Streamline

by Jennifer Lane

  Pregnancy Test. It took a full ten seconds to realize why she’d given it to him. His stomach dropped to his feet.

  “You’re pregnant?” he whispered.

  Audrey’s slow nod made him feel sicker. Horror clouded his vision, and his breaths came quick and shallow. He’d managed to destroy his life once again in one fell swoop. But this time his life wasn’t the only one ruined. He’d taken Audrey down with him. The ramifications of this huge mistake would grow and affect everything they knew — like a massive rock splashing into a pond, creating ever-expanding ripples of disruption on the once-smooth surface.

  He quickly stood, stuffing the pregnancy test back into her purse and towering over her, clenching his fists at his sides. Then Leo drew his right arm back and sent his fist careening into the brick wall behind the bench. He barely heard the sound of knuckles hitting brick.

  When he again drew back his fist, Audrey screamed, “No!” She leaped up and grabbed his arm. He tried to shake her off, then snapped out of his trance when he saw her tears.

  “Why are you crying?”

  “I…I don’t know,” she sobbed.

  His eyes flared. “Why are you crying?”

  “Because you’re scaring me!” She cowered.

  He suddenly saw his behavior through her frightened eyes and grabbed the sides of his head, totally repulsed by himself.

  “Oh, Audrey.” He crumpled into her arms. “I’m so sorry.” He felt her trembling, and he squeezed her tighter. “What are we going to do?” She let out a strangled cry. “I don’t know. I’ve known for sure just since last night, and I’m still in shock. I can only imagine how you feel, hearing about the baby right now.” She untangled herself from him. “Let me look at your hand.” Leo pulled away and stared at the swelling and bruising already forming. Audrey carefully examined the damage. He felt nothing.

  No physical pain — that would come later. There was only emotional pain right now: self-loathing and terror.

  He swallowed. “Does anybody else know about this?”

  “No.”

  Her response calmed him a bit. Nobody else could know. They would have to make sure nobody found out…especially one certain commander. Leo had been consumed by avoiding his father to minimize the damage to his own well-being. Now he had to keep three lives safe from the venom of Cobra Snake.

  “I won’t go to dinner tonight with your family,” Audrey said softly.

  “No. I need you there.” He had to pretend things were okay for at least one more night. “We’ll figure this out. Together.” She choked down a sob and nodded.

  33. Awkward, Party of Five

  The hostess smiled at them. “Scott, party of five?” Jason stood with the rest of his family, taking intentionally deep, even breaths. She should’ve announced, “Dysfunction, party of five,” or maybe even, “Awkward, party of five.” Jason swallowed a dark laugh and filed that away to share later with Leo.

  He looked over at his brother, who’d barely spoken to him since arriving at the restaurant. Leo had his arm wrapped protectively around Audrey and a worried face. If Leo planned to ignore him the whole night, Jason wondered why he should even stay.

  He’d expected things to be awkward with Callous Sadist. His father had avoided all eye contact and appeared uncomfortable standing with his criminal son. He’d wedged his hands into the pockets of his khaki uniform pants and jingled his change while they waited to be seated.

  When they arrived at their round table, Jason quickly calculated the way to sit the farthest from his father, making the clockwise seating arrangement CS, Leo, Audrey, Jason, and his mother. Jason helped guide his mother into her chair and tucked her canes into the corner.

  When his mother giggled at something his father whispered in her ear, Jason scowled. His parents seemed somehow closer since returning from the state meet, and he wondered what the heck was going on.

  Everyone busied themselves with the menus for a few moments.

  Leo sipped his water and tilted his body toward Audrey, as if to shield her from CS. The waiter arrived with bread and prepared to take their orders, looking expectantly around the table. Leo reached to pick up the bread basket and the waiter asked, “What happened to your hand?”

  Everyone stared at Leo’s bruised right hand, which he quickly yanked away and hid under the table. “Um, it was an accident.” Curious Suspect gave Leo a strange look, then told the waiter he’d like the peppercorn-crusted salmon.

  “Let me see it,” his father ordered once the waiter had collected the other orders and left.

  Leo reluctantly offered his hand.

  “What kind of accident?”

  “Not an accident, really, sir, um…I actually punched a wall at school.”

  Nearly silently, Audrey gasped.

  “Why?”

  “Billy Ryan was provoking me again, sir. I thought you’d rather me punch a wall than punch him.”

  “I don’t care what anyone says to you, Leo. I don’t want you punching anything or anybody. It shows a lack of self control.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Jason watched this exchange with disgust. His father was the last person who should lecture on self control, and he was pretty sure CS wasn’t getting the true story.

  Suddenly their mother jumped into the conversation.

  “Leo, I’d like to take a look at your hand when we get home — decide if we need to get an x-ray.” Leo shook his head. “That’s not necessary.” CS shot him a look of reproach, and Leo changed his tone. “Yes, ma’am.” A few moments of silence passed before their mother smiled warmly at Leo. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you at the meet that I’m very proud of you.”

  “That was some meet,” CS chimed in.

  “I don’t mean about your swims,” his mother continued, with a sideways glance. “Though I’m pleased your hard work paid off.” Leo glanced at Audrey and looked down.

  “What impressed me most was your sportsmanship,” his mother said. “You showed a lot of class every time you competed with Gary.”

  “He’s my friend, Mom.”

  “You’re a better sport than me,” said Audrey. “Sometimes I get so mad at Marcie I can’t stand her.”

  “It’s okay to be competitive, Audrey,” CS said. “It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, and you have to claw your way to the top. It doesn’t matter who you step on to make it. People always let you down, anyway.”

  Jason rolled his eyes. He couldn’t disagree more. Coldhearted Stalin wouldn’t last a second in AA. The addicts would rip into him for his arrogance.

  When their food arrived, Jason watched Audrey look at her chicken and close her eyes. She appeared slightly green. He didn’t realize he was pushing his food back and forth on the plate until his mother asked, “Don’t you like your swordfish, Jason?”

  “It’s great, Mom. Just not that hungry, I guess.”

  “How’re you feeling about your court date tomorrow?” Jason snuck a glance at his father, who pretended not to listen.

  “Nervous.”

  Suddenly Audrey shot out of her chair and mumbled a quick

  “Excuse me” before disappearing into the restaurant.

  Leo dropped his fork. “May I leave the table, sir?” CS nodded curiously. Audrey’s purse hung on the back of her chair, and as Leo passed by, it fell to the floor. When his neat-freak father rose to right the purse and tidy up Audrey’s hasty departure, his mother asked, “Jason, what does your attorney think will happen?” Jason began to answer but CS interrupted with his brusque call for the waiter. His father returned to his seat, and Jason could tell something had changed. Coming Storm’s eyes churned like a roiling sea, and he barked, “Box up these dinners. We have to go home.”

  “Yes, sir,” the waiter said.

  His mother recoiled. “But why, James?”

  “Dinner’s over,” he said.

  By the time Leo and Audrey returned to the table, the meals were stacked in boxes.

  “What’s going
on?” Leo asked.

  “I’ve got work to do,” CS growled.

  “Everything all right?” their mother asked.

  Leo nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Maybe we should go so Dad can get home?”

  As they rose from the table, CS glared at Leo, but his brother was so focused on Audrey that he didn’t notice. Jason didn’t like this at all.

  After the group walked outside, his mother turned to him. “I made a cake! Audrey’s coming home with us to have some. Would you like to join us?”

  “Sure, Mom. I’ll follow you home.”

  Her face lit up. “Wonderful, honey. We’ll see you there.” Jason avoided looking at his father and headed to his car, cursing under his breath. Something wasn’t right, and he needed to figure out what — even if it meant spending more time with CS.

  34. Violent, Party of Two

  Audrey sat in the back seat next to Leo. His hand on her belly did nothing to quell the tension she felt as they drove in silence.

  Finally they pulled up in the Scotts’ driveway.

  As she got out of the car, Audrey decided she’d had enough of the Scotts for one evening. Leo appeared miserably tense and preoccupied, and Jason seemed even unhappier. Why had he even agreed to come for dessert? Mrs. Scott was sweet, but Audrey disliked how she constantly deferred to the commander, who hadn’t been too bad during the meal but who now seemed furious about something.

  The last thing Audrey wanted to do was force cake on her sensitive stomach under the intrusive watch of CS. “Mrs. Scott? I’m not feeling well so I think I’ll walk home. Sorry to miss your cake.” When both Leo and Mrs. Scott pouted, Audrey regretted opening her mouth.

  CS eyed her coolly. “Still not feeling well, hmm?” His deep, smooth voice had an edge to it. “Well, then, you shouldn’t walk. Jason, drive Audrey home.”

  Jason was silent for a moment, but then agreed. “Yes, sir. C’mon Audrey, let’s go.”

  “Will you come back, Jason?” Mrs. Scott asked.

  “It’s getting late, Mom. Sorry. Have a good night.” Jason turned, and Audrey followed him to his car.

  He drove a few blocks and stopped. “Sorry you had to suffer through that dinner from hell. I gotta get back there. Can you walk home from here?”

  Audrey’s eyes widened. “What’s going on?”

  “No time to explain. I wanted to get you somewhere safe, but now I need to get back.”

  “It’s your dad, isn’t it?” Her voice rose. “Is he going to hurt Leo?”

  “Audrey, get out of the car!”

  “No, I want to go with you!”

  Jason reached across the seat and opened Audrey’s door, not so gently shoving her out. “Go home!” He managed to push her clear of the car, and she watched helplessly as he executed a four-point turn in the road before speeding away. Through the back window, she could see him cradle his cell phone to his ear.

  Audrey was now crying, and her mind swam with questions and fear as she stood, abandoned on a neighborhood street. Instead of beginning the two-mile trek to her house, she jogged in the direction Jason’s car had gone. Her sundress and sandals slowed her progress, but she was determined to get back to Leo. She couldn’t bear the thought of him getting hurt.

  “Now there’s just three of us,” Leo’s mother said wistfully as they went inside. “How ’bout we have cake later? I’m still full from dinner.” CS went silently to his study, shutting the door behind him.

  Leo’s mother stared at the closed door. “I wonder what’s bothering him.” She turned to Leo. “You should get some homework done. I know you missed class for the meet.”

  Leo sighed. “Yes, ma’am.” He headed up the stairs.

  Leo sat at his desk, overtaken by irritability as he pulled out his chemistry notebook. Now that he’d fallen from the upper echelons of class rank, school wasn’t as much fun. Mrs. Boyd had told him if he aced the last four tests of the year, he might be able to pull off an A-, but that simply wasn’t good enough. He didn’t have the heart to tell his father his grades had slipped.

  Just then CS barged into his room, his eyes blazing. “Get up!” he hissed as he closed and locked the door behind him.

  Leo scrambled out of his chair, consumed by fear.

  His father whirled to face him. “When did you plan to tell me you just completely ruined your future?”

  “What do you mean, sir?” Leo’s eyes darted around the room.

  “I poured everything into your school and sport,” his father screamed. “I made sacrifices for you! And in one instant, you threw it all away.”

  When Leo still said nothing, his father leaned in with quiet menace. “Exactly how long have you known your whore of a girlfriend was pregnant?”

  Leo’s mouth dropped open. He knew. “Eight hours, sir.”

  “And how long has Audrey known?”

  “Since yesterday.” Leo felt his body tense in preparation for battle, his fingers balled into fists at his side.

  “You stand at attention, damn it.”

  Despite the clench of his gut, Leo slouched defiantly, placing his hands in his pockets and keeping his eyes trained on his father. If he was going down, he’d go down swinging. “No, I won’t.” CS lowered his head and came at him, his fist crashing into Leo’s side. Leo recovered quickly enough to take a jab at his father’s face, but as soon as his fist connected with his father’s jaw, fireworks of pain erupted, the existing cuts and bruises throbbing at further injury.

  In the moment Leo hesitated after that punch, CS backhanded his face. As Leo staggered to the side, CS caught him and threw his body face-first against the wall, yanking his right arm behind his back. Leo writhed in agony as his father squeezed his injured hand and twisted his wrist behind him.

  “Don’t you dare try to hit me again.” Leo tried to wiggle out of his father’s hold, but he was too strong.

  His bedroom doorknob jiggled. “James!” his mother cried. “Let me in!”

  “Go away, Mary!”

  Over the sound of her knocks and pleas, CS interrogated Leo.

  “So, are you two planning on having the baby?” Leo squirmed as shooting pains traveled up his arm. He didn’t see a way out of this. “I don’t know, sir.”

  “I don’t think the Academy has family housing. How will you or Audrey go to college? Did you think of that?”

  “We haven’t thought anything through yet.”

  “Well that’s frickin’ obvious!”

  His mother’s cries continued. “James! Don’t hurt him!” Then Leo heard his brother’s voice outside the door. “Get out of the way, Mom.”

  There was a huge thump against the door, and the walls of the house shuddered, but somehow the lock held in place. Jason cursed.

  “Don’t move.” CS let go of Leo’s arm and moved to one end of the dresser. He grunted as he pushed it in front of the door.

  Leo cradled his wrist. Now he was trapped. Sensing his only opportunity to attack, he jumped on his father’s back just as CS got the dresser in place.

  Jason’s second rush again shook the house, but the dresser did its job. Leo held on tightly, trying to lock and squeeze his elbow around his father’s throat as he clawed at his arm. CS propelled himself backward and slammed Leo into the wall. Somehow he held on.

  CS again body slammed him, and this time Leo’s right foot caught and tangled in the open closet door, twisting his ankle. Leo screamed and let go of his father’s neck, crumpling to the floor in a heap.

  The pounding on the door increased in volume. “Dad! Let us in!” From his position on the floor, Leo looked up to see CS panting, pawing at his throat and sucking in air. “How dare you!” Leo watched his father’s shiny black shoes shuffle toward him, then felt an explosion of pain in his side.

  Time stood stil as Leo sprawled on the floor, absorbing repeated kicks. His right wrist and ankle pulsated with pain, but each blow to his side was a scorching burn of agony. All he could do was moan and pray the beating would end.

  He
thought his situation couldn’t get any worse, but then CS unbuckled his belt and whipped it out of the belt loops. With wild eyes CS doubled the leather and raised it high before cracking it against Leo’s legs. The stinging belt kept coming, and Leo was helpless to stop it.

  On the other side of the door, Jason heard a rhythmic thumping. He didn’t know what to make of the fact that Leo had stopped groaning. He looked at his mother’s tear-stained cheeks, trying to think of something to say. He heard footsteps on the stairs and was shocked to see Audrey. “I told you to go home!”

  “What’s happening?” Audrey ignored Jason’s glare. “Is Leo in there? Is he okay?” Audrey stepped back. “It’s locked? Oh my God, is his father in there with him?”

  As an answer, his mother stepped forward and embraced her.

  Jason felt sick. He needed to man up and save his brother, but he couldn’t get in the room! When the doorbell rang, he sprinted downstairs.

  “What’s this about, Mr. Scott?” Detective Easton demanded when he opened the door. “An attempt to get out of your sentencing hearing tomorrow?”

  “No, Detective. Thanks so much for coming. Please, come in. Please, hurry.”

  Detective Easton stepped inside.

  “You have to help us. My father’s beating the crap out of my brother, and I think he’s really hurt.”

  “Where are they?”

  “In my brother’s room upstairs. My father’s barricaded the door somehow.”

  She whipped out her cel phone and barked, “Get paramedics to eleven thirty-seven Ridgeway. And I need some backup here as well.” She tilted her head toward the stairs. “Lead the way.” At the top of the stairs, Detective Easton asked, “What’re their names?”

  “My father’s James and my brother’s Leo. This is my mother, Mary, and Leo’s girlfriend, Audrey.”

  She nodded at them and turned to Jason. “Any chance James or Leo has any weapons in there?”

  “Don’t think so. My father’s hands are weapon enough. But I think he’s been beating Leo with a belt too.” Audrey gasped.

  “Anybody know what this violence is all about?” Detective Easton asked.