Page 81 of Embattled Ever After

“LeBoutin knew I would be around to protect you,” Aiden continued, “because you’re my only living relative. So he used you and Shannon to draw me out.”

John blinked and realized he’d just been told his mother was dead. It didn’t really have much affect on him, other than a twinge of curiosity being satisfied. He’d known his mother was a piece of shit. It sounded like Aiden had figured that out as well.

“Kansas City was a fluke,” Aiden admitted. “I had just found my buddy gutted, and I needed a place to curl up and hide for a while. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize how far I’d let my body go, then with the shock of his death to deal with, I was kind of out of it. When I woke up, I was belted to a bed in a hospital I didn’t remember walking into.” His gaze flicked to Alex. “Sorry I was so harsh, Doc. My history with doctors is not… nice. I woke up ready to kill.”

For the first time, John spotted the tells his brother was trying to hide. There was a sheen of moisture across his forehead and the fist out of their line of sight kept clenching at his side. He could see the muscles of his arm contracting as he did it. Aiden didn’t relish being here in this hospital any more now than he had then, but he was controlling himself to appear calm. Like they all did.

“So, what’s next,” John asked, trying not to soften toward the man. “Shannon and I just sit here like ducks waiting for the next bad guy to come after you, or us?”

Aiden winced. “I’m sorry, John. I’ve imagined talking to you many times, and getting to know you, but I never expected it to go this way. I believe LeBoutin is dead. I can’t feel him in the area any more. I’m leaving town for a while to try to draw their attention away, and I need to talk to the rest of my team. Things are coming to a head and we have to have countermeasures in place. We have one vital piece of information that these men need, and we’re not giving it up until we’re positive it will be used correctly.”

He glanced at Duncan. “I’m sorry you got dragged into all this. When I met you last year, I was at a pretty low point in my life. You gave me some hope that I could get back to where I was before all this shit went down for me. You were kind to me at a vital time and I thank you for that.”

Duncan tipped his head at him.

“And the same for you, Doc,” Aiden continued. “I know we met in a rough situation, but I appreciated the way you treated me afterward.”

Alex didn’t say anything, just nodded while she rubbed her hand over Duncan’s.

Aiden stood and walked toward him. He held out his hand and John took it, clasping it strongly. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to know each other. Maybe when all these things kind of simmer down I can come back and see my nephews.”

John smiled fully for the first time. “Your nieces you mean? I know my luck. It will be girls.”

Aiden shook his head. “You’d better be picking out boy names.”

He headed for the door.

“Hey,” John called.

His brother turned back with a brow lifted. “Yeah?”

“What’s your name, little brother?”

Aiden gave him just a quirk of lips. “James. James Rogers. That was the name she told the priest when she dropped me off at a church a few months after she left you. I think you used to call me Jaime.”

John felt the shock of recognition go through him. His namehadbeen Jaime. And their mother had been a useless piece of crap, like he’d always expected. He nodded and held out his hand again.

Jaime took his hand in his own, and there was a shock of connection. John tried to discount it as an electrical snap, but it seemed so much more. Jaime’s smile broadened and he winked, then let himself through the door.

John watched him go, feeling surprisingly bereft. Yes, he was still pissed and worried for Shannon and the babies, but underneath it all was the feeling that he’d finally found family. Now that family was leaving again, perhaps never to come back.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Duncan hated feelinglike he was running a group therapy session, though he understood the need for it. It had been hard to settle down after Aiden, or Jaime, had left. Conjecture had run rampant and they’d talked about the situation for a solid hour after he’d left. When Shannon stopped by they’d had to recount everything again. She’d wiped away tears as she heard about his history.

“It sounds like he’s been through a lot. If he’s been willing to live on the streets just to watch over you, that’s really something, John. And he knew you worked with the vets at Harmony House. That’s why he’s been spotted there. LeBoutin obviously had a homeless cover as well. What better way to blend in than to be invisible?”

She was completely right.

All of the rest of the pieces began to fall together. The truck Jaime had been driving the day Shannon had been attacked was indeed the same vehicle that had been parked at the K-Mart parking lot for months. It was the same truck he’d driven when Shannon had been run off the road, but the surveillance footage from the construction company clearly showed an aggressor vehicle. Dark in color, fairly recent make. But they never saw the driver of that vehicle, or the license plate.

It was the same with the hospital footage. When they looked at the scene with the image of John’s truck in the center, it was very visible that a shot had been fired from off-frame and struck the man pancaking himself over John, but the shooter was never spotted.

That was a hard scene for Duncan to watch, because it was a pivotal point in his life. On the other side of the truck he could see the horror on Zeke’s face when he realized what he’d accidentally done, and the fear on Alex’s face as she screamed for help. Then her rapid-fire orders to get him care.

Now… three days later… Alex was still here by his side. Even as he cursed and growled and fought, she stayed with him. Even when his family was called in, she fought to stay by his side, or close by. She’d gone home a couple of times to get changed and shower, but she had always returned the next time he woke. When Fisk had come in to talk to him about his plans after release, she’d very firmly advised them all she would be taking care of him at home. His mother had seemed taken aback and a little put out by Alex’s vehemence, but she hadn’t said a word. Duncan could have argued as well, but he had seen the militant look in Alex’s eyes.

He’d never had anyone be that strongly in his corner before, so it was a little shocking. But honestly, he loved it too. There was no hesitation in her demeanor as the physical therapist showed her the exercises to do at home, and the cautions of home life.

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