Page 52 of Four Stepbrothers for Christmas

I said nothing, taking her hand and letting her reminisce. She smiled, squeezing my hand back.

She chuckled softly. "I was trying to climb a tree, wanting to build a treehouse or something silly like that. But I was a little too ambitious and chose the tallest tree I could find. I managed to get pretty high up, but then got scared and couldn’t come back down. I was about ten years old. I got stuck up there for an hour. Then, sure enough, Mikey showed up.”

She nodded, smiling at the memory. "He was so mad at me for climbing so high. But instead of scolding me, he scaled that tree like it was nothing. He came up, calmed me down, and then helped me climb down, step by step." She paused, her voice softer. "He always looked out for me, you know? Whenever I did something reckless, he was always there to help, even though he was the younger one."

I could imagine a young Mikey, all gangly limbs, his face set in determination, doing whatever it took to make sure his sister was safe. The bond between them was evident.

She sighed deeply, the smile fading a little. "He saved me and now I’m trying to save him."

The weight of the situation settled back on us, and I looked at the matter from her point of view. Mikey, once the reliable brother, had lost his way. And it was now up to Becca to help guide him back.

I pulled her close, my arm wrapping around her shoulders. "He's lucky to have you, Becca. And so are we."

“Thanks.” Her voice wavered, the emotions from the past mingling with the weight of the present. The corners of her eyes glistened with unshed tears. I could feel the subtle tremor in her hand as it gripped my arm, and it was evident how the magnitude of everything was getting to her.

Vinnie leaned forward and placed a gentle hand on her knee. "Hey," he began softly, "you don't always have to be the strong one, you know?"

Becca's eyes met his, the strength in her gaze slightly overshadowed by the shimmering tears.

"That strength of yours, it's one of the things we all adore about you," Isaac chimed in, his voice filled with warmth. "But remember, you're not alone in this. We're here, and we'll help carry the weight."

She blinked, the tears spilling over and tracing lines down her cheeks. Without a word, she shifted closer and buried her face in my shoulder. Her body trembled with restrained sobs. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. Archer reached over, gently rubbing her back, while Vinnie took one of her hands in his, squeezing it reassuringly.

She looked up at me, her eyes glistening. "We just have to find him, Luke. Before it's too late."

I nodded, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "We will. We have each other. And together, we're unstoppable."

Becca drew in a deep breath, and I could sense a shift in her. The vulnerability was still there, but layered over it was her signature determination. We drove in silence for a few moments, our shared concern for Mikey closing in on all of us.

The neighborhood we approached gradually transformed. Gone were the manicured lawns and quaint houses. They were replaced by cracked pavements, graffiti-sprayed walls, and houses that had seen far better days. The buildings had a worn-out, defeated look to them, some with boarded-up windows and unkempt yards littered with discarded items.

The scant number of people we saw moved with a shuffle, their eyes scanning the surroundings, wary of any potential threat. An old car, rust eating its edges, rumbled past us, its engine sputtering more than purring.

We finally pulled up in front of a particularly dilapidated house. Its paint was peeling, the porch sagged, and I noticed a couple of windows on the upper floor were shattered. There was an air of abandonment, though a dim light shone through a gap in the thick curtains of one of the windows. Sounds of a muffled argument leaked through the walls, punctuated by a laugh with more madness in it than mirth.

Archer leaned forward from the backseat, his gaze sharp. "Are you sure this is the place?"

Becca glanced at her phone again, double-checking the Airtag's location. "Yeah, this is it."

Isaac's eyes were hard, his protective instincts evident. "We should go in together. Stay close, and don't engage unless necessary."

I caught her hand and squeezed. "You ready for this?"

She paused, her eyes searching the house once more. The trepidation was clear in her gaze, but she set her jaw and nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Chapter 33

Becca

Stepping onto the creaky porch of the dilapidated house, a chill ran down my spine. The feeling was oppressive, as if dark things happened within these walls. Every possible negative outcome ran through my head, and I had to push back a horrifying image of finding him lifeless inside, arriving just a little too late to prevent the overdose that finally did him in.

But as much as fear threatened to consume me, the presence of the guys surrounding me was like a protective shield. Luke was at my left, his eyes never leaving mine, communicating silent reassurances. To my right, Vinnie was scanning the surroundings, while Archer was right behind me, and Isaac was a few steps ahead, taking point.

Mustering all the courage I had, I raised my fist and knocked, the sound echoing ominously. The door was opened a crack by a gaunt man, his eyes bloodshot and his face lined with the evidence of years of hard living. He eyed us suspiciously, especially noting the four men who towered around me.

"Who're you?" he rasped, voice dripping with suspicion.

"I'm here for Mikey," I said as calmly as I could manage, trying not to let the desperation show in my voice. "Is he here?"

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