Chapter 50 #2
“You think they sold me?” Andi chokes out, blinking rapidly to clear the tears from her eyes.
“I don’t know, minha luz,” I respond regretfully. I wish I had the answers, but her parents are the only ones who know the truth of what actually transpired. “We’re going to get to the bottom of it, though. They won’t get away with what they’ve done.”
“Couldn’t they have just been dead?” Andi groans miserably, making Briggs snort in amusement.
“I love your morbid humor,” he retorts with an indulgent shake of his head.
“I wasn’t trying to be funny; I was being serious,” she deadpans.
“Even better,” Briggs comments, staring at Andi with hearts in his eyes.
“Is that all, or is there more?” Andi questions, squaring her shoulders, prepared to meet any more revelations head-on.
“Actually,” I start, making the guys groan with trepidation.
“Kennedy Stillwater’s body was recovered during the latest sweep of the property.
I didn’t want to say anything until the medical examiner had determined a preliminary cause of death.
It seems he died of asphyxiation, but they believe he was being poisoned for several months prior.
It would’ve been a slow process that stole his cognitive abilities, making it appear that his death was from natural causes related to his age. ”
“Holy shit,” Andi exclaims, her eyes wide with disbelief. “There’s no way Tobias could have done that on his own. Men didn’t prepare meals. Ever. Not even their own drinking water. If it was consumed through food, Ada had to have been the one responsible, or at least an accomplice.”
“I’ll let O’Connor know,” I promise, happily jumping at the opportunity to tack on another charge to Ada’s ever-growing list of crimes.
It’s already been determined that her mental health isn’t a factor in her ability to stand trial, after her scheming was uncovered during the FBI’s probe of Jerod Cantmeir.
She did everything in her power to see to Andi’s destruction, but at the end of the day, she’ll be spending the rest of her life in prison, and we’ll forget she ever existed.
It might take some time, but there will come a day when Andi isn’t inundated with painful memories at every turn.
“Anyone else have something they’d like to get off their chest?
” Andi jests. “I’d like to get our emotional confessions out of the way before calling it a night.
We have exactly two and a half hours before Izzy needs to be fed again.
” The guys and I chuckle, not expecting anyone to speak up, but to my surprise, Briggs clears his throat and slowly raises his hand, as if he’s a student waiting to be called on by his teacher.
“Yes, Briggs?” Andi appeases, giving him a look that’s brimming with adoration.
“I, uh,” he starts, rubbing his palms down his jean-clad thighs.
“I think it’s time I addressed what happened before you went into labor.
I know I’ve tried to broach the subject a few times since we brought Izzy home, but something always comes up and the moment is interrupted,” Briggs voices.
“But to explain why I fled the way I did, I need to start from the beginning. You’ve been exceedingly patient with me, Angel, but you deserve to know what happened. ”
“If you’re not ready to talk about it, that’s okay,” Andi reassures him.
“If dredging up the past is going to set you back in any way, then don’t push yourself for my sake.
I can wait.” Briggs shakes his head, his shoulders set with determination as he climbs to his feet and begins pacing back and forth in front of the coffee table.
“No, you guys need to know. All of you,” he insists. “But I can’t sit still while explaining everything. Being stationary when I’m revisiting such painful memories makes the flashbacks worse.” We all nod in understanding.
“First and foremost,” Briggs begins, giving his attention to Andi.
“Charlotte and I were arranged to be married by our parents. I never had romantic feelings for her, and I called off the engagement shortly after the announcement was made. I’m sorry she invaded our privacy, especially on such an important day.
But I assure you, I’ve taken the steps necessary to ensure she doesn’t bother us ever again.
” Briggs’ tone is drenched in sincerity.
With a wave of her hand, Andi responds, “Not even worth mentioning, Briggs. I know the man you are. But for the record, I didn’t respond to the question you asked me about allowing you to be the kids’ dad, because I was in the midst of a contraction, not because I needed to give it thought.
” Briggs grimaces, blowing out a pent-up breath.
“Well, I certainly have a flair for the dramatic.” His chuckle is self-deprecating, but Andi only gives him an encouraging smile. After pacing back and forth for several seconds, Briggs finally speaks.
“Where to start…” Briggs mumbles to himself, then swallows thickly.
“Three years ago, after finishing medical school, I took an opportunity to do humanitarian work in South America. Colombia, to be exact. I’d been there for a year when a group of Army SFAB soldiers stumbled across our camp.
They were panicked, carrying a severely injured woman, who they insisted we treat as quickly as possible.
She’d become a target of the local cartel, so we bandaged her up as best we could and sent them on their way.
Later that evening, their Sergeant came by to thank us for our help.
Out of nowhere, a truck full of masked men stormed the camp, their guns drawn as they demanded answers.
“The woman we’d treated hadn’t been left for dead, but rather she’d escaped.
They wanted her back, but I never even got her name, much less where they’d taken her to.
Myself, a nurse named Annie Michaels, and the SFAB Sergeant were all taken hostage.
For three weeks they tortured us. I was forced to watch as they repeatedly raped Annie, reminding us that the only way they’d stop is if we gave them the answers they wanted.
Even if I wanted to, I didn't know anything. The only one who did was Sergeant Elijah Wilder. Col’s half-brother.
” Andi gasps, her cheeks already stained with tears as she jerks her head towards Colsen. He gives her a pained smile.
“We weren’t close,” Col states, giving Andi an explanation for why he’s never mentioned his brother’s death. “I hadn’t seen him in years. He moved out when I was just a kid.”