Sparks

by Talia Carmichael

  “No one uses Jerrod. Jerrod is the one who came to me, about a year ago, demanding to know why I hadn’t told him I had a twin brother. I told him I was a triplet, and asked how he’d known about my brother. He filled me in on this man he met through Tomas—a good friend. I couldn’t believe it. After all these years.” Del shook his head.

  “Why didn’t you just come to me?” Bernie asked softly.

  Tomas held his trembling hand tighter.

  “You weren’t even supposed to know I was here. Except, as usual, the mid-bro couldn’t keep out of things. Had to keep digging. You just had to ride in and stir things up, right, Wilbur?” Del sighed.

  “Then you shouldn’t have sent me the letter, you manipulative fucker,” Bur replied.

  Tomas looked at him in shock.

  “It had to be him,” Bur said. “He always liked to control shit. This is just like when we were kids. He’d find a way to make things his way and convince you that was what you wanted all the time.”

  “I don’t do that anymore, except when it comes to my business dealings. And I’m not the one who had to come in boots stomping, inserting himself and handing out money.” Del’s tone was mild.

  “So how much money did you set aside for us?” Bur’s tone was snide.

  “This isn’t about me.” Del’s tone was still mild.

  “Always your response,” Bur said.

  “Brat.”

  “Whiner.” Bur sneered.

  Bernie pulled Tomas back and led him into the hall. “I need to talk with them alone. Pull the big-brother card. They tend to bicker.” Bernie glanced at Megan. “Is there somewhere he can wait for us?”

  “Yes,” Megan said.

  “Are you sure?” Tomas cupped his cheek.

  “I am. Te amo,” Bernie said, kissing him softly.

  “Okay. Come find me if you need me.” Tomas didn’t want to leave him, but it was Bernie’s choice.

  “It’s okay.” Bernie squeezed his hand.

  Megan walked away. He followed her, glancing back at Bernie. Bernie smiled at him, then went back toward the living room, where Bur and Del were still bickering. Megan led Tomas to the back patio. She sat, and Tomas took the chair across from her.

  “I don’t appreciate being used,” Tomas growled.

  “I don’t give a fuck what you feel.” Megan’s tone was cool.

  “If Del is planning to fuck with them, I don’t care who he is. I will bury him.” Tomas leaned his elbows on the table.

  “Better men than you have tried. And all failed.” Megan sounded snotty.

  “He must be paying you a lot to instill such loyalty,” Tomas sneered.

  “He doesn’t have to pay me.”

  “You’re his assistant.”

  “He’s retired, leaving me the CEO of his holdings,” Megan said flatly.

  “So the assistant thing was a ruse too. You people—”

  “What? I needed to make sure you were the right man for Bernie.”

  Tomas sat back in shock. “Excuse me?”

  “Despite what you think, Tomas, Del has his brother’s best interest at heart. And he wanted to see what sort of man his brother was involved with. It just happened to work out that your company is the best landscaper in the area, which gave me an opportunity to work with you. To get a feel and see the sort of person you were up close. If I felt you were not right for Bernie, I would have told Del.”

  “And what the hell could he have done?”

  “He would have ruined your business and reputation until no one would give you work. Then those of your family. And that’s only for starters. It’s a good thing you’re a good man. And before you ask, no, he is not a criminal. He’s just a very powerful man who you don’t want to fuck with.” Megan smiled viciously, stood, and went into the house.

  Tomas breathed out. “I hope Bernie is okay.”

  BERNIE leaned in the doorway as his brothers traded barbs. His heart ached with how familiar it was. Bur provoked, and Del was calm. Bernie went over to them. He gripped the back of each of their heads and squeezed.

  “Knock it off,” he said affectionately.

  Del glanced at him cautiously. Bernie released Bur and pulled Del into his arms. Bur’s hands slid over Bernie’s, caging Del between them. He was stiff, not returning the hug. Then suddenly, Del shuddered.

  “You don’t hate me, Bernie?” Del’s voice sounded lost.

  “I could never hate you,” Bernie said.

  “You should. I left you there.” Guilt colored Del’s tone.

  “You did what you had to do. I didn’t protect you,” Bernie said softly.

  “I hope therapy gets you over that guilt,” Del said.

  “How’d you know about that?” Bernie glanced at him, shocked.

  “I like to know things.” Del smiled slyly.

  “Controlling,” Bur griped.

  “Beats bulldozing,” Del countered.

  “Before you all get started again, can we enjoy the moment of us being together?”

  “Sorry, Bernie,” Del and Bur said together.

  He laughed at their contrite tones. They had always said the same thing when they were kids.

  “Come on. Sit. I want to know all about what you all were up to. About this community center you all are working on getting off the ground. Triumvirate is a good name for it. I’ve never forgotten what we called each other.” Del touched the leather band around his wrist and smiled softly.

  Bernie studied the band, curious. It was a beautiful band of braided rope, and in the center was a flat piece of what looked like leather with some sort of writing on it. It wasn’t in any language he had ever seen. “What does it say?”

  “Not something I can share yet,” Del replied.

  Bernie raised his gaze, pushing down his shirt showing his tattoo. Del mirrored him, showing the tattoo identical to his own. Bernie heard shuffling beside him. He looked over at Bur and saw he was also showing his.

  “Brothers,” they all said together.

  They hugged each other silently for a bit.

  Del spoke first. “You’re not going to have to use so much of your money for Triumvirate. I’ve got some donors lined up.”

  “Controlling,” Bur griped.

  They disentangled and sat on the floor, legs crossed under them, forming a triangle.

  “We’ll be glad for your help. Right, Bur?” Bernie stressed.

  “Yeah, yeah. Help and all that. Why didn’t you want us to find you?” Bur demanded.

  “I thought it best not to let Bernie know I was in Mapson. He made a life here, and I didn’t want to disturb it.” Del paused briefly glancing between the two of them, then continued. “And after I sent you the note telling you about our parents, I knew you would at least find Bernie. The two of you would have each other,” Del said softly.

  “We need you too,” Bernie insisted.

  It was just like Del—always thinking of others before himself and thinking he wasn’t needed. Del gave his all when he loved you, but never expected anything in return.

  “Butthead,” Bur said affectionately, cupping the back of Del’s head.

  Bur cupped Bernie’s head too, and pulled them together. They rested their heads on each other’s, breathing together. Bernie sighed, breathing deeply. After a few moments, they sat back.

  “Did you ever plan on telling us you were visiting Mapson?” Bernie asked.

  “He always misses the obvious,” Bur said.

  “Yeah. That hasn’t changed.”

  “What’s so obvious?” Bernie pouted.

  “Do you really think he set up this place for a visit?” Bur gestured to the room.

  “Okay. So he’s living here,” Bernie grumbled.

  “Yes. I’m in Mapson permanently,” Del acknowledged.

  Bernie was elated, but both Bur and Del moving here seemed a little convenient. Suddenly, it dawned on him why.

  “They’ll be coming looking for me,” Bernie whispered.

  Wh
en Bur first arrived and mentioned he had been giving their parents money because of him but stopped because they had duped him about Bernie’s location, it hadn’t dawned on him then. But now it registered that the reason they had come after him to bring him back was at the time, they wanted the money Bur had been giving them to keep coming. It had, and they left him alone because of it. He knew how his parents thought. Bur’s money was basically payment for leaving him alone. They had no need for him. As long as they had money, they had no reason to pursue him. Now that they were cut off, they would come after him.

  “No. They’ll be coming after me, because of the money. I cut them off.” Bur sounded certain.

  “You’re both wrong. They’ll be coming for me. I cut them off too,” Del said.

  “What? You were paying them too?” Bernie cried.

  “Yes. After I left, I picked the pocket of a powerful man. Jerrod, instead of turning me in, showed me how to make money. Once he figured out what I could do, he fed my knowledge and gave me the tools. I took them, making us both lots of money. I set it up for them to get money for you, Bernie. I eventually left Jerrod’s businesses, then went out on my own and made even more money. Until a year ago, I thought they had done as I wanted and taken care of you, Bernie. Once I found out they hadn’t, I cut them off, then found Bur to tell him, too, as Bur already figured out. I sent him a letter anonymously.” Del’s voice went cold. “Money can be a powerful motivator, but they’ll be coming for me because I did the one thing they always feared.”

  At the icy look on his face and in his eyes, Bernie shivered. Bur stared at Bernie, then back at Del.

  “What did you do?”

  “I exposed them for the monsters they are.” Del closed his eyes, then opened them. They were bleak. “We have brothers. Twins. They’re six. They did… the same thing to them they did to us.”

  “No… that’s not possible. I was in the house. She wasn’t pregnant. Couldn’t have been.” Bernie shook his head.

  “I looked into it. She was when they almost… killed you.” Del’s voice quivered with rage. “For that alone, I could kill them.” Del drew a breath, then continued. “My investigators gathered evidence against them, and my lawyers gave it to the Frances, Connecticut, DA yesterday. They were arrested this morning. The investigators are still trying to find out what they did with Olivia’s body. Until there is some proof of her being dead, the DA can’t prosecute them for her death.”

  “They need to be punished for what they did to her, too. When they find her body, we’re going to give her a proper funeral. Show her that we love her.” Bernie’s throat was tight. His brothers nodded, their faces showing pain as he was sure his was. Bernie cleared his throat, then asked. “What about our brothers? What are their names?”

  “Humphrey and Darwin. They’re on their way here. I’m their legal guardian,” Del replied.

  Bernie stood, stumbling away. “I left them there with them. Oh my God. That’s why they said I should come home to protect my brothers when they came to see me in the hospital. I thought they were talking about the two of you. But you were long gone. I should have gone back.”

  “You didn’t know.” Del gripped him.

  “I should have gone back.” Bernie shook his head wildly.

  “For what? To die?” Bur spat.

  “If I had to.”

  “What about Tomas? If you hadn’t left, you wouldn’t have found him,” Del said.

  “And wouldn’t have found us again, or be here for our little brothers now. What good would that have done? We need to be here for them.”

  “For them,” Bernie said furiously.

  “For them,” Bur and Del echoed.

  Bernie took a shuddering breath, and then his face firmed. “We’re going to get them the help they need. We’ll open Triumvirate, and help people who don’t feel they have anyone to turn to. As for our parents, if they’re stupid enough to come here, we’ll handle it together.”

  “Together,” Bur said.

  “They’ll pay,” Del said, his tone leaking power.

  “They will.” Bernie smiled grimly.

  He walked out of the room. Spotting Megan, he asked, “Where’s Tomas?”

  She pointed. Her face was sympathetic. Bernie went where she’d gestured. Going to the back patio, he noted Tomas was standing, looking out at the lake. He walked toward him. Tomas turned to him. His eyes were probing. Tomas opened his arms. Bernie ran to him and gripped him fiercely. Tomas sank to his knees and held him, rocking him. Bernie sobbed. The thought of two more boys living with what they had tore at his heart.

  “What did you all do to him?” Tomas roared.

  Bernie glanced up, startled. He looked back and saw Del and Bur standing close to them. Bernie turned to Tomas.

  “They didn’t do anything.” Bernie filled him in quickly on what he had learned.

  “Your brothers are away from them. That’s a good thing. As for them coming here for Del, well they’ll find they can’t fuck with family.” Tomas’s expression was grim.

  “You don’t even like Bur, or know Del.” Bernie was shocked.

  “Bur is growing on me. Del… well, we’ll have a chat about his manipulation. None of that matters more than you. They are your family. Humphrey and Darwin too. So they’re mine. Te amo, Bernie,” Tomas said fiercely.

  “I love you too, Tomas.” Bernie kissed him softly, then drew back.

  “Now, we need to plan what we’ll do when they come. And you all need to work on Triumvirate to help people.” Tomas stood, pulling Bernie with him.

  They headed into the house to plan.

  BERNIE took a breath, shaking his head. Since reconnecting with Del, the rest of July to now, the middle of August, had passed in a blur. He’d completed everything to get his degrees, and the ceremony would be in about two weeks, at the end of August. Tomas and he had already had their own private celebration. His brothers were overjoyed with his accomplishment.

  Having his brothers back was surreal. The three of them had clicked as they always did. He and Bur already had plans laid out for today to be a small ceremony to start off the center; however, with Del included, it had taken on even bigger proportions than they’d planned.

  When Del had stated they needed to make a splash about the center to let everyone know about it, including those who they eventually planned to help, they hadn’t thought it was possible in the time they had to get such an event set up. They had forgotten how Del was when he got his mind set on something. He was relentless. Age and time had only made him even more so. Del was a dynamo with arranging what Bernie and Bur had thought would be impossible. Between both Bur and Del’s connections and the funding Del had lined up, they were well on their way.

  “You’ll be okay, kid,” Tomas said.

  “Not a kid,” Bernie said automatically.

  “Habit, honey.” Tomas smirked.

  Bernie ignored him. He ran his hand down the side of his pants.

  “Triumvirate,” Bur said.

  “Triumvirate,” Del echoed.

  “Deuce,” two voices added.

  Looking at the solemn faces of Humphrey and Darwin, Bernie went to his knees and straightened their ties.

  “Luv ya, Bernie,” Humphrey and Darwin said together.

  Bernie hugged them tightly. They snuggled against him, clinging. In the two weeks since they had come to Mapson, the boys had opened up. They clung to him, Del, Bur, and Tomas, but were shy around others. The boys had a long way to go, but Bernie knew they would thrive. They all would make sure of it. He withdrew and brushed back their brown curls.

  “Are you ready to go out there?”

  “Yes,” they answered simultaneously.

  Bernie stood. The boys went to Del, standing at his side and taking his hand together. Del squeezed their hands.

  Bernie tugged Tomas with him as he pushed open the curtain. Walking up to the mike, Bernie released his hand. Immediately his gaze was drawn to the cameras at the back of the ga
thering. He knew there was both televised and print press scattered around. Bernie focused on the crowd just below where he stood. He battled back tears, looking at their family below. Tomas’s family had taken him in, making him their own. They had embraced his brothers, too, although Del and Bur were more cautious about being around them. He understood, since he had been the same when he first started becoming part of the family. Mami and Papi both had a proud look on their faces. The rest of the large extended family, which included the friends they had, all looked proud and supportive. Most had already volunteered to help any way they could. They didn’t even know how personally linked this center was to him and his brothers. They offered their help because in their eyes, they were family.

  He hadn’t revealed to any of them about the abuse from his parents. He probably never would give all the details. Tomas had filled in Miguel and some of the family that there was possible trouble coming for him and his brothers without giving too much detail. They would be vigilant about the possibility of them coming, but not let them interfere with them living their lives. Gripping the podium, he looked out at the sea of people sitting below the elevated stage, with the vivid green land behind them.

  “Welcome, everyone. August thirteenth is a special day for my brothers Dillard, Wilbur, and me. It’s our birthday. It was a hard road to get to this day, but we are here, and we survived. With our little brothers Humphrey and Darwin, we want to offer people a place to go, no matter what. That is why today, with the first shovel of dirt, we start the journey that will give birth to Triumvirate Deuce.” Bernie stepped back.

  The sound of the backhoe starting filled the air. Bernie reached for Tomas’s hand. He hissed, jerking back as a shock stung him. Bernie looked at Tomas.

  “We’re electric, honey.” Tomas winked.

  “Sparks flying all over the place,” Bernie said, taking his hand and lacing his fingers with Tomas’s.

  “Te amo, Bernie.” Tomas lifted his hand and kissed it.

  “Te amo, Tomas,” Bernie whispered.

  About the Author

  TALIA CARMICHAEL is a romantic who believes that family, no matter if it is by blood or those you choose as family, is integral to who you are. She is an author who writes sexy stories in a variety of genres. She believes in creating stories that encompass all that falling in love or lust entails, from the highs of that first blush of attraction to the lows of not knowing if you can make your coming together as a couple work, and then finally to the acceptance of the reality of making a life together. It’s all about the journey.