Page 3 of Unleash You

He grabbed his mobile off his desk and pressed a few keys. “Elle, something’s come up. Re-schedule my next meeting.”

When he ended the call, his gaze met mine. His square jaw and full lips hadn’t changed. For some odd reason, he felt like home to me. After a few beats, he glanced down and grabbed a folder from under a fairly tall pile of manilas.

This was a familiar scene when Lilly and Liam drove Charlie and me to the family’s lawyer’s office. That day, we found out our parents had not survived the car crash on I-85. Charlie who had just turned eighteen had been named my legal guardian. Charlie and I were close. My parents knew he’d take care of me.

“Where’s my brother?”

Wesley’s scowl deepened. “He’s out of the country. I don’t know when he’ll be back. Which is actually why I wanted…why I needed to see you.”

My heart squeezed a little at the idea that Wesley might want to see me, not because he had news of Charlie but because he wanted me. How silly of me to believe someone like the man sitting across from me might want me. I glanced down at my pink skirt and for a moment I wished I’d worn something sexier. Would he even care?

“Well, I’m here now. So why don’t you tell me what I need to know so I can go home and get my house back in order.”

He nodded. “I’m sorry. It took me a while to find someone suitable. Will and Tullie are good people.”

“I know. Thank you for doing that. What about Charlie?”

“Right.” He swallowed.

Shit. Something was wrong. “I’m not a kid anymore. Tell me. What happened?”

“Fine.” He gestured for me to join him on the leather sofa facing the window. A ray of light cut across the coffee table and the plush area rug, making the space feel welcoming.

I meant to stay put, but when he ambled toward me and wrapped his fingers around my elbow, I melted a little and couldn’t find the words to refuse him. He sat, bracing his arms on his thighs. This close, the speckles of green in his hazel eyes put me in some kind of trance. I’d spent so many years worshipping him from afar that it was hard to believe we were together again. Alone. So many times, I’d told myself I didn’t have feelings for Wesley anymore, that my crush for him was nothing more than a childhood whim. Sitting here, like this, I was reminded of the one constant I’d had since I left Atlanta. I was still in love with Wesley Cole.

“Is this about Venezuela? Charlie mentioned in his letters that things were heating up quite a bit.”

Wesley opened his mouth, but no words came out. Instead, he smiled at his hands. “Right. He said that in his letters.”

No doubt Charlie told Wesley all about our correspondence. My cheeks turned hot. Had Charlie also mentioned all the times I’d asked about Wesley? I hoped he hadn’t.

“Toward the end, things got more than heated. Our unit was evacuated. Charlie didn’t make it out.”

The room spun a few times before Wesley took my hand in his and made it stop. The words flashed in my head, but I couldn’t say them aloud. Charlie wrote to me just last week. How could he be missing? More memories flashed in my mind’s eye. Charlie calling me a brat every time I talked him into watching another Disney movie with me, or pushing me on the swing for the hundredth time that day.

I had so much to tell him. I wasn’t that girl anymore. He’d sent me away because he couldn’t deal with me and what I’d done to our parents. They died because of me.Charlie, don’t be dead. I can’t lose you too.And now the only family I had left could be gone too. I hadn’t told him how sorry I was, how much I wanted to make up for lost time. I’d been too afraid to come back. And now I was too late.Charlie, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

My voice echoed the same words I told Charlie when I explained what happened, why Dad had gotten distracted because of me. I thought Charlie would understand and forgive me. I cradled my head, covering my ears, but it was no use. Charlie had already uttered the words that would stay with me for years.

The love he had for me turned to hate, for taking everything away from him. Our happy, loving family was gone because of me. I was selfish, fighting with Mom over some stupid party. Wasn’t that it? I rubbed my temple. I’d spent so long trying to forget. But not anymore. I was here to make things right with Charlie.

“Say something?” Wesley squeezed my fingers.

“I received a letter from him before I got here. How are you telling me that he’s gone now?”

“I wrote the letter. I thought it would be better if you heard the news in person.” His cheeks flushed. The warmth of his hands seeped through like honey with a calming effect. “I’m so sorry. I couldn’t save him. I promise you I tried.”

“Is he dead?” My heart drummed so hard I could hardly breathe.

“We don’t know.”

“Who’swe?”

He glanced upward and puffed out air. “A private investigator. A small team.”

“Why are the marines not looking for him?”

“Long story short, after we left Maracaibo, we were honorably discharged. We disobeyed direct orders, and innocent lives were lost. Because we were there on a special ops mission, the marines had been limited on how much they could do for Charlie. I hired someone to go look for him in the jungle.”

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