Page 13 of Rising Storm

He didn't wait for Gareth to get back into the car as he shot out after the sedan. The face was older, broader, but there was no doubt in his mind it was Sayer.

He veered into traffic, narrowly avoiding hitting a Lexus as he sped up to follow his brother. The car swerved, his brother bypassing the speed limit fast. Helix did his best to keep up, cursing and weaving in and out of cars and when Sayer ran a red light, Helix was still too far back to keep up and he was pinned between two trucks and couldn't reach the light to run it himself. He pounded on the steering wheel as he watched the red vehicle disappear from his view and when the light finally turned green, his tires screeched as he shot out to the right in front of a car that honked at him.

He ran the next two red lights before he realized Sayer must have turned at some point and could be anywhere.

He pulled into a parking lot and rested his forehead on the steering wheel, breathing hard, his heart aching. He'd had him. Had him! Anger simmered low in his gut and he cursed and sat back in the seat. Spots swam before his eyes as he came down from the hot surge of adrenaline. He waited it out, then slowly made his way back to the parking lot where he'd left Gareth.

The man stood, hands on his hips, obviously fuming. Gareth got into the vehicle. “What the

Hell, Helix?”

He shot him a startled glance. “You told me to go after him if he bolted.”

“That’s not why I’m mad. I saw the guy driving that car and he could have been your twin. What’s going on?”

But Helix didn’t answer. He drove them back to the motel with Gareth firing questions the whole way. Ignoring him, he slammed out of the car and walked into his motel room, Gareth hot on his heels.

“You knew that guy,” Gareth growled. “I know you did. I saw your face when you saw him.”

"You don't know what you're talking about. I'm sorry I took off after him and left you there, but I ended up losing him anyway."

"Losing who? Don't tell me you don't know who that was."

“Fuck this,” Helix hissed and shoved Gareth with both hands to the chest. Hard. He snarled and moved in until Gareth’s breath wafted over his face. “Back off. I said you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Then tell me.” Gareth grabbed his hips when he went to move back, anchoring him in place. “God, you’re so damned alone. All the time. And that guy was obviously family and shocked as Hell to see you.”

“He looked more shocked to see you and you know why?” He curled his lip again. “Because everything about you screamscopand just like me, he’s been under Hayrick’s direction—and from an even younger age than me. Now he’s fucking spooked!”

Gareth’s eyebrows went up. “How young?”

Helix stared at him for long moments. “Twelve. He was twelve when our family was murdered. That was my brother, dammit, and you won't have anything to do with him. Do you hear me?”

“Oh, Helix.” Brown eyes went liquid with compassion and big hands smoothed up his chest to hold his shoulders. “Your family was murdered? How old were you?”

“I told you I was fifteen.” He licked his lips, so shocked Gareth was touching him like this, he couldn't move. Could hardly think.

Gareth’s gaze dropped to Helix's tongue. “And you’ve been looking for your brother all this time?”

He opened his mouth then closed it. “Fuck this,” he repeated, softly this time, as his eyes locked on Gareth’s mouth. Then he lifted his gaze and it locked with Gareth’s. Something moved between them, an awareness that sent blood straight to Helix’s dick. Desire glazed Gareth’s eyes as they stared at each other and it was enough to send panic shooting through Helix.

He stepped away, working to bring his body back under control.

But Gareth took a step closer. “Helix?” His voice was soft and raspy with the lust Helix could feel snapping between them. It shocked him that the man felt the same way, but Hell if Helix was going to do anything about it.

“This is not happening,” he snapped.

“There’s something here.” Gareth started to reach out to him, then dropped his hand. “I know you feel it, too.”

“Well, I’m not acting on it, so don’t get your hopes up. You and I, Cop, are a bad, bad idea.”

Gareth chuckled, then shook his head. “So tell me about your brother then.”

"No."

"You've been trying to find him all this time, haven't you?"

He didn't say anything because it was so damned obvious that's what he'd been doing.

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