Page 88 of Act of Brotherhood
“Aye, Viking, we’ll find yer mate. If for no other reason than we’ll finally get a blood match between you and old Sparkles back there,” said Striker.
Auberi stopped struggling and went eerily still. “Will Grid kill her?”
Garth closed his eyes and then nodded. “Yes. But I think he’d rather do it where I have to see it happen. It would have the most impact. Killing her out of my line of sight will lessen the dramatics he’s known for.”
Edee nodded. “It’s true. He’s sick like that. He’ll want Garth to see it happen.”
Auberi looked in the direction of the window. “I have a daughter who is in need of my help and I’m powerless right now to assist her.”
Garth understood the man’s pain. He felt the same way. He walked to the back of the jet, near Boomer and Duke, and nodded to them. “Go. We’re fine.”
“Yeah, you might be, but he’s going to tear your throat out first chance he gets,” said Boomer of Auberi.
“If he does, he’ll be killing his daughter’s mate,” said Edee with a warning tone.
Auberi’s sighed. “I’ll refrain from killing the Viking. For now.”
Boomer and Duke shared a look before they gave up and let Garth through. The other two men returned to their seats.
Auberi faced Garth. “Tell me of her.”
Garth’s throat constricted as he fought his emotions. “She’s funny. And beautiful. There is a sweet innocence to her. She has socks with inspirational phrases on them and she teaches preschool. The children love her. And her heart is big. She loves all of them.”
Auberi’s eyes grew moist as he hung on Garth’s every word.
Malik’s phone rang and he answered. Within seconds, he was next to Auberi and Garth, his eyes wide. “Brooke says they got a hit off one of the girls’ credit cards. It was just used at a motel.”
A thought hit Garth and hope swelled in him. “Grid doesn’t have them. They got away and are on the run.”
Auberi snarled. “And if we have tracked their steps, you can bet The Corporation has as well.”
Garth looked to Auberi. “Save the rage for the enemy. For now, we focus on getting to Nicolette and Clara. Then we focus on killing Grid.”
Edee let out a choked sob and smiled through her tears at the men.
Garth tipped his head. “What?”
“You just got along! It was adorable. She’s the common ground the two of you have needed to mend whatever’s between you.”
Garth’s shoulders slumped. “Over a century ago, Auberi tried to kill Grid. He told me my brother was a monster. He said he was sick and twisted when it came to women and others. I didn’t listen.” He tensed. “I stopped him from taking the killing blow. I didn’t let him stop Grid when he could have. Had I not stopped him, none of this would be happening. You wouldn’t have been hurt by Grid, he wouldn’t have Nicolette and Clara. Auberi was right. I was wrong. I’ve ruined lives because of my need to protect my brother.”
Auberi patted Garth’s back in a friendly manner. “You’re not the only one who has stood up for a man they believed to be innocent, only to find out later they were anything but. And you’re not the first to defend his brother. You shared a womb with the man. The bond you had was strong, but I don’t sense it there now. If I’m right, you’ve more than come to grips with the idea Grid has to die.”
Garth nodded. “I will kill him myself. He’s a monster. And I’m not far from him. I could have prevented all of this by letting you do what you wanted back then. Your daughter, my wife, along with Clara would be safe. Edee wouldn’t have been hurt by him. And who knows how many more women would have been spared?”
Edee was suddenly before him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a tight hug. “You are not your brother. You are nothing like him. Yes, I hate him. Yes, I want him dead, but I don’t blame you for what you did a hundred years ago. You’re not that man anymore, and you couldn’t have known Grid would fall as far as he did.”
He gave her an awkward hug back, worried he’d scare her somehow if he moved too fast.
Auberi stared at him. “She’s right. Had I stopped to listen to reason back then, we could have perhaps found an alternative way to assist Grid. He might have been savable. I saw only one solution. I was blinded by rage. It would seem we both could have done things differently.”
Striker eased Edee from Garth and hugged her.
Garth faced Auberi. “Agreed. But this doesn’t mean you and I are going to be besties or anything.”
“Oh hell no!” shouted Auberi.
Boomer snorted. “Aww, look at that. Male bonding at its finest. Now, let’s take a look at a map and figure out our next move. We’re about to land.”
