Page 66 of Cold Case Murder Mystery

Brooke managed a smile. “You too, Detective.”

They all left the meeting room and Brooke couldn’t stop herself from leaning on Zeke. He seemed to be the only thing holding her up. She wanted to be stronger than that, but...

Well, for once, it was nice to be so tired she didn’t worry about leaning on someone, didn’t worry about being a burden. Because Zeke was here of his own volition, just like everyone else today, helping because theywantedto. Because they cared.

“Granger texted me where to go,” Zeke said, leading her down one hallway and then into the next. They finally reached one where Brooke saw a familiar face.

Betty moved forward and enveloped her in a hug. “He’s just fine,” she reassured. “The doctor will run you through all the aftercare you’ll have to do, but he’s lucky it wasn’t more serious.”

“Thank you for being there.”

Betty pulled back. “Anytime. It’s good to see you, Brooke.”

“You too.” And Brooke meant that, even if she didn’t know how to convey it. Not when she was so tired. Achy. Hungry. Someone had tried to get her to eat, but she couldn’t stomach the thought.

“You should be able to talk to him now.” Betty opened the door to Royal’s room. “We’ll catch up more when you’re done.”

Brooke nodded and stepped into Royal’s hospital room.

He watched her get close, smiled wryly. “Hey, Chick.”

“Hey yourself.” She crossed to his bed.

“I’m fine. Really.” He pointed to her head with his good arm. “What about that?”

“Just a scratch,” she said, touching the bandage. “No concussion. I’m good.”

“Best-case scenario all in all, then, huh?”

She couldn’t agree with that because she didn’t like him hurt, but he was okay. He was alive. This was all... sorted. No more danger. No more... Sons or their father.

But where did that leave them? Her baby brother she didn’t know. She wanted to protect him now, but if he was safe, and an adult...

So she just... let herself be a burden to him. Because she loved him, he was her brother, her family. Maybe it wasn’t a burden to ask for something. Maybe it was just love.

“I hope you won’t disappear on me, Royal. I hope that we can... be each other’s family again.” She blinked back tears and tried to ignore how horrible it felt to be so... vulnerable. To admit she wanted him around. “You don’t have to—”

“Chick.”

A tear escaped, but she blinked back the rest. Royal reached out and took her hand in his. “You’re the only family I got. And it’s not your fault I messed that up. I blamed you all those years because... Well, maybe there’s no real reason. I was a dumb kid and it felt like everyone else had it better. Even you. Maybe especially you, because I know you deserved it. And I didn’t.”

“We didn’t deserve any of it, Royal.”

“Maybe not all. But I made... I’m not like you, Brooke. I’ve made some real mistakes. Maybe I didn’t deserve all that jail time, but I’m no saint.”

“You could reform.”

He grimaced then gave a little snort of a laugh. “Reform might be a stretch, but I could probably try out not breaking any laws. And to keep in touch, no matter where we end up.”

“It’d be a start.”

“It’s a promise.”

Another tear escaped and she wiped it away. She leaned over. Brushed a kiss across his forehead like she used to do when she was comforting him in the midst of something terrible when they’d been kids lost in a really awful world.

But this wasn’t terrible anymore. This was the start of something good. She was determined.

A nurse came in with a kind smile. “We need some privacy to run some tests. Visiting hours are coming to an end tonight anyway. But you can come back tomorrow, of course.”

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