Page 58 of Ensnared By Silence
James tilted his head and one cheek lifted as he shook it. “Let’s go downstairs. Devlin’s waiting for us.”
James turned and walked down the stairs, and as Aubrey went to follow, I gently grasped her wrist. She turned her gaze to me, and I leaned over, needing to kiss her. The strength she was showing during such a traumatic time was inspiring.
“Are you sure this is what you want? I promise, I’ll handle Tucker and you never have to see him again.”
She placed her small hand on my cheek and leaned up to her tiptoes. I mirrored her and our lips met softly as she whispered, “I love you, Hayden, but I need to do this.”
“Then let’s go see what your brothers have planned.”
Linking my hand with hers, I walked with her down the stairs, and as the living room came into view, I felt her hand grip mine tighter. Someone cleaned up the broken glass from their scuffle, but there was still evidence of her struggle. Two of the pictures of us I had framed from the holidays were missing, there was a dark red stain on the rug near the coffee table, and a chair was missing near the fireplace.
As we entered the room, both Devlin and James turned to us, their faces filled with worry. Aubrey released my hand as we approached, and James pulled her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around him, and he whispered into her ear before she nodded against his chest. Releasing her, she turned and was engulfed in Devlin’s arms, the normally stoic man visibly upset and emotional over her ordeal.
Pulling back, he brushed his thumb over her bruised cheek and spoke, his deadly tone deep and low. “Beautiful sister, I promise he won’t breathe after tonight. Can I convince you to stay here with Hayden and let us handle this?”
“I’m not broken, Devlin. I’ve lived through worse than this, and I want to see him pay. I want to watch him suffer. I deserve at least that,” she argued, and I felt the breath catch in my throat as an evil smile overtook Devlin’s face.
His blue eyes danced, and he looked over Aubrey’s head at James, who had the same disturbing smile on his face. She stepped back to me and took my hand in hers. Looking to her, she smiled at me and I saw the woman I loved staring back, just a little battered from her ordeal. The strength she was displaying was amazing, but I worried she would break down later.
Vowing to pick up every little shard if she needed it, I turned my attention to the Callahan brothers and raised my eyebrows in expectation. “Well, what’s the plan?”
“I’ll allow you to be there with us tonight to deal with Tucker, but I need you to trust us that Jared and Wesley will get what’s coming to them. Can you trust me, Aubrey?” James asked, and she smiled.
“I trust you, James.”
James
After finding out Aubrey was my sister, I made every effort to spend time with her, making up for the years the selfish cunt who birthed us kept us apart. I would have found a way to take care of her, never allowing the tainted touch of the Flats to graze her beautiful soul. The darkness embraced her, and she fought to find the light, wrapped in secrets, and choosing to bear the pain of silence alone. I wouldn’t refuse her the closure she needed, and as I looked to Devlin, I knew he wanted to tell her everything about how he saved her all those years ago.
If he would have known she was my sister, he would have helped find her a foster home that was closer to us and I would have been able to shield her. Instead, I would avenge her and the abusers who thought it was okay to take advantage of women, stripping them of their choice, their voice, and their peace of mind.
“Skid has him secured at the warehouse and we need to head over there. Is this really what you want? You can change your mind and no one would think any less of you,” I explained, and she shook her head violently.
“Tucker did what he did to me on purpose, and I want him to know I’m returning the favor.” Her blue eyes were locked with mine and I saw the same rage burning deep in her as I felt every day since my mother gave me to Marco.
Her words stopped me cold, and I whipped my head to Devlin, finding him barely holding on by a thread. Hayden was rigid next to her and any fear I had regarding his ability to handle the impending bloodshed was erased by the homicidal look in his eyes.
“You need to change clothes and meet us at the condo,” Devlin ordered, and I stepped up to Aubrey.
Grasping her by the hand, I guided her to the side of the living room as Hayden and Devlin came together, whispering and turning their backs to us. Aubrey looked up at me and the black bruise was growing on her cheek. The whites of her beautiful blue eyes were pink, and I made a mental note to have the Death Hounds’ doc check her over.
Pushing the anger down, I gently brushed my finger over the top of her cheek and she winced under my touch. “I’m sorry I didn’t stop him before he could hurt you.”
“The painful steps we take in life lead us where we’re meant to go.”
I blinked, unable to find words to praise her strength. “Are you sure you want to be a part of this? It will get . . . bloody.”
I hated to admit the truth of how deadly I am, but there would be no hiding the monster inside me once she sees what I have planned for Tucker.
“Blood doesn’t scare me,” she whispered and looked up through her thick lashes. “Him thinking I was weak enough to accept his fate does. I want him to know I’m stronger than him.” Her voice lowered to almost inaudible. “I want to watch him suffer, James. Does that make me a monster?”
“No, darlin’. It makes you human, but more importantly, it makes you my sister.” I smiled and one cheek lifted on her bruised face.
Walking her back to Hayden, he took her hand and kissed the back as Devlin nodded and walked out the door. Without another word, I left Aubrey and Hayden standing in the cabin and followed my brother out, each step building the anger.
I climbed into the passenger seat of Devlin’s SUV and the drive back to our condo was silent. Both of us were locked in the madness our monsters required in order to kill, and the transition was easy when the level of anger we were experiencing was this high.
“I want Aubrey to get whatever she needs from this before I ask Hayden to take her away. I don’t want blood to ever touch her again,” I admitted as he pulled into the underground garage and turned the vehicle off.
