Page 10 of Unleash You

Teak sat at his computer and typed. “Can I see your card?”

I handed him my black Amex. He raised an eyebrow. “Your dad paid with one of these when we first met at a bar, a few days before we got deployed to Iraq. We were kids, not much older than you.” He scanned the card on the reader. “Who would’ve thunk it, the rich boy would be the one to save my life months later.”

Dad used to tell us that story. His way of reminding Charlie and me that as siblings we should have each other’s backs. Dad would be happy to know I didn’t forget.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and pointed at his device. “You’re quite the businessman.”

“I’m overqualified for everything else.” He pursed his lips. “Looks like you don’t have enough credit.”

“What? How? My card doesn’t have a limit.”

“It does now. Sorry.” He turned his screen toward me. “Five hundred is all you can do. I can take it as down payment. I have some money saved up, too, that can get us started.”

“No, that’s not fair. I have the money. Just need to make a phone call.”

The math wasn’t hard. At five hundred a day, it would take me four weeks to pay him off. Same amount of time Wesley wanted me to wait. Damnit. He wasn’t bluffing about freezing my accounts.

“Try this one.” I gave him my bank card.

He ran it, then tittered. “This card has been disabled.”

I turned to Will. “Did you tell him we were coming here?”

“I work for you.” Will crossed his arms. The slight snarl of his lip told me I’d insulted him.

“I’m sorry. I just don’t like being treated like a child. And Wesley has suddenly appointed himself as my babysitter.” I stuffed a hand in my hair. “I’ll be back with the money. Be ready. We’ll leave in three weeks.”

“I’ll pencil you in.” Teak sat back on his chair and nodded at Will. “Good luck.”

After I hugged Teak and promised to stay out of trouble, I sauntered toward the car. Heat flushed through me, and all I could see was Wesley’s smug face. If he thought he could control me by freezing my accounts, he had another thing coming. He had to see that having a plan B was smart and possibly the thing that could save Charlie’s life. One team wasn’t enough. He should have ten teams looking for his best friend.

On the drive back, Will kept his eyes on the road. I wanted to apologize to him but didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry. After my conversation with Wesley earlier, I sort of assumed he hired you to spy on me.”

“I understand. Do you still believe that?”

“No. Thank you for taking me to see Teak. I promise I won’t do anything stupid. I just can’t sit here idle.” I’d been sitting still for so long, waiting to come home, to find family, to start my life. I didn’t want to do that anymore.

“Let’s hope Teak doesn’t become the only plan.”

I nodded. “Let’s hope so.”

Back at the house, Tullie had made great progress with the downstairs. The furniture had been moved to make two separate living areas in the great hall, and the sheets covering the floor-to-ceiling windows had been removed to let in what little sunlight was left of the day. Obviously, our trip to see Wesley had turned into an all-day ordeal. And still I was no closer to having a solid plan to get my brother back.

“Anabelle.” Tullie met me in the middle of the room. “You have a visitor.”

“Really? Where?”

“She’ll be here in a minute.” She waved toward the kitchen on the right side of the stone fireplace. With a smile, she made room on the coffee table, moving the fresh flowers to a side table.

My heart felt a little lighter at the sight of Wesley’s mom. “Omigod. I was going to come see you in the morning.”

“Well, I gave you all day. So now I’m here.” She set the tea tray down and hugged me. Now this was the homecoming I’d hoped for before.

“It’s so good to see you.” I swallowed my tears and sat while Lilly poured tea in two cups.

“We promised to stay in touch after our trip to Italy, and then we didn’t.” She said it as an observation more than a reproach.

“I know. Life has been crazy lately with graduation and then the move.” I sipped from my cup and almost spit it out. Her brew was more bourbon than anything else.

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