Broken Like Me

Chapter 61

SIXTY-ONE

It’s like you’re my mirror. My mirror looking back at me.

REED

If Kenzie thinks she’s leaving here a free woman, she’s out of her fucking mind.

“Anyone have restraints?” I holler, keeping my knee on Jabali’s spine.

He’s alive. Barely. But I don’t trust him not to regain consciousness and make one last play.

One of the agents dashes over. “I got him. Go.”

I bolt out of the room, arms and legs pumping as fast as they can. Footsteps pound behind me. Most likely, that’s the only remaining agent who isn’t restraining Carnage and his two goons.

Fueled by adrenaline and blinding rage, I clear the entire first set of stairs in one fell swoop, my feet touching down on the landing. Lurching forward again, I hit the first floor a second later.

My eyes scan the room, not finding any sign of Kenzie or Ginny. While they could be hiding on the property, my gut says they’re fleeing.

Making a split-second decision, I dart to the left to head to the rear door. “You take the front,” I holler over my shoulder to the other agent.

“Copy,” he calls back.

I come to a jerky stop about fifteen feet beyond the patio. My eyes sweep the inky night for any trace of them. It’s too dark to see far into the distance.

I strain to listen for anything indicating which direction the coward went.

Nothing on the right. Nothing on the left.

The snipers probably saw where they went, but without comms working, that’s zero help. No way they would have shot them on sight, without knowing what transpired inside. For all they knew, these were innocent people fleeing for their lives.

My hands carve into fists as I desperately survey the lawn for footprints. With night fallen, the thick grass is coated with dew. I should be able to find them.

I weave a few steps in each direction to search for their path. My lungs pull in the thick, muggy air.

And there it is.

Two sets of tracks lead diagonally through the back yard.

My legs pump like mad, hurdling me across the yard. When I get to the wall, I throw my body upward with zero hesitation. I scale it easily, thanks to the momentum.

Landing in a crouch on the other side of the wall, I rise and scan the tree line. The rougher forest floor makes it harder to spot tracks. I tune in my sense of hearing and bolt in the direction of rustling leaves and the snap of twigs.

The longer I’m in the dark, the better my visual acuity becomes. I dodge a few low-hanging branches, tracking the sounds of their escape as they grow nearer.

An unknown male voice sails through the air. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Let me go, asshole.”

That’s Ginny. Fuck yes. One down.

A turbo blast of energy has me exploding through the woods. If she’s here, then Kenzie can’t be far.

“Not so fast, little lady,” another voice rings out.

Before I process the familiarity of the sound, my legs cease all forward motion, save for two last stutter steps. As I smack into an invisible wall of panic, I nearly flail onto my knees, but I manage to stay upright.

For now.

If that’s who I think it is, I won’t be on my feet for long.

Over the sound of Kenzie’s muffled curses, I hear my voice.

Only it isn’t mine.

Perry.

Crippling realization overpowers me in an instant. I collapse at the waist, propping myself up with a steel grip on my knees.

How did this happen?

Fucking Redleg in the perimeter. Our last line of defense. In the chaos of the evening, I never paused to ask who they sent.

Fuck my life.

And fuck you, Morgan Freeman. I can’t hear you, but I know you’re loving this.

“Hands up,” a deep male voice orders in my direction.

I’m a statue, unable to react. Run, comply, or speak. I can’t do any of that shit.

While I suck wind, my vision remains fastened on the bed of leaves and pine needles at my feet.

I hold there until I catch a red streak of light in front of me on the ground. It slithers closer until it locks on me.

Fucking hell. One of them has a rifle pointed at me. Wouldn’t that be perfect. Killed by my twin brother.

“Hands up,” he repeats, this time with menace as if daring me to refuse.

I raise my upper body in one reluctant motion, arms shooting over my head before they shoot me.

Following the red laser light from the rifle, I home in on a large mass sulking closer.

Not even the female he’s dragging with him does anything to cause his aim to falter.

The red light never strays from the dead center of my chest.

Behind him, my de facto siblings barrel toward an unavoidable family reunion.

Unlike my twin, I didn’t serve in the military. Thus, I don’t have enough curse words in my vernacular to convey my thoughts about this shit storm.

My voice quavers like a little bitch when I finally announce, “I’m FBI.” Clearing my throat, I try again. “Special Agent Hayes. FBI.”

Showing an ounce of trust, the big guy lowers the gun, stopping it a few inches away from my feet. “Tomer, can you confirm if they have a Hayes on scene?”

At least somebody’s comms are working. Perhaps because we’re far from the compound.

Perry answers, “Yeah, I’m right here, T. Why?” There’s a brief pause, then he says, “No, I can’t call you right now. My hands are busy.”

When the giant is close enough to see my face, his expression broadcasts his astonishment. “Holy shit.” He drops his rifle, letting the strap catch it, and flicks up his night vision goggles.

Despite his eyes being vastly wider than usual, I recognize him from photos I’ve found through the years. No doubt this is Perry’s best friend. “You must be Leo Mason.”

A man of many words, he replies, “Holy shit.”

Bracing myself for what may come, I look around him to my brother.

Trudging along, he’s primarily focused on Kenzie. “Oh. You’re a feisty little thing, aren’t you?”

Unsurprisingly, she isn’t going down without a fight.

Since she’s tiny by comparison, he keeps her clear of his body with one straightened arm.

The position is so painfully familiar, it could be her and me from our younger years.

The only difference is that her hands are restrained, so she isn’t swinging into the air in front of his waist like she did with me.

One whiffed haymaker after another. Not tonight, though.

I’m half-tempted to go cut her zip ties so I can see how it looks from this vantage.

An unexpected laugh chuffs out of me. It couldn’t be more inappropriate, but fucking hell. Of all the ways he could have perp walked her, this is what he chose. He couldn’t be more my twin if he tried.

And he’s clueless about it.

Until he isn’t.

His perpetual smile disappears when he sees me for the first time. In the same way my body reacted a few moments ago, he stops short, legs locking in place.

“Take her, Lionheart,” my brother mutters, shoving Kenzie toward him without breaking his stare.

This must be the first time she gets a full look at him. Her vision ping-pongs between us, and a cunty smile overtakes her face. “Oh, this is gonna be good.” She cackles until the big guy tightens his hold on her, causing her to gasp and sputter.

Music to my ears.

In my peripheral, the giant might as well be holding two dolls for how he deftly manhandles both women.

Footsteps approach from my right. Kri leads two others toward our family gathering of fuckery.

“No, no, no. Shit, shit, shit,” she whines as she takes in the unfolding scene.

“Oh, yes. Do you see the dumb look on his face? On both their faces?” Kenzie’s once more the picture of diabolical glee. “Couldn’t have planned it better myself. This is what you get, you bast—”

Her words are unceremoniously cut off by a swift elbow to the mouth, compliments of Kri. Kenzie crumbles to the ground, moaning in pain.

I’m certain Leo could have held my sister up if he wanted to. The fact that he opted to let her fall brings me immeasurable pleasure. Maybe he’ll become my best friend too.

“Oops,” Kri jests, roughly hoisting Kenzie to her feet. “Didn’t see you there.”

“I knew I liked you,” I tell her with a playful wink.

“I’ve been wanting to do that all fucking day,” she tacks on, drawing a chuckle from me.

A man with eyes so blue you can see them in the dark steps forward. He points his stiff arm of warning my way. “Easy, Sawyer Squared. I’m gonna stop you right there. She’s taken.”

“So am I,” I return flippantly, loving how the words roll off my tongue.

Shit. Lila. I need to get back to her. Although safe, she’s probably upset.

Then again, recalling her confidence in the entire standoff with Carnage the Conquered, she’s likely more stable than I am. Especially given the latest developments of the genetic variety.

“Why don’t you take out the trash?” Leo says, addressing Kri and the others.

Aside from a few curious glances at Perry and me, they comply and haul Kenzie and Ginny away.

When I return my attention to my brother, some of his shock has receded. There’s a partial swagger in his gait as he removes the three feet separating us.

Despite the poor lighting, I get a good look at him. He’s close enough to touch.

Somewhere deep in my soul, a sense of rightness takes root. Seconds tick by, petals unfurling into a full blossom. Different than when I’m with Lila. But no less potent.

I don’t know what to do first. Do I hug him, tell him who I am, ask if he remembers me?

When I open my mouth to speak, he beats me to the punch.

He clicks his tongue, wagging his index finger at me. With a grin dripping with sarcasm, he whistles, then says, “Damn, you are one good-looking son of a bitch. Anyone ever tell you that? You must be swimmin’ in women.”

His friend Leo huffs. “Jesus Christ, Sawyer.”

I bust out in laughter, joy lighting me up from the inside. Perry joins in, patting me on the upper back when we double over.

Whether he realizes it or not, that’s the first time we’ve touched in more than thirty years. The moment crystallizes, hardening into a memory I’ll never forget.

Growing somber, he quirks his head, eyes narrowing at me. “Are you my doppelg?nger or are we twins?”

Before I answer, he jolts with a sudden panic, then turns to Leo.

“Buddy, give it to me straight. Is my face still on? Don’t lie.

” Perry runs his hands over his cheeks and forehead, frantically pawing at himself.

“Did he Nick Cage me? Am I John Travolta now? Is this a real-life Face/Off situation? Or am I tripping balls?”

Leo grabs him, giving him a little shake. Over a rumble of laughter, he says, “Your face is fine, fuck wit.”

Perry’s amusement at his buffoonery soon wanes as he resumes studying me.

All I can do is fucking smile at him.

He holds up two fingers, turns them sideways, and gestures between us. “Twins?”

“Yep.” I nod vigorously. “We’re twins. My name is Reed.”

Something glints in his eyes. Recognition, perhaps? “Reed,” he repeats, his volume a hair above silent.

Still assessing me, his head bobs like a buoy in rough seas. “Reed, Reed, Reed.”

If I didn’t know better, I’d think my name is triggering a memory he’s buried.

Fucking hell. I want him to remember me.

On one hand, I could tick off the times I’ve been compelled to fling myself around someone, hugging them so tightly neither of us can breathe. And I’d still have fingers left over.

This is one of those rare times.

Instead, I say, “I’m told you don’t like your first name, so I won’t call you that. Should I call you Sawyer?”

“Yeah. Please.” His jaw sags, and he hums like he’s lost in thought. “Hmm. Is it awkward to call me Sawyer since it’s your last name as well?” Again, his face transforms as if he’s taking whack after whack from the realization stick. “Hang on. You said Agent Hayes. Not Sawyer. How did that happen?”

Shit. This is the part of the conversation I knew we’d reach eventually. The path it will take us on is dark as hell.

“Why don’t we take a walk and find cover before the mosquitoes suck me dry,” Leo suggests, smacking his neck. “We’ve been out here long enough tonight.”

As grateful as I am for the distraction, now I’m itchy as a crack head.

Instantly, I begin scratching my arms, finding a few bites I didn’t realize were there until he hit me with the power of suggestion.

Like he’s my fucking mirror, Perry’s moves match mine. Perfectly in sync to the point it’s freaky. “Shit. I didn’t even notice. Good looking out, Lionheart.” He cocks a brow at me. “Coming?”

“Yeah, we’ve got a lot to discuss. But I have work to do first and need to get back to my girl.”

Perry turns his effervescent smile on me, proving Andrews’ assessment of his personality was spot on. He’s a two-legged happiness factory. The kind of guy who everyone wants to be around, even those few times when his energy is over-the-top.

“Let’s go, bro.” He snort-laughs. “Bro? Fucking A. I have a brother. Well, another one.”

Record scratch.

The wind is knocked out of my lungs as those words punch my gut.

Before I blink out of my unexpected stupor, Perry bombards me with a hug. One as warm and overwhelming as his personality.

It takes a moment for me to react, but when I do, the floodgates open.

Tears prick at the back of my eyes, and my sinuses burn with a tidal wave of emotion. My arms turn to vises, pinning him against me. I lock my hands around his upper back, bolting him to me out of fear he’ll slip away.

He might not remember it, but I’ll never forget how it felt when he was pulled from me.

It’s funny how quickly things can change. I didn’t want to face him again. And now, I don’t want to let him go.

He slaps my back, enthusiastically returning my affection. “You all right?”

Rather than fight the damn tears, I let a few fall. “Yep. Just gimme another second.”

He tightens his grip on me. “You looked like you needed a hug.”

“I did.” I sniffle, admitting, “I really fucking did.”

And we embrace. In the middle of the fucking woods behind a gang compound. Two grown men with matching faces. Practically strangers. Yet closer than words can explain.

All we can do is hug.

When I finally release him, I do so while knowing it won’t be permanent. I won’t disappear from his life again.

I’m choosing to know him. To have my brother in my life. And to give him his brother in return.

He’ll never need to feel broken like me.

Well, broken like I was before Lila. And before a part of my soul found its way home.

I’ve got him back. I’m never letting go.