“That’s great, Carmen. Come on, let us look at the kid. I think he is one of the kids from my gym who is in the wind.” We only had to wait a minute for her to push the door back open and let us walk in. Carmen was one of the girls from my neighborhood, she’d grown up with me and Tony.
I walked straight to the bed and looked down at the boy and my gut was right, Brant. He had a bandage around his head, his face was bruised, and one eye was swollen from what I could see of him.
“When did he come in, Carmen?” Tony asked.
“Anthony Roark, good to see you too, wish it was under better circumstances,” Carmen said then gave us the rundown, “He was brought in this morning by the police. They told us they were driving down Morrison when a homeless man waved them down and pointed to the alley. The guy was hunting for cans to collect and turn in for cash when he came upon the body lying under a few tossed out trash bags. He didn’t touch the body because he thought the guy was dead. The cops said they moved the bags and it was the young man and it looked like someone had put a beat down on him. When they checked, he was breathing and they called in for an ambulance.
“I wasn’t on when they brought him in but his chart shows concussion with some swelling in the brain, that is why his is still unconscious, the meds are keeping him that way until the swelling goes down and giving him a chance to heal a little before they let him wake. He has three cracked ribs, the one eye you can see is swelled shut, the blood vessels in it are busted. His entire body is covered in bruises. Whoever did this, it was brutal. Do you know what happen to him?” Carmen asked, but no way I could tell her until we were certain.
“Not sure, but you better believe we are going to find out,” was all I said before leaning in close to whisper in Brant’s ear and telling him I was there and that we’d make whoever did this pay.
“Carmen, you can call the police and tell them we identified the kid. Tell them if they have any questions, they can reach me at my office tomorrow. If they have a problem with that, then tell them to call me, here is my card in case they don’t have the number,” Tony gave her his card and we started to leave.
“Any idea when he might wake?” I asked.
“As soon as the swelling subsides the doctor will stop the meds keeping him under. After that it could be anytime,” she answered and started following us out.
“We’ll be checking in on him but if that happens when we aren’t around, will you give me a call?”
“Sure will, Fin.”
“Thanks.”
Jet, Reese, Tony, and I walked silently toward the elevator. Brant was in bad shape and the air was thick around us. No kid should have to endure what he had obviously been through.
Tony
Reese was staring intently at both Fin and I when we gave Jet instructions and sent him back up to the floor. I knew we needed to deal with Reese before we left the hospital though, so I led the way to a meeting room, making sure it was empty. I motioned for Reese to go in and then smiled at Fin. This was gonna be fun.
“So,” Reese said before the door was even closed. “I am assuming since you brought me in here, that you are gonna tell me what the fuck is going on with my sister. I mean, I trust you guys and all, but I am getting some serious vibes here that I have never gotten before from you two.”
Fin laughed. “About that.”
“Yeah, about that,” Reese snarled. “Before you start, let me warn you, unless you are both serious about her in some way, don’t even think about it. You aren’t gonna fuck around with my sister.”
“Whoa there, man,” I said, holding up a hand and frowning. What the fuck? “Seriously? You think we would fuck around with your sister if we weren’t serious? Your mom is in the hospital after being shot right before my eyes, right before them, Reese,” I growled and stepped forward. “I get that this is stressful, and a really shitty time, but there is no way Fin or I would fucking put the moves on someone right now unless there was a fucking good reason. That reason being, us finally pulling our heads out of our asses and seeing what’s right in front of our eyes apparently. Wish this could have been different, wish this could have been in a different time, but it also goes to show you that when you find something you’ve been looking for, you grab it with both hands.”
Reese frowned. “What?”
Fin sighed and said, “Reese, we can’t promise that everything is going to work out like the fairytales and shit, this is life. We saw your sister again after not seeing her for years, and both Tony and I felt something. You know when we were in Nevada we learned about ménages, you did too. We never thought we would ever find someone both of us wanted outside of the bedroom. There is something about your sister, every time we are around her it is like there is a pull. Something we want to explore, and no we will not push her into anything.”
Reese glared at us for a second and then turned around and looked out the window before speaking, “She’s shy.”
“We know,” I said.
“She literally had no idea when guys were hitting on her, for some reason she doesn’t see herself as pretty. I swear, even Mom says that she was worried Brook was gonna end up a spinster. She doesn’t date, hell, I don’t know when the last time she actually had a boyfriend,” Reese said and then turned back to them. He had a worried look on his face. “And I don’t know how Mom is gonna handle this whole thing.”
“Reese,” I said softly. “We aren’t going to hurt her. We will go slow, make sure she is on the same page as us.”
“I will gut you if you,” Reese said seriously.
Fin nodded. “I know, man, I get it. But you can trust us with her.”
Reese was silent for a second as he stared at both of us and then he nodded. “Okay, well, we need to talk about something else while we are at it.”
“Oh yeah?” I said slowly.
“Mom is gonna need help, and I don’t like that I am so far away, I have been thinking about making a change anyway, I’m getting sick of all the drama in Vegas. With all this going on, it gives me a push to do what I have been thinking about doing to begin with. Coming home. I figure while I find something to do, maybe I can work for you guys,” Reese said.
“How?” Fin asked, I was curious as well, Reese had an MBA, not a candidate for security really.
“You have three businesses in one building,” Reese said and we nodded. “Well, I’m thinking maybe if you all hired one business manager for all of them, handle all the marketing and shit, you will have more time to do this side thing you have going on, which I want to help with as well by the way.”
Fin looked at me and I shrugged. I would love to have someone doing all the damn paperwork and stuff, give me more time to help out with the training and other stuff. I know Fin felt the same way, he hated paperwork, but Michael? I wasn’t sure about.
“You have our votes; you get to talk to Michael though,” I said and Reese grinned.
“Already done, man, called him last night,” Reese said.
We talked for a few more minutes, then I looked at Fin and grinned. “Think we need to get Brook home and fed, what do you think?”
“I think you are right.” Fin laughed and Reese punched us in the arm and frowned.
“I will gut you,” he said warningly and we laughed and went in search of the woman we were going to claim.
Brooklyn
Something was going on, I hated being in the dark about stuff, but something was definitely going on. My brother was acting weird, then Fin and Tony were acting weird. My mother whom had been shot was acting happy and jovial. It was like I had entered into an alternate universe.
The guys had come back to the room and announced to us that Brant had been found and was in the hospital. Of course my mother had demanded details, which Fin and Tony gave her, and then assured her they would keep her up to date with what was going on with him.
Then Reese announced that he was moving home to the Bronx to help Mom out plus establish a new consultant business with Fin
, Tony, and Michael being his first clients.
My mother insisted on calling Fin’s mom for some odd reason at this news, and the conversation had been strange. I was wondering how much drugs the nurse had given her, especially when she ended the conversation with, “The foxes are chasing the hen, my dear.”
Then everyone pushed me out of the room before I could ask any more questions, see weird. Now I was sitting in the back seat of the large and lush SUV Tony owned, looking around as they drove us to Fin’s house, which apparently was huge. I knew this because Mia had told me last night when I found out I was staying there. The vibes in the car were strange and I couldn’t put my finger on them.
On my side I knew why, being around them made me think things, like really naughty things, and it was driving me nuts. Ten minutes in their presence and I was practically panting. This was so not going to go well, I was going to embarrass myself.
“Hey, baby,” Fin said from the front over his shoulder. I frowned, what the heck was going on, they were being like really weird.
“Uh, yeah?” I said, trying not to be rude but I know I sounded like it.
“What are you hungry for?” Fin asked, ignoring my tone. “I have some food at the house, but I haven’t stocked it in a week, so there are only slim pickings right now. I figure I can order delivery, but I need to know what you like and don’t like.”
“Oh,” I said and grinned, on solid ground there. They were talking food. “I like about anything, except for any weird stuff, like octopus or something like that.”
Tony chuckled, “No argument there, baby girl.”
What was up with the whole baby and baby girl thing? Did they think I was still in high school? That had to be it, they didn’t see me as a grown up, they saw me as a child, and one they had to take care of. Damn.
“How about some Chinese?” Fin laughed and I grinned.
“Crab cheese wontons and egg drop soup, and you are on,” I said and then looked back out the window while I listened to Fin call my favorite take out Chinese place and order. When he was done, I could feel the hum of awareness in the car again.
“Did you get everything you needed from your car?” Tony asked.
I frowned, this was another weird thing. They all insisted I leave my car at the hospital, of course it was in case Reese needed to go somewhere, and I got that. But still, they hadn’t even asked. They ordered.
“I hope so since I had to leave it at the hospital,” I said once again and Fin looked at Tony who smiled.
“Your brother will need some wheels tomorrow morning if he is going to come to the house and rest,” Tony said.
“Yeah, well, it is still my car,” I said and looked back out the window. I was used to having control of my life, everything in order, and now nothing was, and it was driving me crazy. I didn’t do change really well.
“So you work in the city?” Fin asked.
“Yep,” I said. “Been with the same place since I graduated college.”
“An accountant? Right?” Tony said.
They were making small talk; wow this was seriously going to be an awkward night if this was the way it was going to go. Maybe I should let them off the hook.
“Listen,” I said slowly. “I get you are doing my mom a favor, you know, looking after me and stuff because of what happened. But I am sure that no one is after me, it is my mom who I am worried about. In fact, I bet you could let me go home and I would be perfectly safe. My apartment has security.”
“NO!” Fin and Tony said forcefully at the same time.
I frowned, that didn’t make much sense? I would think they would love to get away from me. I had heard all about Fin and Tony coming home, Mia told me because she thought it was hilarious. The moms had apparently decided both men needed to settle down. Thankfully my mother wasn’t the same way, butting into my personal life.
“Why?” I asked confused.
“Baby girl, we are not letting you go home when we have no idea who is responsible for this,” Fin said firmly.
“We aren’t letting you go home at all,” I could have sworn Tony muttered as well. Oh how I wished that were the truth, I couldn’t imagine, well yes I could. I mean, mostly because I have been having daydreams about these two for years.
Tony slowed and turned into a long driveway. I watched in awe as the house of my dreams came into view. Holy shit, Fin lived in the old Mayes’ house. Everyone knew about this house, it was famous, well infamous more like it. I loved this house and all the history, hell, Mia and I would walk this way home from school just so we could pass this place and sit and dream. Why hadn’t she told me?
The Mayes’ house was an old Victorian house which according to local lore, used to be owned by one of the most famous gangsters of the 20’s, although it couldn’t be proven, it didn’t matter, the stories about the place were interesting. Apparently it used to be a meeting place for women of ill repute and married gangsters who kept them on the side. Tons of stories floated around about the women and their men, and all of them were wildly romantic. Mostly because it was about unrequited love.
As we drew near I gasped, this was the closest I had been to this place, it was amazing. The history just seemed to pour off the place, I could almost imagine the groups of people who had set foot on this property. The house was completely restored, the fresh white paint on the sides, trimmed with grey, made the place look amazing. Each room had a balcony on the second floor, and the porch wrapped around the entire house, it made the place look grand.
I couldn’t do anything but stare out the window as we pulled to a stop. It was Fin’s voice that pulled me out of my stupor.
“Hey, baby girl, welcome home.”
Chapter Ten
Fin
The house had been remodeled and parts restored the first year I was back. After it was finished, I never gave it a second thought; it was just a place to lay my head down and hold my stuff. The sound of Brooklyn moving around the kitchen putting the leftovers away was an eye opener. The feeling that coursed through me as I watched her from the living room was contentment. Who knew such a small deed would jolt me to my core. Not like I haven’t seen women in a kitchen before.
“She fits,” I whispered more to myself, my eyes still focused toward the kitchen. When Brook had entered the house, it was like I was seeing it for the first time. May make me a pussy but when I showed her around, her enthusiasm and compliments about what I had done with the inside pleased me. Tony and I felt this pull toward her and yeah, we wanted to see where it would go. But her in my home had me wondering why hadn’t I ever noticed her before, even putting the age difference beside, shouldn’t I have noticed her?
“Damn, fucking glad I am not the only one thinking that,” Tony said, drawing my attention to him and the huge smile on his face.
“You see it too? Man, call me a chauvinist, but her in the kitchen is as if she should always have been there. And when she came down from upstairs after freshening up in those damn tight little pants with the oversized shirt that hit her thighs, I went rock hard,” adjusting myself because my pants felt tight.
“Brah, when she told us to go sit and relax and let her clean up because we had to be tired from working, then checking on her mom, and the issue with Brant, I wanted to hug her and kiss her until she melted into me,” Tony said and shook his head as if to clear it. Hell, I was glad I wasn’t the only pussy in the house.
“I know, all I want to do is kiss her, other than on the cheek and shit. But I also know if we go at her like we would any other woman we set our sights on, it will send her running.”
“Well, maybe not, ‘cause I’m thinking Reese is right. Our girl doesn’t even know we’ve been hitting on her or that we’re interested. Seriously, I think we are going to have to push to give her the clue. You know, make the moves and see how she responds. And, dude, I so hope she responds,” Tony said.
“Fuck, me too.”
Tony
TV on, Fin was on one end of th
e couch and I was on the other as Brook slowly entered the room like she didn’t know what to do with herself.
“Come sit with us, baby girl, we can all watch a little TV and relax before going up to bed,” I said and patted the spot between us. It was still early in the evening and though she’d been right about us burning the candle at both ends, I wasn’t going anywhere until I had gotten a good taste of Brook. She’d learn really quick what we wanted—her.
She timidly moved to the couch, pulling at the bottom of her shirt, and sat down between us and Fin’s mouth twitched. Yeah, he had to feel like me. Us as the predators and the prey entered the den. We both shifted closer to her and she tensed. I’ve never felt this inept in my whole life, as if this was the first girl I’ve ever put a move on. Then I pushed the next thought right back out ‘cause it wasn’t even time to be thinking—it could be the last woman you put the moves on.
“Umm…what are we going to watch? I don’t know how long I will last, sleeping in the chair in my mom’s room wasn’t comfortable even though it expanded out into a makeshift bed.” Brook was nervous, her voice shaky and call me a bastard but I liked that we made her nervous.
“Whatever you want to watch, sweetheart. Don’t matter, Tony and I will more than likely just watch you.” Fin’s statement reminded me that he and Falon were related and Falon wasn’t the only O’Malley who let shit fly out their mouth. But the way Brook’s head swung in his direction at his comment was comical.
“Why?” Her response had me biting back a smile as I waited for Fin’s answer for that. Instead, my best friend said “Fuck it” and turned, placed a hand on Brook’s neck, pulled her toward him, and started kissing her.
Holy hell, wasn’t the smoothest I’d seen the man operate but I knew how he felt being with her this close. Uncontrolled.
Vengeance: MMA/Ink Romance (KO Ink Book 1) Page 8
