CHAPTER 14
ADDY
I was awoken by the shrill ring of my cell phone. It was a noise I still hadn’t gotten used to. I’d had a phone before I was taken, but it never rang, since there was no one to call me unless there was an emergency at the library and they needed me to go in.
I sat up, flustered as I grabbed for my cell phone from the coffee table, almost kicking Jordan in my rush to get my feet free from where he held them in his lap. I had been laid between he and Adam all night, watching the two movies we chose, then eventually dropping off, too tired to fight it any longer.
Both Jord and Adam had offered to switch out with Kane who was sitting in the armchair off to the side, but he had refused, saying he was fine where he was. I worried about him and his agreement to this whole relationship between us all, but I also reminded myself he had told us he would need to get used to it all. We’d need to give him that time. What we were all entering into was far from a conventional situation and there’d be plenty of hurdles along the way.
“Max!” I cried into the phone the second I answered the call.
“Sorry it’s so late, Addy,” he sighed tiredly.
“It’s fine. I was waiting up anyway. Did you learn anything new?” I asked hopefully.
Adam and Jordan, who must have been snoozing too, sat up at either side of me, Adam wrapping his arm around me as Jordan placed his warm hand on my thigh, the both of them yawning and stretching as they moved.
“Asher and Eli haven’t been arrested for anything so far. They’re still just being questioned for now.”
“How can they be questioned for so long? Surely they should be home by now?”
“I only managed to speak with Asher’s attorney briefly, but from what he told me, I get the feeling the police are trying hard to pin something on your brothers. They had a witness statement that Asher and Eli were seen outside the family home the morning before it burnt down,” Max explained.
“Well, the witness is lying! Asher and Eli were both home that morning. Asher pulled Kane from the explosion at our security office!”
“Asher was able to provide security footage that proved just that, so the police had to drop that line, but it doesn’t seem to have deterred them though. They are sure Asher and Eli must have known something was going on in that house,” Max told me.
“What can I do to help them, Max? I just want them to be able to come home. They’ve already been through too much,” I cried defeatedly.
“Well, Asher told his attorney ‘absolutely not’ but if you gave a statement about your memories of seeing Joseph Lyle at the party you were taken to, and also gave a statement that Asher and Eli were absolutely at home the morning of the arson, it may help them out of this mess a little sooner,” Max told me reluctantly.
“Which police station?” I demanded, already pissed with Asher for trying to protect me, at his and Eli’s detriment. While the idea of making a statement, or even being in a police station again terrified me, I would do it for my brothers. I would do anything for them. I was stronger than Asher realized.
As soon as I had the name of the police station, and the name of the detective I would need to ask for, I thanked Max and hung up.
“I need to go to the station and make a statement. We’re going now,” I said firmly to the guys as they all waited for me to say something. “I’ll grab my coat.” I was on my feet and halfway down the hall to my room before Kane caught up with me, the others right behind him.
“Hold on!” Kane barked as he grabbed my arm and pulled until I faced him. “What statement?”
“Max says the cops are hell bent on pinning something on Asher and Eli, but that my statement could help them get out faster, so I’m going. Are you coming or should I use the Uber app I downloaded last week?”
“A statement saying what, Addy?” Adam pushed.
“About the memories I have of Joseph, and also to alibi Asher and Eli for the morning of the arson at their family home. The cops are trying to pin that on them, even though Asher gave them the surveillance footage proving they were home with us,” I explained quickly. Before anyone could ask anything else I ripped my arm from Kane’s grasp and went to my room to grab my coat, and the wallet, which Eli had given me just last week. He and Asher had set up a bank account for me, which they had both made me promise to use for anything and everything I needed or wanted. While I had been reluctant to take it, I knew it was an argument I wasn’t going to win, so I had stowed it in my purse, which Eli had also bought for me, despite my protests. Now I’d use the bank card if I needed to, determined to order an Uber if that were the only way I could get to the police station.
I put my wallet in my pocket and pulled my coat on, along with a wooly hat. The coat wasn’t as warm as the one Eli had bought for me, but that had been destroyed when I pulled Kane from the fire. This one would do for now. Jordan had brought it from my ridiculously over filled closet at the house. My gloves were in my coat pockets, and my boots sat by the door. It would be enough to stop Asher from being annoyed with me when he and Eli were finally allowed to come home with me.
“We need to talk about this, Angel. I’m sure Asher wouldn’t want you putting yourself through this,” Kane said as he appeared in the doorway and leant against the door jamb.
“I’m doing it, Kane. I don’t have time to argue. Will you drive me or should I order a car, and grab one of the guards from outside to come with me?” I asked stubbornly. I wasn’t going to go off alone and do anything stupid, but nothing was going to stop me.
“You’re so fucking stubborn!” he snapped, but I smiled triumphantly when he stormed off, positive he was coming with me, much to my relief. I was dreading having to grab a guard I didn’t know and leave alone with them.
***
“…and you will stay between the three of us at all times. Do you hear me? This is such a stupid fucking idea. This could have been exactly what the fuckers after you were waiting for! We’re probably walking right into a trap!” Kane ranted, just as he had continued to do throughout the blessedly short drive through the city. Luckily, it was pretty late, so the usual chaos filled streets had been quieter than I’d seen them before.
Adam and Jordan were with me too, all of them insisting they come with me, even if Kane seemed really annoyed that he had to be there.
There were security guards in two separate cars, one in front and one behind us, and Kane had his gun holster in place over his shoulders, concealed underneath the leather jacket he’d pulled on. He was positive this was a trap, and I’d have been stupid not to be scared after the amount of ranting he’d done about that fact on the drive, but I was still determined to walk into the station and give my statement. Once we were inside, I knew we’d be safe surrounded by cops. Even outside the station we were now parked before, there were a ton of cops milling around. Add to that the six guys Kane had insisted we bring along in the two cars and I was pretty sure no one was getting anywhere near me.
I looked around nervously as all six of those security guards got out of the two parked SUV’s, in perfect synchronicity. Do they practice that? I questioned myself in my head.
“They are not coming inside with us, Kane,” I uttered as I looked to them all again, now forming a protective arch around the back door I would need to exit the car through.
“They’re just going to make sure you get inside safely, then they’ll wait out here,” Kane assured me.
“Good,” I nodded. “Okay, let’s get moving.”
The cops that were milling around the police cars out front, stopped to stare, probably wondering who was arriving with such a huge entourage. I was sure they were all bitterly disappointed when they saw it was me – a complete no one.
Adam, Jordan, and Kane surrounded me as we walked inside. They all seemed nervous, but I was just eager to get in there and do my part to get my brothers the hell out of that place. They had been there for over fourteen hours now, and I knew Eli had to be struggling, even if Asher was managing to keep it together.
“I need to see detective Harding. My name’s Adeline Brooks. He wants to speak with me,” I told the guy sat behind the desk inside the station. He looked half asleep and bored out of his mind, but he did manage to glance up at me as I spoke. When he saw the guys surrounding me he seemed to sit up straighter and his hand automatically moved to rest over the gun at his hip.
“Take a seat. I’ll call him,” he told me as he watched the guys dubiously.
“Can one of us go in the room with Addy?” Jordan asked once we’d all sat. He was at my side in the cold metal chairs, mounted to the wall. I heard the concern in his question and placed my hand over his knee, hoping to reassure him.
“Not unless one of you passed the Barr and didn’t tell me,” Kane replied. He refused to sit, pacing back and forth before me while he watched our surroundings like a hawk. There were cops in and out, and a few people waiting near the door, all looking a little the worst for wear. I wondered if they had been brought in because they were obviously intoxicated. Thankfully, they weren’t interested in us, and kept their distance.
“Maybe if we explain the situation, they’d allow us to go in with her,” Jordan worried.
“Jord, I’ll be fine. I can handle this. I’m only giving a statement,” I tried to reassure him. I was trying so hard to appear outwardly calm, but inside I was freaking out quite a bit. Just being back in a police station had me flashing back to the interviews in Vegas that had pushed me to breaking point. The idea of doing that again, and this time having to recall some of the graphic memories I had recovered, was scary as heck.
I had barely gotten the bravado filled statement out before my name was loudly barked.
“Adeline?!” My full name said in that sharp tone instantly took me back to the sound of my mother doing that very same thing, countless times a day.
I looked up, refusing to freeze or freak out, and saw a middle aged man poking his head out of a door off to our right. He had a thick head of salt and pepper dark hair and he was slim. His eyes latched onto me the second I forced myself to get to my feet and I didn’t like what I saw in them. He was sizing me up, and I had to wonder what for.
“Yes?” I squeaked as I approached him. I was going to have to be tougher than that, I realized instantly.
“I’m detective Harding. You want to give a statement?” he asked, sounding as if he’d rather be anywhere else.
“That’s right. I have information about Joseph Lyle,” I told him, trying to maintain my calm, even if I was freaking out like a crazy woman on the inside.
“You mean your father?” he threw back with raised eyebrows.
I winced at the comment, but nodded anyway. The monster was my father, I couldn’t deny that, no matter how badly I wanted to.
“I’ll be accompanying her.” I looked behind me at the sound of Kane’s voice, and found him standing protectively behind me.
“Oh good. You brought your fancy ass lawyer too,” Harding declared sarcastically, looking back to me with nothing but derision.
“Actually I’m her security. I go where she goes,” Kane corrected.
“Not in here, buddy. Money might by these Lyle’s whatever they want everywhere else, but here I’m in charge,” Harding threw back. He clearly had an issue with my family and the fact they had money.
“Detective, I was told you wish to speak with me, so I came to oblige. If there’s going to be an issue, I’m sure I could get a lawyer here as soon as possible. Will that be necessary?” I asked, using my haughtiest tone, and trying my best to channel the irritated look I’d seen my brother get when people were annoying him.
“No. But your guard dog will need to stay here. You don’t need security in a police station,” he acquiesced as he opened the door wider and motioned for me to enter.
Kane moved to get mad and I quickly stepped in. “I’ll be fine. Just wait here for me, okay? I have my cell. I’ll call you if I need you,” I told him quickly.
“I don’t like this,” he growled low.
“Nor do I, but I have to do it.” Before he could argue, or even see it coming, I reached up onto my tiptoes and kissed him chastely. He stood looking shocked as I walked through the door, the detective closing it behind me.
“Where are my brothers?” I asked.
“They’re still being questioned.”
“How much longer do you plan to hold them? They’ve been here for hours. They have nothing to tell you. They had no idea what was going on. They didn’t even get along with Joseph,” I argued.
“I can hold them for up to another ten hours,” he told me smugly. I stopped in the middle of the corridor, which he had directed me down, and glared at him.
“You’re turning this into a witch hunt, all because you resent the fact my brothers have money,” I accused.
“No, Miss Brooks. I’m simply doing my job. A young woman lost her life in the home of your half -brothers. They need to account for that,” he threw back, and I glared hard when he seemed to take pleasure in emphasizing the ‘half’ when he referred to Asher and Eli.
“They haven’t even lived in that house for almost a decade! This is a load of crap and you know it! Why don’t you do your actual job, and find the monsters who are still out there, hurting, torturing, and raping girls, just like they did to me? Why don’t you try and put a stop to that instead of railroading innocent, good men?” I raged, so irate at this petty little man that I could barely breathe when I was finished.
“Are you giving a statement or not, Miss Brooks?” Harding asked, dismissing me with a roll of his eyes.
“Yes I am, and I want it recorded. I’d also like another officer present,” I said firmly. I didn’t trust the detective and I wanted to make sure the statement was actually used to help Eli and Asher get out of this messed up scenario, as soon as possible.
“So demanding. You really are one of them, aren’t you?” he sneered with a look of disgust, “Take a seat in there. I’ll need to get another detective if you insist on one being present.”
“I do.” I said firmly, refusing to let him see even one iota of weakness. He thought his comment was an insult, but if he was likening me to Asher, Eli, or both, I saw it as quite the opposite.
***
I had been in the interview room for over two hours. Harding had brought in another detective – a female named Kyla - who seemed to be a little more rational than Harding, thank God!
I had started by explaining what I knew so far about what had happened to me. I told them about the parties Hilton had taken me to, and then about Joseph being there. I explained what I remembered had happened when he had taken me to that room, about him tying me down and taking out the whip. I fought hard to keep it together, refusing to give Harding the pleasure of seeing me crumble, but it had been so freaking hard to recite all of my hell to two perfect strangers, and I knew I’d been visibly shaking by the time I was done.
Then the questions had begun. Harding seemed positive that I knew more about my father than I had told them. He seemed to think I was lying about the gaps in my memory and the whole interview had become very reminiscent of the brutal interrogation that had broken me in Vegas.
I made sure to explain that Asher and Eli had been home the morning of the arson and even implored them to talk to Kane, who Asher had dragged from the explosion at our home, but Harding didn’t care about that. It was like his mission was to try and trip me up and prove I was lying about my memory loss and the things I had recalled.
Finally detective Fields, or Kyra, as she’d said I could call her, had called an end to the interview. I was shaking so hard I could barely speak by that point, and I was hanging on by a threat, just fighting to keep myself in check.
They had both left, asking me to wait for them to return. I’d been relieved for the reprieve at first, but now a half hour had passed and I just wanted to get out of there and to someone I could feel safe with.
Kane, Adam, and Jordan were going crazy, blowing my phone up with text messages, demanding I walk out and come back to them where they waited in the entrance for me. I had continuously assured them I was okay, but I felt it was only a matter of time before Kane lost it and burst his way through the locked doors to me.
I once again tried to reassure him I’d be out soon, then set my cell on the table before me. I was still shaking hard, but I was doing an okay job at keeping my demons and darkness at bay. I hadn’t cried and I refused to break down now. I was, however, freezing cold and completely exhausted. It was the middle of the night and I was fading. I needed my family, food, sleep, and a ton of reassuring hugs.
“Where is she?” I heard the shout from outside the door and did let a sob slip free then. I had never been so relieved to hear anything in my life. I leapt up, grabbed my cell, and opened the door as fast as I could. As soon as I stepped out into the hallway, I saw Asher with his back to me, yelling at detective Harding. “I’ll have your badge for this. I told you she wasn’t to be questioned!” he raved irately.
“Asher!” I cried with relief. I was already running to him as he turned. I landed hard against his front, knocking a loud grunt from him as he took the impact and wrapped his arms around me.
“Sweetheart…”
“Are you okay? Where’s Eli? I was so worried!” I cried as I clung to him.
“Deep breath for me,” he coached as he pulled back and crouched low enough to meet my gaze. “I’m fine, just exhausted. Where are the others? You shouldn’t be here alone.”
“They’re outside and they’re kind of losing it. I’ve been in that room over two hours. Kane may have killed a few people by now,” I told him jokingly, keeping my voice lowered so only the two of us could hear. “He tried to come with me, but Harding wouldn’t let him,” I added as I threw a glare to Harding, who stood behind Asher, staring at the both of us with so much hatred.
“I’ll take care of Harding. For now, let’s just get Eli and get the hell out of here.” Asher took my hand and led me down the hallway, just as a door near the end opened, and Eli came out of it, escorted by a uniformed officer.
I gasped when I saw him. Even from the side I could see how pale he looked. His hair was in disarray, even more than usual and he had his arms wrapped around himself, like he felt the need to protect himself. His sweater was gone and the shirt he wore underneath was wrinkled and soaked with sweat patches.
“Eli!” I released Asher’s hand and started running, but I knew he was right behind me. Eli stopped and turned around, looking at me with surprise. His face was way too pale and there were dark smudges under his eyes. What the hell had the police done to him? He tried to mask the turmoil on his face with a smile for my benefit, but it was too late. I’d seen it.
As soon as I got to him I threw my arms around him as tightly as I could, and hugged him to the point he likely couldn’t breathe.
“Addy? You shouldn’t be here, shortcake.” He held me in return, but I could feel the shivers running through his body, shaking almost in tandem with my own. I was relieved when I felt Asher at my back. He briefly wrapped himself around the both of us in a hug.
“Ash…” Eli said. I had no idea one small word could sound so filled with fear and pain.
“I know, brother. I’m here now. Let’s go home, okay?” Asher soothed.
Asher took my hand again, then wrapped his free arm around Eli’s shoulders. I tried not to cry as I once again saw Eli’s stricken face, biting my lip to keep myself together. The last thing either of them needed was me losing it.
Ten minutes later, we were in the car, me squeezed between my brothers in the back seat. Kane was driving, while Adam and Jordan followed with the security, in the car behind us. All three of them had freaked out when I walked up to them back at the station, but I rushed to reassure them I was okay, and pleaded with them all with my eyes not to make a fuss, as I nodded to Eli beside me. Thankfully, they quickly realised who we really needed to worry most about, and held back as they got us all out of that place.
“What do you wan to do when we get back to the apartment? Are you guys hungry?” I asked, hating the silence between us. I looked to Kane in the rearview mirror, which he had been checking every few seconds since we pulled away from the station. I wasn’t sure if it was me he was checking on, or all of us.
“I need to shower, wash the stench of that place off of me,” Eli spoke up first.
“Me too, then I could definitely eat,” Asher agreed.
“Did you have dinner and your meds? I forgot to remind Adam. I thought we’d be back but….” Eli tapered off as he dropped his gaze to his lap. “Your meds are important. You need to take them,” he added more quietly.
“I took them, Eli, and I had some dinner, but I’m starving again now. Maybe we can convince Adam to make grilled cheese? I don’t know what he does, but it tastes better when he makes it.” I was trying for levity, but it wasn’t working.
“You shouldn’t have been there, Addy. I was handling the situation. I didn’t want you having to tell that fucker, Harding, anything,” Asher told me, and once again guilt was on his face. I hated how much he took on his shoulders.
“I called Max, and he told me that you didn’t want me making a statement, but that it could help if I did. I wasn’t going to leave either of you there any longer than we had to. Harding was not pleasant to deal with, but I managed,” I shrugged. “All that matters is that you’re both here with me now. That’s all I wanted.”
“Will we have to do that again Ash?” Eli asked, looking positively ill at the notion.
“No. They don’t have anything on us. I think the only reason they managed to hold us today, was because Harding seems to have it out for us. No idea why,” Asher explained with a shrug.
“He hates that you’re rich. He made that clear as soon as I met him,” I explained.
“What did he say to you? He didn’t put his hands on you, did he?” Asher demanded as Eli looked to me with panic.
“No,” I shook my head. “He was just trying to get to me. I did my best snooty Asher impression and it seemed to work,” I laughed.
“Snooty Asher?” he laughed.
“I was trying to channel him too. He can be a real asshole when he needs to be, and it definitely helped me today,” Eli laughed too, and I was so relieved to see a little lightness back on his face.
“I am not snooty!”
“You can be, but never with us,” I assured him. “You’re not really snooty. You just have this air of like…power, I guess? It makes people listen to you and I wanted that so I tried to mimic you. I liked it. I might have to use it more often,” I told him with a smile.
I was just so relieved to have them both back with me. It had made me realize exactly how much I had come to rely and depend upon the both of them in the weeks I had been with them. I had no idea what my life would look like without them in it anymore, and I didn’t want to know either.