“Socks and Coffee by Brandon and Salem,” Hollis read out loud. He looked at Patrick and then at me.
“He designed the line with the girl. They were both there. All the proceeds go to fight human trafficking,” I cried. I felt weak and depleted of all energy that I couldn’t walk to the couch. I just needed to sit and cry.
Hollis set the mug on the counter and then he sat on the floor beside me. He wrapped his arm around me, and I leaned against his chest and cried on him. Patrick crouched in front of us and reached out to rub my arm.
“There’s a display at the coffee shop near the line with these designed mugs on it. People were grabbing multiple ones while they waited. There’s a sign that says all proceeds go to the foundation—”
I stopped talking suddenly. I didn’t know what happened to me, but I unraveled on them. The harsh reality of what Morgan and James had tiptoed around regarding Brandon was staring me in the face.Human trafficking.
“Some fucking assholes took my kid! Oh my God, Hollis, someone took him, and I don’t even know what happened to him—”
“Chase—”
“James said he was gone for a few years. What would they do to him for years, Hollis?”
“Chase, calm down—”
“Calm down? He’s your nephew!” I yelled, then coughed and dry heaved.
“Chasion, goddammit,” Hollis swore as he pulled me tighter against him. “Calm down and breathe.”
“What if they hurt him?” I asked. I didn’t know why I asked it. I was pretty sure he had been hurt. Why else would he have ended up in a hospital where James worked?
“Patrick, call Morgan. Ask him to come over and to call Mom and Dad.”
After Patrick left us, I closed my eyes.This is exactly what I was trying to avoid.
“He likes socks,” I murmured.
“He definitely got that from you, bub.”
“Do you think I’ll ever actually be able to meet him?”
“I do, Chase. You just need to try to be a little more patient.”
Faintly, I could hear Patrick on the phone with Morgan.
“Morgan’s going to kill me,” I said.
“He isn’t.”
“He is. Number one, I’m interrupting his work. And number two, he told me about how things need to evolve and move through James. I’m causing problems.”
“Number one, Morgan understands this is a difficult time for you and the family. And number two, you’re not to push the envelope anymore. You’re going to stand by and wait.”
“I’m tired of waiting, Hollis. It’s all I’ve been doing.”
“Chase, you’ll wait because it’s all you can do right now, bub.”
“Let me help you guys off the floor and over to the couch,” Patrick said.
“I want to sit on the floor until James calls. Not moving until then,” I threatened.
My body was jostled as Hollis got off the floor, and moments later, I felt his huge hands encircling my biceps. I opened my eyes as he lifted me off the floor.
“You’re such a brute,” I said as he set me on my feet.
“I’m your brother, and I love you, bub.”
