“I feel like it’s partly my fault,” Jennifer said, putting Brendan at arm’s length to look at him, worry and anger settling into the lines of her face. “Those two cops were assigned to protect you and they didn’t. They allowed you to be hurt.”
“They’re in jail, by the way,” Colton said. “Possibly in solitary, but you didn’t hear that from me. People in my station arepissed.”
“And mine,” Ryan said with a nod. Brendan’s oldest brother seemed proud about that.
“The Sons of Adam send their members into law enforcement and the military to gain experience they otherwise wouldn’t get in the civilian world. It’s not your fault you didn’t know those two were affiliated with the group, Mrs. Kane,” Trevor said as he stepped out of the hallway.
“They tried to kill my son,” William said, with all the fury of a worried parent filling his voice.
“But they didn’t, Dad. I’m still here,” Brendan said.
“And as I explained earlier, Brendan will remain at my apartment under MDF supervision until this Sons of Adam cell is dealt with,” Trevor added.
“How long will that take?” Colton asked.
“Hopefully not too much longer. After the attack last night, the MDF got approval to widen the scope of the Telepathy Warrant. Things are moving quickly, and that’s all I can say at the moment.”
Trevor’s voice was firm in a way that said any further questions wouldn’t be answered. Brendan’s family seemed to recognize that because they didn’t press for more information.
“While I’m glad to see you guys, aren’t all of you supposed to be at work?” Brendan asked, eyeing his family.
His father snorted. “We didn’t know where you were for hours. None of us were going into work until we laid eyes on you.”
“Yeah, what kind of family do you take us for?” Ryan said, playfully punching him in the shoulder.
Brendan discreetly watched as Trevor veered into the kitchen to pour a mug of synthcaf. Brendan hoped the other man would bring him one as well.
“Come on, sit. You must be tired,” Jennifer said, gesturing at the couch.
Brendan struggled to hide his reaction to that statement but judging by the way his brothers stared at him, he wasn’t completely successful.
“Yeah,” he said vaguely. “Tired.”
He would’ve sat down, except a chime echoed through the apartment and a few seconds later the front door slid open. The two men who entered were recognizable to his entire family. The look of surprise and awe on their faces made Brendan glad he wasn’t the only one who felt that way in Jamie Callahan and Kyle Brannigan’s presence.
“Trevor,” Jamie said, eyes flicking their way before focusing on his friend. “Are you ready?”
“In a second,” Trevor replied.
“Holy shit,” Ryan muttered quietly under his breath.
Kyle peeled off and headed their way, giving Brendan’s family a polite smile before handing him a black duffel bag. “This is for you.”
Brendan felt as if he were being stripped down to his core beneath Kyle’s sharp-eyed gaze. It was more than a little uncomfortable. “Thanks?”
“It’s clothes, not a bomb. Katie grabbed what she could from your apartment before dropping it at our place.”
“How pissed is Katie that she missed the opera?” Trevor asked as he came over to them, mug in hand.
“More pissed at the assholes whose faces you broke. Don’t worry. You’re forgiven for ruining her date.”
Brendan set the duffel bag on the floor, in no hurry to get dressed. Trevor’s clothes were comfortable, especially his shirt. It smelled like the other man, and Brendan wasn’t willing to give that up just yet.
“I need to go,” Trevor said apologetically as he passed over the mug of synthcaf to Brendan. “But you’ll be safe here. I promise.”
“I know. I trust you,” Brendan said.
And he meant it, because Trevor had saved his life twice already. That was something he would always be grateful for.
