Page 25 of Perfect Pitch

“Christ, Trevor, what did you get yourself into now?” I growl as I wheel the SUV I’m supposed to be parking away from the garage beneath Beckett Miller’s building and head in the direction of Fort Washington. I don’t care that it’s two-thirty in the morning. My brother should know after receiving a call like that, I will be hauling ass as fast as I can to find out what’s going on.

I’ve loved my brother since the moment he was placed in my arms. An overwhelming sense of possessiveness swam through my veins when he grabbed my thumb for the first time. As young as two, he was declaring to his elementary school aged brother I was his.

Good thing, because he was mine.

Between the fact Trevor was born to them so late in life and the things revealed when he was a teenager to parents who couldn’t handle social change, parenting became too much. My temper takes another hit when I recall my parents walking away with the words, “Why can’t you behave more like your brother?”

Like I’ve been such a role model.

I was willing to chuck my dreams, but instead Uncle Charlie, who was transitioning his role at Hudson Investigations, took over the last few years of raising Trevor while I worked my first few years as a New York City police officer. Much later, when Charlie recognized I’d had enough with the force and earned my trial by fire, he put my name in for consideration to join the elite cadre of agents at Hudson Investigations where he once headed their Missing Children and Protective Services Division.

But it was almost a sixth sense that made him reach out that afternoon nine years ago. We would receive the occasional phone call from him, but he stepped up in a way our parents hadn’t. Under Charlie’s influence, Trevor was free to be the man he was meant to be.

Happy.

And I’ll always be grateful.

That’s why my ass is driving through New York City streets at a crazy hour after dropping off my primary when he arrived back from a concert in Boston. For a heartbeat before I wheeled the car around in the garage, I considered getting some sleep after the madness that follows rockstar Beckett Miller wherever he goes and visiting my brother in the morning but then I disposed of the idea. If I’m up, he can be. And so can this nightmare who likely can’t hold a beat.

I use my keycard to park in the underground parking garage and head up to Trevor’s floor. No need to announce myself, I think as I hear the party going on from the moment I exit the elevator. “Christ, I’m surprised the neighbors aren’t reporting him to the board.”

Approaching Trevor’s door, I’m shocked to find it’s flung open. That’s when my jaw sags because it’s possible every resident of River View is singing along with a little thing behind the microphone. “I must have stepped into an alternate universe.” I spy the Franks in 6A head banging—and they’re in their late 70s. Mrs. Kwan in 3C has her arms in the air. They’re all here—I recognize the Bernts, the Garcias, the Vanovers. I wince when I get a load of the Parkers grinding beneath... “When the hell did he install a disco ball?”

Now that I’ve surveyed the room, the only person I don’t recognize is the tiny slip of a girl who has her arm wrapped around my brother as she duets with Adele as if the two women were meant to sing together from the cradle. “Leave me breathless, with every move you make. Leave me breathless, with every word you say.”

Instead of joining in the fun, I text Charlie:

Mitch:

Let me guess. You were here?

Charlie:

Of course I was, boy. Don’t be dense.

Mitch:

And I’m here, why?

Charlie:

To see her with your brother. What do you think of them together?

Adele sings the final line of her refrain and the rainbow haired goddess counters her, “I never knew love could be so true.”

Even as Trevor swings his arm around her shoulders, I want to rip it from his body and beat him bloody with it. It’s an emotion I’ve never felt, neither about a woman nor toward my brother. My gaze narrows even further on the only inhabitant of the room I’m not familiar with.

Then I catch her studying me. A guileless, welcoming smile spreads across her lips as she leans in to croon into the microphone again.

For some reason, that irritates me. I’m not here to be seduced by a pint-sized doll with a voice that’s as smooth as whiskey. I’m here to do just what my uncle asked me and get the fuck out so I can get some sleep before Beckett gets some burning desire to make my life a living hell with another reckless idea—like breathing. Reaching over, I flick on the lights so I can get a better impression of my brother’s face and of this woman that’s invaded his life and home with such ease.

Immediately, a bunch of “Boos!” are hurled in my direction. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Mrs. Bernt rolling her eyes before nudging the man next to her and muttering, “Who called the po-po while we were having fun?”

Having overheard her, amusement flickers across the girl’s face which is more exquisite illuminated. Then Trevor spots me. He shouts, “Hey! What are you doing here?”

Something eases around my heart at his enthusiastic welcome. I jerk my chin up at him before teasing the room, “If I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I’d never believe the residents of River View could party like it’s 1999.”

My brother glances at the massive wall clock I gave him as a housewarming gift before exclaiming, “Holy crap. I didn’t realize the time. It’s three a.m.!”

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