They’re nineteen, so they’re technically men. However, at that age they still have that boyish humor to them. They’re still silly and carefree. They haven’t been hardened by the world yet.
If I have it my way, they never will be. I was hardened by this life at such a young age, and I never want them to feel this. I want them in a small town with houses next to each other and sitting in rockers surrounded by their wives and grandkids when they’re eighty. Still carefree, still doing little bits like this to make life just a little easier.
My eye catches on movement out of the corner of the far screen lining my desk. Bringing up the camera, the entire image fills my screen. It’s the CCTV I hacked into from the corner store across from the church. Davis is standing outside by himself, scanning the street. He’s done this every time he’s at the church since I started watching. After that day I ran into him, I decided to just keep tabs on the church. Just as the clock in the far right corner of my computer screen strikes seven, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and looks at it. His shoulders deflate, and he turns on his heels, heading inside. I don’t know what or who he’s looking for, but whatever it is, he looks more defeated as the days tick by. Minimizing the image, I go back to work. I have to find this fucker before Rowan sends me to the warehouse instead of this guy. Pouring myself another drink, I settle in for the next couple of hours.
* * *
Mac: I miss you. Can I see you today?
Lee: Today isn’t a good day. I miss you too.
Mac: I’m trying to not let this hit my ego, but it seems like you’re avoiding me.
Lee: I’m not, I promise. It’s just been a rough few weeks.
Mac: I’m sorry, Beautiful. I wish there was a way I could help.
Lee: Me too.
My phone lights up with Lee’s name before I have a chance to respond to her latest text.
“Hello?”
“I lied to you, I’m sorry.” Her voice hitches. She’s crying, and that guts me.
“What do you mean?” My heart rate spikes, and before she can answer me, I’m already knocking back my drink and heading out the door.
“Can you come over? I’m not good company, but I want to see you.” Her voice sounds so small and sad.
“Yeah, baby. I’ll come now. Are you home alone?”
“No, Annie’s on the couch, and Jakob’s here for a little longer. I’ll tell them to let you in.” I don’t like the way she sounds. I don’t like that she sounds sick as shit, and I definitely don’t like that whatever she’s sick with has her family closing ranks. My family does the same when things get serious, which means whatever is happening is serious.
“Okay, Lee. I’ll see you in twenty.”
We get off the phone, and I’m flying out of the house in the next second. Passing one of our guards, Alec, I tell him I need him to take me somewhere. These guys know better than to question one of us, so he just nods and follows me. Fifteen minutes later I’m standing in front of Lee’s front door.
Taking a deep breath, I knock on the door, prepared forwhat I’m about to walk in on. The door swings open, and there stands Anneliese. She’s shorter than Lee, but her hair is just as dark and curly and her eyes are also green, just a lighter shade. If I didn’t know in my soul that Lee was Riley, I’d easily be able to believe she and Annie were biological siblings.
“Mac.” She states with the raise of her eyebrow.
“That’s me. Where is she? Is she okay?” Normally I’d banter with her for a little bit, but I’m too worried about Lee for this. My eyes dart around the apartment behind her.
“That wasn’t a question. You look too much like your brothers for me to not know who you are. She’s in her room, no funny business. She’s exhausted, and her fever has been on and off for days.”
“No funny business. I just want to be here for her.” Satisfied with my answer, she moves aside so I can walk into her apartment. However, I’m not lucky enough for that to be the end of my interrogation. Not even five steps later, Fischer has me pushed up against the wall. “Get your fucking hands off of me, and get out of my way.”
“What are you going to do, Byrne?” I’m just pissed enough to refuse to play in his pissing match. In less than a second I twist our bodies so I have him pressed against the wall, my forearm pressed into his neck.
“Let’s get one thing straight. I don’t give a single fuck who you are or how long I’ve known you. I will scorch every square inch of this earth and every person on it if they so much as think about trying to get between her and me. Be careful, you’re getting pretty close to the flames.” Pushing off of him, I turn and head into her room. I hear Annie whistle low, but no one tries to stop me again.
I’m brought to a screeching halt as soon as I cross over thethreshold. Lee lays in the center of her bed, her back turned to me, and one arm outstretched under her head propped up on a pillow. A line going from her arm to what I can only assume is a medication bag held up on an IV pole. I swear someone just vacuumed all the air out of the room. I can’t handle this, what the fuck is happening. I can feel my eyes begin to burn with emotion while watching her sleep curled up under multiple blankets.
The sound of someone walking up behind me has me turning around only to watch Jakob watching me. When he speaks, he keeps his voice low, “She’s been like this for nine days. She’s had a few days where she’s sat up in bed and done a little bit of work, but most of the time she’s just slept unless she’s taking medicine, getting sick, or talking to you.”
“What’s wrong with her?” I choke out. I don’t cry, but damn if I don’t hear my voice quiver.
“That’s her story, Byrne. My sister’s been through the wringer, and I refuse to be just another man who takes decisions out of her hands. If she wants you to know, she’ll tell you. But I will say, she’s never let anyone whose last name isn’t Fischer see her like this before.”
