"What did the doctors say? Do they know what happened?" Warren asked, a sense of panic in his eyes.
"They are going to do an autopsy, and the police are doing a full investigation, unfortunately there isn't much else we can do at the moment. I need to get out of here. There is no point hanging around in the hospital. They aren't going to suddenly wake up. Go home, Warren, and we can get together in a little while to start making arrangements." Adam's voice held a tension Leslie was sure would crack at any moment. Keeping a tight hold on her hand, he began to walk out of the hospital.
"Don't shut me out of this. I know I'm not all perfect like you, but they were my parents too," Warren called from behind them. Leslie was shocked to hear those words. Warren and Adam had always been so close, even if he did have a tendency to goof off a lot. He was young and single, and that was what young and single men did.
Adam stopped and turned to look at his brother. There was a confused look on his face as he examined the man they were sure was grieving just as deeply. "I would never keep you out of something like this. Come by later tonight. I just need some time to let this sink in for a moment. I'm not pushing you away; I'm just trying to make sense of this all."
With another tug, Leslie found herself being dragged out of the hospital. Adam made long, sure strides, nearly running from the building and back to the car. The moment they were safely inside, the dam broke, and Adam began to sob uncontrollably. Leslie reached out for him, pulling him into her and holding him as he cried. Her own eyes began to leak with the overwhelming emotion. She could not imagine what her husband was feeling and was sure she never wanted to find out. Losing someone close to you was hard, but this wasn't just losing someone close. His parents were gone, and nothing and no one could ever bring them back.
For nearly twenty minutes, Leslie and Adam sat in the car while he cried, trying to get the release so he could compose himself. When he finally managed to calm down enough to breathe, Leslie handed him some old fast food napkins they kept in the glove compartment and let him clean himself up. She had no words for him, no secret advice. All she could do was be the best wife she could be and hope it was enough.
***
A horde of people dressed in different arrays of black and gray mingled about in the parlor of the Finn house. The funeral had been a massive affair, and the following reception was no less extravagant. No matter how hard Adam had tried, he could not keep it a small intimate gathering. At least the wake before the funeral had only been family. Leslie had seen just how important it was to her husband to have that time alone with his brother and other members of their close family.
People from all over the country had come to see the Finns off to their next life, bringing with them more food than any family could possibly consume. Leslie had heard of the tradition of bringing food to the families of someone who died, but she had not expected the overabundance they had received. It was a sight she was sure Adam's mother would have loved to see, and for a moment, she found herself smiling at the thought.
"Hey, what are you doing out here all on your own?" Warren asked as he took a seat next to her on the porch swing that was hung up outside of the master bedroom. With the large number of guests, Leslie had found the need to escape for a few moments, and the master bedroom was the only place no one was willing to go.
"It was getting a bit stuffy in there. I just needed a few minutes to breathe. Adam understands those people, but I don't think I ever will. It fascinates me sometimes how easily he can talk to people," Leslie answered, smiling when Warren handed her a glass of wine.
"Well, he will need to be able to talk to them. Those are the people who will be working with him for the rest of his life. The lawyer said Adam gets the company and just about everything else. I was left one of the cars and some cash, but nothing like Adam. Guess it sucks being the bad kid now and then," Warren answered, but his face was calm and caring, not matching his words which came off callous.
"You know Adam isn't going to keep you out of it. He will make sure you are just as big a part of things as he is. I think it is just because you party so much and haven't seemed to figure out what you want to do when you grown up," Leslie offered, trying to keep the mood light. Things were already too serious as it was.
Warren shrugged and sat back, putting his arm behind her on the back of the swing, but not necessarily around her. "I don't know. Adam has always gotten everything he wanted, and I have always gotten in trouble. I guess it just comes with me being the wild one. Can't go around acting like a fool and expect people to treat you like they give a damn."
They both chuckled at that, and Warren finished off what was left in his wine glass. All through their teenage years Warren had gotten into all sorts of trouble. He played hard and wild, and had the worst reputation in school, but that was part of what made him so lovable. Beyond his bad boy image, he had a heart of gold, and Leslie knew he was only joking around with his words. Warren had never done without in all of his life. "Oh yes, you were such a bad kid. Maybe a little too wild and horny, but I wouldn't say you were a bad kid. Besides, you brought it all on yourself."
"Ain't that the damn truth? And I loved every moment of it." Warren smiled back to her then patted his knees before standing up. "It's hard to believe they are gone. I mean one second I was talking to them and the next I was screaming into empty space. I'm thinking I'm going to have nightmares about it for a long time."
Leslie felt the pain in his words and stood to comfort him. For the last couple of nights, Warren had been staying with them while the two brothers made all of the arrangements for the funeral. It had helped Adam immensely to have his brother around, but Leslie hadn't even thought about how hard it would be on Warren. He had always taken life so lightly that the idea of him being in any sort of extreme pain was hard to fathom. Pulling him into her arms, she held him tightly to her and felt a shudder rake down his body, but he didn't cry. He just held onto her for a moment before letting her go.
"I will be all right. Just take care of Adam. He takes life too seriously, and he is going to have a hard time moving on from this. I have plenty of distraction in life." Warren walked off of the patio then and headed back for the reception, passing by Adam along the way.
When Adam came into her view, Leslie smiled and reached out for him. He had fallen apart a couple of times, but for the most part had managed to stay strong. His firm arms wrapped around her, and they swayed for a moment locked in a comforting embrace. "I love you so much, Leslie. I don't think I could have gotten through all of this without you. I want to go home. Warren is going to stay here and take care of the place. Right now, I want to be in our home with our things and my woman. I'm tired of dealing with all these snobs and gold diggers. I just want to get lost in you and pretend all of this isn't happening, even if it is just for a couple of hours."
Even with the seriousness of the situation, she felt her body reacting to his words. He always had that effect on her no matter the situation, and that moment was no different. "Well then, let's get out of here. As you said, Warren can handle the rest of this. We won't have to worry about him going hungry either. There is enough food here to feed the army."
Adam gave her a half smile then walked her around the house, preferring to not weave through the crowd of people again. Leslie felt a stirring of excitement in the pit of her stomach, and she had a strong feeling they were going to live in a fantasy world for a while. With the company at stake, Adam's life was only going to get harder, and he was going to need more of their private moments to keep his head on straight.
Chapter Four
After a couple of months fighting with lawyers and juggling all of the pressures of his parents' estate, Adam had finally gotten everything settled. His parents' house he had given to Warren along with the allotted amount of money specified in the will. However, Adam had also put a trust together for Warren for when his younger brother calmed down and screwed his head on straight.
Through it all
, Leslie had managed to keep life going as normal as possible. Because of how hard Adam worked, she stayed home and took care of domestic matters. It made things easier when Adam had to go on business trips and also allowed for them to not have to hire people to maintain their house unlike his parents' home, which had a maid in twice a week.
Pulling the roast she had been cooking all day out of the oven, Leslie placed it on the counter to rest while setting the table. It was the first day Adam was actually going to functioning as CEO and president of SkyFinn Marketing. He had been nervous when he left that morning, so Leslie had wanted to ensure he had his favorite meal and a nice relaxing night when he got home. With dinner finished, she set the table, leaving a bottle of wine to breathe before she headed to their room to get changed for the evening. She was running a brush through her hair when she heard the sound of the door opening and closing. A smile spread over her lips as she ran to welcome her husband home.
When she got to the end of the hall, she heard Adam having a rather heated conversation on the phone. "No, it is not my job to bail you out every time you get in over your head. When are you going to grow up, Warren? We aren't kids anymore." There was a pause then he continued. "Yes, fine, we will be over in a bit. Let me get changed. You know, some of us work for a living. Yeah, well, fuck you too. See you in an hour or so." Adam slammed his phone down on the counter next to the door.
Leslie stepped out of the hall, her face twisted in worry as she made her way toward Adam. "Bad day?" she asked as she wrapped her arms around him. Instantly her husband pulled her into him and kissed her soundly. She could tell by the powerful way his lips fed from hers that her husband wanted more than a welcome home. He rocked against her for a moment as they kissed before pulling away and shrugging out of his jacket.
"It wasn't a horrible day, but it wasn't the best day either. Mostly because of Warren, but that's not new. He is getting into his usual trouble, and now that Mom and Dad are gone, I have to go save the day like some sort of Superman. It is selfish for him to think he is the only one hurting," Adam answered making his way toward the bedroom. "Do you think we can pack up dinner and take it over there to him? I imagine he hasn't had a decent meal in a while and could use that as well. I just don't know what to do with him. It is like he is pissed off I am taking charge of the company even though he doesn't want to actually do anything with it."
"Well, you know Warren. He has always thought you got special treatment. I know he kids about it, but through every joke there is always a hint of the truth. Maybe you should talk to him, make him more a part of our lives. I feel like he is out there on his own with no on helping him figure things out," Leslie defended. She wasn't sure why, but she had always had a soft spot for Warren. When they had been younger, the three of them had spent a lot of time together hanging out and goofing off. For a fragment of time, Leslie even thought Warren had a bit of a crush on her, but that was as far as it went. Now the brothers were alone, and she worried Warren was only acting the way he was because he wanted to be treated like an adult and not a kid.
"You have such a big heart. Warren needs to grow up. So why should I give him more when he is going to squander it. He has already blown through almost all of the money he got from his inheritance." Adam was pulling on a pair of tight jeans so he would be more comfortable instead of wearing his suit and tie. Ever since his parents’ passing, Adam had taken on more responsibility than any twenty-six-year-old should have to handle. Leslie worried he was getting in over his head.
"Treating him like a kid is a surefire way to keep him acting like a kid. Come on, you have seen how your brother can be when he is motivated on something. Not to mention he is full of charm and charisma. He could really boost things with the company, and you can help him grow up a little more. It is a win-win. Think about it while I pack up dinner," Leslie responded and headed back toward the kitchen. So much for her welcome home plans for her husband, it looked as if instead they would be heading for Warren's house to smooth over some sort of crisis. There had been plenty of them over the last couple of months, and Leslie was convinced it was a cry for help because Warren felt left out of a family which should be supporting him and not pushing him away.
Not that Adam didn't support Warren, he did. He only wanted his brother to be more responsible. It was a touchy subject, though, and Leslie didn't want to upset her husband by defending his brother too much. After packing the roast up in a dish that would keep the meal warm while they traveled, she then put the wine away for later and grabbed a fresh bottle for the drive. By the time she had everything packed up, Adam was ready to head over to his brother's house, the house that once was their parents' home.
"You ready to go? Sorry about dragging you out of the house tonight, but it is obvious my brother needs me tonight," Adam sighed and held his hand out to help carry everything to the car.
"Don't be silly. You aren't dragging me into anything, and we can still have a great night when we get home." Leslie thought about all the ideas she had conjured up for her husband, and a shiver rolled down her body. Maybe they could get into a little of their own trouble after meeting with Warren. Leaning over a bit in the car, Leslie playfully ran her hand up and down her husband's leg, letting him know just how much she craved him.
At a light, Adam looked over to her with heated eyes, a wicked smile rising on his lips. "Well, aren't we a little minx tonight. Feeling frisky?"
Leslie blushed deeply but continued to play, even leaning over to nibble a bit on his earlobe. She could hear the soft moans her husband made and felt the shaking of his body as he tried to keep his desire in check. Certainly by the time they finished dinner with Warren, Adam would be ready for an all-night party with her. Her husband's lust had grown so thick she was certain she could taste it on her tongue.
Pulling up to Warren's house, Adam took a moment to lean over and give Leslie a heated kiss. His tongue darted into her mouth as he fed from her lips, pulling sweet sounds of desire from deep down in her throat. When he ended the kiss, Leslie was shaking in need. "That is for teasing me all the way here. Wait until we get home."
Adam left his words like a promise in the air between them before stepping out and coming around to open her door. Ever the gentleman, Adam was nothing if not loving and respectful at all times. It made her heart swell that in a world where men would rather call up a girl for a quick booty call, she had lucked out with a man who still had some sense of chivalry. Stepping out, she walked with Adam to the door and into the house. For some reason, Adam did not see the house as his brother's and treated it just like he had before his parents' deaths.
Warren had some loud music playing from back where the kitchen was at. Adam shook his head and headed for the noise. Beyond the hall, Warren leaned against a counter, pouring shots of vodka into a glass and tossing them back. The bottle he poured from was nearly empty, and Warren was wasting no time finishing it off. It was more than apparent Warren was not taking his parents' deaths well.
"Drowning yourself in a bottle is not going to fix anything," Leslie said, taking the container she had put the roast in and setting it down on the counter to open it so Warren could smell it. "Think you might want to eat some real food?"
Warren smiled at her, running his fingers through his longer hair. His body shifted, and he turned to look at Adam, glaring for a second before going to get some plates for all of them. "Yeah, I wouldn't mind having a piece of that. Look, Adam, I didn't expect you to come all the way over here. I can take care of myself. I just wish you would have told me that I wasn't going to be getting any more money. You have a steady income, working for the empire. What am I supposed to do?"
Leslie felt uncomfortable realizing it was another argument about money. Warren had been pretty upset by his share of the settlement and had been acting out ever since. Adam rolled his eyes, heading to get some glasses for the wine Leslie had packed along with the roast. Now, however, she wondered if it was a bad choice. Warren had obviously already got
ten started with the drinking.
"I told you when we went over the will that I would help make sure you were taken care of. I did not tell you that I would support you going down this path. If you want money to blow on liquor and whores, then get a job. I am not supporting you acting like a spoiled rich kid," Adam protested, his voice elevating.
In all the time Leslie had known them, this was the first time she had ever seen them fight. It worried her that they were fighting so much now. "I am not being a spoiled rich kid. You are the one acting all high and mighty. Ever since you got married, it is like you don't care about anything. We used to have fun."
"Yes, we used to have fun, and then I grew up. You should try it, Warren," Adam shot back.
A sting of guilt shot through Leslie hearing them argue. She had never meant to be the one to come between the two of them. She hadn't even realized she had. Not wanting to listen to them fight anymore, she made her way back down the hall toward the sitting room. From there, the sounds of their argument were muffled by the still blaring music. No longer was she hungry in any sense of the word. All she wanted to do was go and curl up in bed. Nothing she did would help anyway.
After several moments, she heard the music stop and the soft sounds of someone walking toward her. She didn't bother to turn and look, already knowing who it was. Adam came and sat next to her on the couch, placing his hand on her knee. No matter how much she tried to get through to him about Warren, it never helped. Of course, Warren didn't help with his behavior either. The nonstop partying left a bad taste in everyone's mouth.
"I'm sorry about that. Warren is drunk and nearly impossible to talk to that way. Maybe we shouldn't have come," Adam whispered, leaning over to kiss her.
Leslie found herself moving away before turning to look at him. "This is how it has been ever since your parents died. You two are ripping a hole between the two of you so big neither of you are ever going to be able to reach the other. Can't you see Warren just wants his brother in his life?"
Kisses and Revenge Page 3
