Page 1 of Ethan's Command

CHAPTER 1

Arms crossed tightlyover her chest, Brooklyn Alexander stared at her nephew and tried to maintain some semblance of calm. “Because I said so.” God, she hated the Mom-tone in her words. She exhaled, softening her tone. “Liam, we talked about this. No more video games after school with your friends until after the science fair. It’s this weekend, so it’s not like you have to wait long. Today is Tuesday. Sunday afternoon, once everything is over, you and your friends can play again.”

“But that’s so long,” Liam groaned, dragging out the word. His shoulders slumped under the weight of disappointment. “There’s a new mod, and the guys are downloading it today. They’ll get to play it and finish before I even get to start.”

Brooklyn glanced at Liam’s friends, who were all sitting in front of their laptops staring at the screens as if they were still playing the game. She knew they were listening, so she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Instead, she softened her expression. “Liam, you love science. You were so excited about the fair. Your project is amazing—it deserves to be finished.”

“Fine,” Liam muttered, slamming his laptop closed. He stood and glanced around. “Where’s my backpack?”

Nakoa pointed toward Liam’s backpack which was by his feet. Snatching the bag off the floor with a dramatic huff, Liam started packing up his stuff.

“Where’s Ren?” Brooklyn asked. Ren was the fourth musketeer and Liam’s closest friend.

“He wasn’t in school today,” Nakoa offered.

“Or yesterday,” Keoni added. “We haven’t seen him since Monday when we played here after school. I heard one of the teachers say he’s out sick.”

“Liam, did you check on him? See if he needed anything?”

Liam grunted. “He said he’s fine.” His stuff all packed, Liam stormed toward the door of the coffee shop, his sneakers squeaking on the tile floor. He ignored his friends when they called their alohas.

“See you later, boys.” Brooklyn shook her head and headed after Liam. She glanced at Dave, the café owner, who was standing behind the counter with a knowing grin.

“You’ve got your hands full,” Dave teased, his deep voice tinged with humor as he reached for the phone behind the counter.

“You don’t know the half of it,” she replied, managing a smile in return. “Thanks, Dave.”

And she meant it. Dave Akana was a gem of a human. He let Liam and his friends hang out in the back of his café after school, gaming on the café’s reliable internet. His rules were simple: no yelling and no swearing. As long as the boys respected the space and didn’t disturb other customers, they were welcome. Brooklyn appreciated his generosity more than words could express.

Dave’s Café was a cozy, unassuming place on a quiet corner of town. The fragrant aroma of coffee and freshly baked pastries usually greeted her as soon as she walked through the door. The chatter of regulars added to the welcoming atmosphere. Shecouldn’t imagine a safer space for Liam and his friends to hang out.

Liam ran a tab for snacks—chips, cookies, sodas—all the essentials for an after-school hangout, which either she or her brother paid off at the end of the month. It was a small price to pay to keep Liam entertained and out of trouble. Dave understood that better than most. He’d told her stories of his own teenage years that raised the hair on her arms. To say his life had been rocky was an understatement. Baking had given him a direction and a livelihood, and he was determined to provide kids with a safe space where they could just be kids.

Brooklyn hurried to catch the door before it shut and stepped out onto the bustling sidewalk. The late afternoon sun was beginning to dip, casting long shadows across the pavement. Liam was already stomping down the sidewalk, his backpack bouncing with each angry step. His lanky frame, all elbows and knees, was a growing resemblance to his father’s and grandfather’s tall builds. Brooklyn, on the other hand, had taken after her mother—short and curvy.

She tucked a few strands of blonde hair behind her ear as she followed in Liam’s wake, her scrubs rustling with every step. He was a great kid, she reminded herself. He was just upset. Jackson, Liam’s father, had called the night before with the news that he wouldn’t make it to the science fair. Liam had been crushed.

Jackson had sounded heartbroken on the phone, too, but the trip to Japan was a big opportunity. Brooklyn didn’t fault him for taking it even though it meant disappointing his son. Jackson had only been with the company for eight months, and they were already asking for his input on strategy. It was everything he’d dreamed of, and Brooklyn was thrilled for him. That didn’t stop her from wishing he could have been here for Liam.

Liam reached the corner and stopped, waiting for the light to change. Brooklyn quickened her pace. Maybe she could salvage the evening. “Liam!” she called. “Wait up. Let’s grab some takeout.”

Liam turned to face her just as the squeal of tires shattered the calm afternoon. A white van screeched to a halt in front of him, and the sliding door flew open. Two men jumped out.

Brooklyn’s heart stopped. Her world narrowed into a tunnel, and all she could see was Liam. Her purse slipped from her shoulder, hitting the sidewalk with a thud, as she broke into a sprint. “Liam!” she screamed, her voice raw with terror.

The men were on him, their hands yanking at his arms as they tried to wrestle him toward the van. They were young—teenagers, maybe—but that didn’t make them any less dangerous.

Brooklyn didn’t think, didn’t hesitate. She threw herself at the man on Liam’s left, slamming her hand into his throat with a sharp cry. He staggered back, coughing and clutching his neck. Her grip on Liam’s arm was fierce, pulling him back as the other man, a stocky brute with bulging muscles, tightened his hold.

“Hey!” a voice yelled from behind them. “I’m calling 9-1-1!”

The stocky man froze, his dark eyes flicking toward the voice. With a curse, he let go of Liam, grabbed his coughing companion, and shoved him back into the van. The door slammed shut, and the vehicle roared across the intersection, disappearing into the chaos of traffic.

Brooklyn pulled Liam into her arms, her hands trembling as she checked him over. “Are you okay? Liam, are you okay?” Her voice cracked as she ran her hands over his arms and shoulders, searching for any sign of injury.

“I–I think so,” Liam stammered, his wide eyes swimming with fear. His small frame trembled against her.

“You’re okay,” Brooklyn whispered, holding him tight. “You’re okay, honey. You’re okay.” She repeated it like a mantra, as much for herself as for him.

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