woman he would ever love. A secret kept from him as a child turns out to be the catalyst in a devious plot to control the world of Vistira. But first, the power-hungry Dinora, aided by the traitorous Lionel, needed to eliminate the one woman who could prevent them from bending Kellus to their will.

  With the help of their family, the young couple must find a way back to one another and end the threat posed by their enemies, not only for their own sakes, but also for the safety of their entire world.