Page 1 of The Homecoming: The Island

CHAPTER 1

Finally, Ardan let out a long sigh of relief, his gaze resting on Lorcan, Thorvald, Tarrin, Ira, Gavin, and Jeroen, cuddled on the two large couches-turned-beds in the lounge of the biggest jet owned by the Bloom Enterprises. Lochlin, Emery, Nico, and Cian, the rest of the group, were sleeping into the bedroom.

The ghost of a smile played on Ardan’s pale lips at the sight of his nephew Gavin’s arm protectively wrapped around the waist of Daniel’s youngest son.There has to be something here, he thought,these two ignored each other before the kidnapping, and now… trials like the one they and the others were put through during the last few days can destroy a friendship…or forge an unbreakable bond.

Ardan left his seat, heading to the other side of the lounge area. One of the big, comfortable reclining armchairs was turned into a mini bed for the two innocent victims of the monster who was still hiding somewhere on that goddamn island. Abernathy, the youngest of Alexander Kane’s sons, slept peacefully. His older brother—mostly unconscious—was agitated, mumbling incoherent words.

Kneeling at the foot of the improvised bed, his emerald-green eyes filled with worry and concern, Alasdair unhooked the empty IV bag from Elias’s arm, replacing it with another one filled with a cocktail of vitamins and painkillers. The redhead thanked all the deities that the boy wasn’t bleeding internally and hadn’t developed any injuries to his spine or internal organs.

The teenager opened his sapphire-blue eyes, casting a disoriented look around.“Abernathy? … Please, don’t hurt him… he didn’t do anything wrong… take me instead,”Elias whined in a weak voice, tears running down his pale cheeks.

“Shh, don’t cry, please, it’s not good for you.” Ardan put a hand on the boy’s forehead, to calm him down. “Your brother is right here, next to you, he could get scared if he wakes up and sees you like that.”

“Wh—who are you? Do you work for dad? Where is he? Can I see dad, please? I promise to do whatever you want me to, just let me see him one more time.” Elias brought his hands together in a pleading gesture, fresh tears springing from his eyes.

Ardan gave Alasdair a questioning look, and, when the redhead nodded, he gave the teen a pale smile. “Your father will be here in about fifteen minutes,” he whispered thickly, heading to the plane’s cargo area, where Alexander, cuffed and chained, was guarded by Zachary, Saint, and Brennan.

“Look who is here,” the man raised his head, giving Ardan a hateful look. “You took everything from me, are you happy now? If you come to insult and hit me some more, go ahead. Nothing you do or say to me can’t touch me, you are the same pathetic little whore from twenty-something years ago.”

Ardan ignored Alexander’s poisonous words, turning to the three men guarding him. “Will one of you guys please bring a clean washcloth and some warm water, to make this one as presentable as possible, his older son asked for him.” He turned around and left, followed by Saint, who came back shortly after, a bowl filled with warm water and a washcloth in hand.

After scrubbing the dried blood off Alexander’s face, the former MI5 agent unceremoniously yanked the man to his feet, dragging him all the way from the cargo area to the lounge, where he knelt at the foot of the improvised bed where his older son lay. Taking one of the boy’s hands between his own, Alexander gently caressed it, then started to cover it with kisses, whispering words of endearment in his son’s ear.

At the sound of his father’s voice, the younger boy opened his eyes, a mix of disbelief and happiness overtaking his features. He extended a hand in Alexander’s direction, but the man, who was kissing Elias’s damp, feverish forehead, didn’t notice the gesture. Panic and pain invaded Abernathy’s sapphire-blue eyes, replacing all the joy from earlier, as he feared the worst.

And then, his older brother woke up, the smallest, palest of smiles chasing away some of the pain clawing at his fragile body, when he saw Alexander at his bedside. The shine in the two sapphires became more intense at the sight of Abernathy’s extended hand, and he wanted to mirror the gesture, but couldn’t, because of the needle stuck into his arm.

“Dad, can you please help me to reach little brother’s hand?” Although spoken in a hoarse voice, the words sounded natural, as if the three of them were the only people in the room. “What happened to your face? It looks like you were hit by a train.” Elias tried to hide his worry under a joke.

“I knew you would come out of this, you are a fighter, just like I was.” Alexander raised his head, his eyes filled with a strange mix of affection and hate. “They took everything from me, but it was worth it; you are alive and will revenge my unfair and untimely death.”

“What…Dad, I don’t understand, what are you talking about? Are you ill?” Pain veiled Elias’s eyes as his gaze swapped up and down Alexander’s face and body. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“Son, listen to me, I don’t have much time left, I need you to focus on my words. I was desperate to get you and Abernathy back, so I made a deal with my greatest enemy. He rescued the two of you, asking everything I owned in exchange, to which I agreed. However, it wasn’t enough, and now I’m his prisoner. That man swore to kill me a long time ago, and he will do so, now that I’m in his power.”

Alexander’s harsh voice and words shocked Elias, who shook his head vehemently, on the verge of crying. “No, you can’t die like that, if you do, I’ll follow you right away. I can’t live without you, dad, there are so many things you didn’t get to teach me, to…”

“You. Have. To. Live.” Alexander’s voice was cold and commanding as he stared into his older son’s eyes. “Take care of Abernathy, be humble, keep your true feelings hidden, be grateful for every bone they throw at you, and, when the time comes… hit them as hard as you can. Promise me,” Alexander urged the boy, who was barely hanging on the edge of consciousness, in an authoritarian voice.

“Bastard,” Alasdair, alerted by the beeping of the monitors Elias was connected to, hissed between clenched teeth. “What kind of father are you, can’t you see he’s distressed? Get out of my fucking way and let me do my job,” he continued, eyes darkened and dangerously narrowed. “Hey, guys, will you please take this piece of shit out of my sight?”

Saint nodded, yanked Alexander upright and pushed him to the cargo area, where he securely tied him again. For a few seconds, the former MI5 agent stared down at the man, slowly shook his head, then sat next to Brennan. Unusually calm until that moment, Ardan’s younger brother cast a murderous glare in Alexander’s direction, clenching and unclenching his fists.

Saint and Zachary feared the worst, but they decided to not intervene, unless Brennan’s temper got out of control. The goddamn rapist and murderer deserved to be beaten to death, but Ardan told everyone loud and clear he wanted the scum to be alive and fully alert when they arrived at The Base.

To Saint’s and Zachary’s great relief, Brennan stood and left the cargo area, completely ignoring Alexander. A few minutes later, Fabian Bloom came in, silently gesturing to the men to leave him alone with the prisoner. Zachary and Saint nodded, grateful to be freed from Alexander’s malevolent presence, if only for a few minutes.

“It could have been so different, if you only…” Fabian started in a hesitant voice, then stopped abruptly, searching for the right words. “We could have been brothers, in the truest, most beautiful sense of the word. You and I…we could have freed everyone from the Duke’s tyranny much sooner, and…”

“Do you hear yourself talking, Fabby boy? Brothers, you and I?” Alexander spat the words, hate contorting his face, turning it into a repulsive caricature. “Really, how pathetic can you be?”

“In a few days from now, you will be dead, and I wanted to make peace with you; as pathetic as it may sound to you, I came to apologize for my father’s bad choices.” Fabian paused for a moment, staring blankly ahead. “I’ll take care of your sons; I promise to raise them well. I’ll also offer you a proper burial; despite everything, you are my brother, even if you don’t feel the same about me.”

“You really are the most pathetic, delusional creature I ever had the misfortune to know.” Alexander shook his head, the poisonous words seeping out in a low, contemptuous voice. “I often wondered how I could stand your presence for so long.”

“I asked myself the same thing, more times than I can count.” Fabian smiled serenely, much to the other man’s irritation. “Shortly after your unexpected visit at The Base, a couple of months ago, I found out the answer: I did it for Ardan and all the other kids I managed to save from your claws and send away. Oh, and for little Jeroen, who I snatched from under your nose.”

“That little whore will betray you, just like he did to me,” Alexander replied with a cruel, ugly smile. “He eagerly bared his ass for me and took my cock in his pretty little mouth, playing the obedient little whore and making me believe he was beyond broken. Your beloved stepson, as you call him, will sell you down the river, too, dear brother, when you are no longer useful.”

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