We all hear the car pull up and about trip each other getting to the door. All except for Colby and Tyler. Okay, so I guess it is just the three of us racing to get to the same place. Brielle beats all of us. I think she fucking cleared the back of the couch with three feet to spare. I see her smile drop as she throws the door open.
“Where is Dustin?” I hear her ask. What? He should be with Mitch and Max.
Mitch comes up to the door, and I try to push past Brielle to get to Max, and check out the situation myself. Max shakes his head at me and steps around Mitch. “Hey, can we come in and talk?”
Colby comes up behind us and gently moves Brielle out of the way to let them in. We are on edge not knowing what is going on, and as much as we don’t want to, we are all thinking the worst. Surely if he decided to stay, Max would have told me earlier, and if he was hurt I know we would have already known. I can’t believe in my heart he would choose to stay with my parents.
“Dustin didn’t come back with us,” Mitch says plainly.
“Really? What was my first clue? Oh the fact that my brother isn’t standing in my fucking living room right now. Captain Fucking Obvious.” Oh God, Brielle is going off. I am thinking she should have hung those crosses and pictures of Jesus on her wall. If Mitch keeps talking he is going to need some looking after and protection from someone or something other than his gun. I don’t think a bullet would stop Brielle. As a matter of fact, I think that bitch would be the one popping a cap in his ass. The daily devotional Addison mentioned might work when we go visit her in prison. We can all pray together. The family that prays together stays together . . . right?
“Pipe the fuck down, Brielle, and let him explain.” Addison says. Tyler is looking between them, and I am pretty sure he is routing his escape. Colby reaches over and tries to pull her to him, but she is laser focused on Mitch now; with her glare, I am surprised he hasn’t incinerated on the spot.
“Thanks, Addison,” Mitch tells her. Max looks uncomfortable, and I just want answers.
I decide to wade in this shit storm. “Alright Mitch, get crack-a-lackin’ and explain what is going on.”
“He met a girl. Not just any girl, Brent’s daughter.” Brielle gasps, Colby is shaking his head, and Max is watching me. “She actually is the one who brought this case to an end. There is nothing good or normal about her life. Today is her eighteenth birthday, and it was also the first time in sixteen years she has been outside his doors.” He pauses, and I don’t know if it is for all of us to take in what he has said, or if it is to compose himself. “It was a bad situation for her, her past, and what he had planned for her. Dustin has gotten close to her, and she is now Brent’s main target. We were going to put her in protective custody . . . “
“You were going to lock her up when she has been a prisoner her whole life?” I couldn’t help my outburst.
Mitch just barely smiles at me. “Funny, that is the same reaction your brother had.”
“Why couldn’t you bring her here?” Addison questions.
Mitch is getting tired of being interrupted. “If you would all pipe the fuck down I can tell you, then when the story is over, that is when normal people ask questions.” Oh he is testy. “We couldn’t bring her here. She needs to be protected and bringing her here, brings the threat of him here, and think about it. You have young kids here, and you know he has no limits to what he will do. He still has some reach, and I couldn’t risk that being brought here. When Dustin made it very clear he wasn’t leaving her, no matter what, I worked out a safe house, untraceable to anyone, and they are there.”
“Where?” Brielle is pissed.
“I can’t tell you, I am sorry.” And you can tell he really is. “He wrote you a letter, but until Brent’s trial date, he is basically underground. No communication, nothing.”
“How dare you make that decision? How is he going to survive? He is a minor.” Brielle isn’t going to let him explain, and she isn’t going to be controllable much longer. I am not sure if this is going to be a few songs on her iPod with earphones breakdown, or a full-blown music-athon blaring through her speakers in the house. I am thinking the latter.
“Brielle, he gave me no options. He was going to go to your dad and emancipate himself. If I just let him go off without help, they would have ended up dead. Both of them. You didn’t see him with her. I promise you I tried everything I could, short of cuffing him and forcing him back here. If I would have done that, he would have never forgiven himself if something happened to her, and I don’t know if you could save him after that. I gave him money and a safe place.”
“What about you? What was your part in it?” She is addressing Max, now. Shit, I need to know the truth.
He never breaks his gaze from me. “I didn’t agree. I understand, but didn’t want to be a part of it, and I told Mitch that. I don’t even know where he is, and I won’t unless I need to.” He made that decision for me, for us. I feel a few more bricks around my heart crumble. He is taking up permanent residence in there.
“Get out,” Brielle tells Mitch. He looks crushed. I understand why he did it, I don’t like it, and I wish things were different, but he really didn’t see any other way. Stubborn kind of runs through our DNA, and I am sure Dustin didn’t give an inch.
“Does he love her?” I ask. Mitch looks at me, and his eyes are glistening with moisture.
“I think so. When you meet her, you will see you can’t help but love her.” He is wearing a small smile, and I again get this feeling of familiarity.
“Get out.” Damn, Brielle.
“Stop! Quit blaming him for Dustin’s choices. You always do that, B. There isn’t a clear-cut path here, but he tried. He did what any of us would do, protected Dustin.” Addison can be so smart. Instead of screaming at Mitch again, Brielle turns and heads down to her basement.
“I am sorry. I tried everything,” Mitch tells us, head down and so lost.
“Hey, you did the best you could. Brielle is her own kind of special, and don’t let her get to you,” Addison says.
“She will never forgive me.”
I walk up and put my arms around him, “There is nothing to forgive. You put his safety above everything. That is what matters now.”
“Pussy. You will do anything for pussy. If God would have hung that shit from a tree, things would be a lot less crazy.” We all start laughing. Addison and I laugh the hardest. Leave it to Tyler to break the tension.
“Going to go home to my wife. If you need anything call me.” He takes a letter out of his pocket and hands it to Addison.
“Tell Kayleigh I miss her and to return a call every now and then.” Tyler and Colby give the man-hug-back-pat-thing and Mitch leaves. Addison looks at me. “I will give you a minute, then we need to go deal with the crazy sister and this letter. I am letting Colby go down first. Let us know when the coast is clear.”
“Thanks,” Colby mutters, but like a good little husband, he goes down after his demented-ass wife.
I walk outside with Max. “This isn’t how I expected your welcome home to go.”
“Hmmm, that sounds promising. Want to share how you planned it?” I could get lost in his voice.
“Nope, will have to demonstrate it later.”
“I am off all weekend. You stay with me.” I wasn’t expecting that. He senses me hesitating. “You have spent the night before, and did I push you past your boundaries?” No, he didn’t.
“Okay, but I don’t do laundry.”
“Smart ass,” he says before kissing me goodnight. And what a kiss.
I make my way inside, and Addison is waiting at the stairs. “Ready?”
“Are we ever ready for her?” She chuckles at me, knowing it is true. You can’t prepare for Brielle. Ever.
I don’t hear music blaring, and that is bad. If she isn’t listening to music, she isn’t trying to settle herself down.
“I have the letter Dustin wrote,” Addison fills her in.
Brielle looks o
ur way, and her face is red and puffy. She is hurting so bad right now, and all joking aside, this is tearing her up. Out of all of us, she needs Dustin the most. Both Addison and I take a place on each side of her, and Colby and Tyler head upstairs to listen for the kids and give us space.
She opens the letter hesitantly, and another sob escapes her as she sees his handwriting. I know he is safe, but she is missing him, and things have been strained for a while.
Addison,
I miss you. Out of everyone, you will understand why I did this. Remember the moment you saw Tyler. When you told that story over and over, I thought I would hurl. Now that I have experienced it, I see the beauty in your story. You give me hope. Take care of Shiloh and Cheyenne, and please give Brielle a hug.
Love,
Dustin
C-
I am sorry he got to you. I was doing what I thought would protect you and Brielle. I feel like I failed, but I can’t fail this time. I got her in this mess, and I need to stay with her until she can be free. She doesn’t even understand the meaning of that. Don’t ever forget sis, we had a hell of a childhood, and give Addy and B a huge hug for me. See you soon,
Love you,
D
Brielle,
I know it is you, sitting there beating yourself and everyone around you up. Don’t, that is not why I did this. I am doing it in a way for you, because of you. You had someone to come to your rescue, someone to save you. Teryn didn’t. I am the first person to come into her life that is good, and I want to do for her what Granddad did for you. If I turned my back and walked away from her, I wouldn’t be able to look myself in the mirror every day, and I don’t think you would have been able to either. Be proud of me, for once in a long while, I am doing the right thing, the unselfish thing. I can’t wait to get home to you, and CJ, gotta teach him my skills . . . on the soccer field. I miss you and love you- please be proud of me, and don’t take it out on Mitch. I didn’t give him a choice . . . sound familiar?
Love you with all my heart,
Dustin
God, that boy could make my blood boil and heart melt. I look at Brielle, and tease her. “Hey, he told you her name. Favorite.”
She gives me a genuine smile. “Yes I am.” She reads her letter again. “Her name is Teryn. Oh God, I hope I like her because if not and I have to be a bitch, he may hate me forever.” We all start laughing and have a bonding hug.
Brielle goes to the stereo . . . of course. Blake Shelton starts singing “Home,” and I listen to her sing for the first time in a long time. A feeling of peace settles in, and I actually feel the end of our nightmare has come. It feels good.
Chapter 27
Max
November 2018-Thanksgiving
A blissful month. I never thought that could happen. Kayleigh is about to pop that kid out, and Mitch is a disaster. Addison, Brielle, and Cambree are doing well with the Dustin situation: their parents have wisely not reached out to them. Brielle isn’t actively thinking of ways to kill Mitch anymore. Colby is keeping his cool with the fact Cambree and I are in a relationship. Tyler is trying to talk Addison into another baby, and bragging about his efforts . . . those two are freaks. The most blissful of all . . . I have my girl. And I have blue balls from her fucking boundaries. Rosy palm and her five friends are about worn out, and I have calluses on my hands. Both of them.
The only blemish in this whole month is the trial date. Brent has a top-notch lawyer paid for by Franklin Parker himself. We know he has no clue where Dustin and Teryn are, and his contacts are about dry. He has no more reach. Yet, somehow he keeps getting extensions on pre-trial dates, and evidence is being examined repeatedly. Another stall tactic his legal team is using.
My ma and dad are coming into town, and the whole clan is eating together. That took some maneuvering, but Cambree stuck to her guns with Brielle. She told her if she couldn’t have everyone here and be polite, then Cambree would just spend it with me and my family. Don’t fuck with Brielle’s family holidays. If you do she will give in. We are all supposed to meet at Brielle’s around noon. After we eat, my parents fly back home this evening, and if I have my way, Cambree will be in my bed, and we won’t be sleeping.
I know they are all wishing for contact from Dustin today, and I keep telling Cambree it can’t happen yet. While things are safer, nothing is fool proof, so we still have the no-contact order in place. Once he actually gets into federal custody, things can change. Ma is thrilled with Cambree, and I was a little nervous for them to meet, but they took right to each other. I was afraid my mom wouldn’t be able to look at Cambree without feeling like she was looking at Hope, but if anything, that made my mom cling to her more.
I am the first to arrive, and I want to steal some time with Cambree. I can’t wait for everything to be out in the open. I have some things I want to say to her, but I won’t put all of me out there until I can give her all of me with no secrets or doubts between us. She broke ground on her house a few weeks ago, and it is coming along nicely. She put everything in it that she wanted, but when she added an extra garage on the back of her property line, I questioned her. I didn’t want to get my hopes up it was for me and my love of tinkering with cars. She gave me no words, but her eyes said it all.
The house is in full chaos. Addison is at her usual spot in the kitchen, the barstool farthest away from any of the food. All the other women are busy chopping, basting, mixing, and talking. Riley and CJ are downstairs playing, Cheyenne and Shiloh are in Tyler’s arms, which is their normal spot. Colby is sitting next to Addison enjoying the scenery, and I spot my girl bent over the oven putting something in. I walk up behind her and smack her ass. She shrieks and spins around. “God, you are such an ass.” She laughs at me as she comes up on her toes and kisses me. I will never get tired of her greeting me like that, name calling and all.
My parents, Mitch, and Kayleigh arrive shortly, and while still stand-offish, Kayleigh is trying to appear normal with Addison. She looks miserable, not just about her relationship with Addison, but in general. Everybody makes his or her way to the table and after saying a prayer we dig in. Conversation flows, there is no stabbing with utensils, and no food thrown. I think that is a record with this clan. After dinner is cleared and cleaned, I sneak up to Cambree, “Do you have your things to stay over tonight?”
“In my car, Casanova. You don’t have to whisper about it. My sisters know I sleep over.”
‘Hoping there will be no sleeping tonight,” I tell her honestly.
“Then your wish is about to come true.” She smiles at me and walks away, shaking her ass on purpose. Mitch and Kayleigh are taking my parents to the airport, and we all walk them outside. Once they leave, I can convince Cambree to make it an early night. No way will I be able to sit around her knowing what she just promised me.
Almost at the door to the car, Kayleigh lets out a scream and doubles over. Mitch and Addison both are at her sides in a heartbeat. I hear Mitch mutter, “Shit,” just as I notice the puddle of water on the ground in between her legs. Looks like I am going to be an uncle. It is a frenzy, but finally we all get to the hospital. Amelia and Colby stay back with the kids. After what seems like hours, Cambree asleep on my lap, Mitch walks out, beaming. I shake Camy awake, and we all rush to him.
“Boy. Lukas John Baird. Eleven pounds even. Kayleigh isn’t really speaking to me right now.” Holy shit, eleven pounds. He points us in the direction of the nursery, and we all rush there. He is beautiful, and everyone says so. Thank goodness my parents were here to see this. He is the spitting image of Mitch except his hair is lighter, almost the same color of Cambree’s. Those Parker genes are dominant. Addison and my parents go to see Kayleigh. I peek in really quickly, but I can see she is exhausted. It is three o’clock in the morning. I don’t blame her.
I lead Cambree to my car, and she is dead on her feet. I am not too far behind her. Looks like it will be sleeping again tonight. Once she is curled up into me I find I have no problem falling
asleep. Waking up next to her is even better. I try not to wake her as I get out of bed and head to the kitchen. Breakfast in bed is what my girl is getting.
I am so distracted making breakfast I guess I didn’t hear the shower go on. I see her in my peripheral vision walk into the kitchen. “I was making you breakfast in bed,” I tell her casually, not looking at her.
“I had other uses for the bed this morning.”
I turn and look at her, and suddenly it feels like my tongue is ten sizes too big for my mouth, because I can’t swallow, and my mouth is dry. She is a vision standing in front of me in a yellow lacy camisole and matching tiny panties. I turn off the oven and stove and stalk towards her. “Beautiful,” I tell her as I already have my mouth on her. She tastes so damn sweet, and I am already hard as a rock. I think that is a permanent condition when she is around. I bite down on her lip, and she moans into my mouth. I kiss down her jaw and neck to her collarbone. I lick and taste her skin and am rewarded again by her deep moan and shivering in my arms. Her hands have started roaming across my bare chest, and one slips into the waistband of my boxers.
Grabbing her hand, I push her back and growl, “Bed, now.”
She steps back towards me and kisses my chest. “Bossy.”
“I can eat you here, but you would be much more comfortable in my bed. Now.” She doesn’t hesitate at all as she turns around, grabs my hand, and pulls me towards my room.
Things get heated quickly with groping, pulling off clothes, biting, and licking. I finally get her stripped and push her on the bed. I don’t even give her a chance to settle before I grab her legs and shove them apart and bury my face between her legs. Her taste is as sweet as I remember. It is addictive, and I feast until I feel her come against my tongue. Not done with her, I continue licking and sucking, building her up again. I know it has been awhile for her, so I add my fingers to stretch her.
Parker Sibling Series Box Set Page 46
