He gave a thankful look to Brendan for waiting and, holding Brendan’s hand tighter, left the premises of the home. Diane was last to leave, closing the door behind her.
Chapter Nineteen
“Once we reach the sidewalk, go out to the corner. The Guo agent is already here, and he’ll take care of everything,” Diane said.
Aiden glanced at his watch. “They’re right on time.”
She shrugged. “It’s the least they can do.”
The group squeezed past the bushes, brushed leaves off of their clothes, and stumbled onto the concrete sidewalk. Sirens rang in the air and grew louder. “Diane, I think you need to go. The police are really close.” Aiden turned, but only empty air greeted him.
He stopped in his tracks. “Diane?” He ran back to the line of bushes they just escaped from, but not a whisper of her lingered.
Brendan followed Aiden. “Where is she?” He held his wounded arm. “We didn’t even hear her leave.”
Aiden smiled. “She couldn’t let herself get caught.”
“Wish she could’ve said goodbye.”
“Yes, but there’s no reason for her to stay.” He wrapped his arm around Brendan’s waist. Though a pang of sorrow dripped into his heart, the feeling of joy overwhelmed it. “She’s finished granting our wishes.”
The two walked back out to the sidewalk and found the car parked a block away from the mansion. The twins didn’t wait for them, so the man waiting was inspecting Zhu Zhu’s face before he lifted his head up and looked at Aiden. A nostalgic smile stretched across his face. He offered his hand. “You’ll know me as part of the infamous Guo family.” As Aiden took his hand, Guo remarked, “You look very much like your mother. I owe her my life as do many other members of my team.”
Do I?His mind drew a blank in trying to remember her face. Memories formed like paintings with no structure and the meaning washed away.What does it mean that I resemble her?He searched inside, grasping for her spirit, but all that returned was the smell of smoke curling around the edges of the burning photos his brother dumped into the fireplace.
Guo, however, didn’t seem to notice the silence, and he turned toward Brendan. “Just so you know, I told your father about everything that’s happened so far, and I plan to tell him about this, too, once we’ve confirmed you’re okay.” The man gestured to Brendan’s bandaged arm. “It’s a good thing we always have a doctor on standby. Let’s head to the hospital quickly now.”
“Is that doctor a Guo as well?” He Bao asked.
Guo grinned. “Indeed. Who will be joining me in the front?”
He Bao volunteered and gently patted Zhu Zhu on the back to help her into the back of the car. Aiden and Brendan filed in beside her. Guo turned on the engine, and the car drove smoothly away from the Chen family mansion as the revolving, colorful, siren lights flashed against the open night sky.
Aiden grabbed Zhu Zhu’s hand. “Are you okay?” he whispered, and he winced internally at the purple bruise already showing on her face.
She nodded.
He looked toward He Bao sitting in the front. “Are you okay?” he asked. He Bao didn’t turn around, but from where Aiden sat, he saw his younger brother give a taut nod in return.
Aiden collapsed in the car seat. The adrenaline coursing through his veins finally finished its course, and he leaned against Brendan’s shoulder.
They needed to heal. They would face trials in the upcoming days with the downfall of Infinite. Aiden knew every bit of the truth, but as he played with Brendan’s slender uncalloused fingers, marveled at the softness of his skin, and listened to Brendan’s steady breathing, he knew that the sun was rising over the horizon of their futures.
• • •
“I cannot believe this boy!”
As Aiden waited patiently beside Brendan in an examination room, a voice boomed through the closed door.
“Oh boy,” Brendan cringed. A man barreled in, not even allowing the nurse outside to knock and announce his presence. Brendan stood up to meet his father with a sheepish grin, but before he could say a word, the man wrapped an arm around Brendan’s shoulder and pulled him into a bear hug. “You are stupid enough to waltz into this kind of trouble.”
“My husband can’t tell if he’s actually angry or if he’s a little impressed with Brendan.” A woman followed in after the man with a bag in her hand. She set the bag down on the floor and sat down beside Aiden in one of the string of chairs lining the wall.
Aiden blinked at the perfect halves Brendan inherited from both his parents. He shared his father’s eyes, nose, and hair, but the shape of his body, face, and mouth more closely resembled his mother's. Still, they did not look the way Aiden expected them to.
His father was of smaller height than Brendan and his mother, but his eyes sparked with such open emotions and strength. Brendan’s mother, on the other hand, was physically fit and tall. She crossed her powerful arms across her chest, watching the two men in her life bicker, unhidden affection written all over her smile.
She turned toward Aiden with youthful eagerness. “You are Aiden! I have heard lots about you.” She grabbed one of his hands, shaking it vigorously. “And I will take this opportunity to express my joy in meeting you to purposefully embarrass my son.”
