Chapter 29 #2
Brett’s eyes widened, and he sprung towards Felix, knocking him to the ground.
Silence reigned except for the thud of bodies hitting the ground and Brett’s sharp cry.
Felix covered Brett as he lifted his head to study their surroundings.
People stormed into the field, guns drawn, but his gaze went back to Brett.
“Are you hurt?”
Brett stared off to the side, and Felix’s gaze followed to where Venus lay crumpled on the grass, a gunshot wound to her head. Felix’s throat caught. He’d fucking done it. Shaking his head, he focused on Brett again, cupping his jaw and turning his head to him instead of his sister.
“Brett? Brett, focus on me,” Felix said.
“Is he okay?” someone shouted.
“Brett?” Finally, Brett’s eyes focused, meeting his gaze. “Are you hurt?”
Brett licked his lips. “I’m fine. Is everyone okay?”
Felix glanced around at the men surrounding them, all alive, but not without cuts and bruises. “Everyone’s alive.” But as he refocused on him, he saw the wet patch growing on his shoulder. “Fuck!” He pressed his hand to it, trying to stop the bleeding.
Brett’s gaze lifted to the sky as tears leaked from the edges. He wanted nothing more than to enfold him in his arms, but they needed to get away from that place as soon as possible and get to the hospital. As soon as he thought that, Owen approached.
“We need to leave. Police were called.”
Felix faced Brett again. “Brett, we need to get back to the car. Owen, help me. He’s been shot.”
Brett staggered initially, but then stood tall, even with Felix and Owen supporting him. Neither of them looked at his sister again.
“I’ll drive,” Owen said. “Get in the back in case I need you to get down.”
Luckily, they didn’t, and when they got to the hospital, Brett and Felix went straight through to a room that was always available for the royals and royal guards.
The doctor, Dr Knightley, joined them immediately and arranged for x-rays to double check the damage before giving them the good news: nothing major hit, just a through and through, missing everything vital.
Felix’s chest eased, his heart calming from the speed that, if he’d been hooked up to a monitor, would’ve set alarms going. He reached for Brett’s hand and squeezed, trying to ignore the brackets of pain around his mouth and eyes.
“How are you holding up?”
Brett grimaced. “I’m fine.”
Felix couldn’t help the smile. “You are.”
Brett frowned and then chuckled. “I want out of here.”
“Soon. Rest while you can.”
“We can’t. She was lying about the bombs.”
Felix nodded. “I know. We’ll find them. Later.” He just hoped they had time.
Time passed, the two of them talking quietly until the doctor finally gave Brett permission to leave.
Shoulder bandaged and in a sling, Owen drove them back to Windsor Castle and through the still-protesting crowds.
Felix ignored them as best he could. When they stopped, Christian met them at the door and led them to an empty suite.
“Rest up for a bit before the debrief,” he said before closing the door.
Brett looked lost and then the tears stared until he went to his knees, sobbing. Felix slid his arms around him, and held him until his sobs reduced to small hiccups. Brett lifted his head, his red eyes making Felix’s chest ache—it had happened a lot recently.
“I won’t ask if you’re okay, but what do you need?” Felix asked.
“She was a horrible person, had killed many people who didn’t deserve it and threatened everyone close to me.
But she was still my sister.” He swallowed hard, his eyes closing.
“When that bullet hit her, I felt it. A pain right through my head, like a splitting headache. Then nothing. I never believed in a twin bond because we were both so different, but there’s an emptiness inside me.
I hadn’t realised she resided there. She shouldn’t have!
She shouldn’t have been there!” He sobbed again. “Why was she there?”
“She was still your family. Don’t remember what she had become, remember what she was like when she was younger. When she was still like you. Grieve for the loss of that person.”
He allowed Brett to stay in that position until they got cold, and then he helped him to stand and led him to the sofa, he sat on the edge and took his hands.
“How are you doing?” he whispered.
Brett leaned forward, wrapping his good arm around Felix’s waist and resting his cheek against his shoulder.
Felix slid his fingers through his hair, his other hand smoothing across his back.
Brett didn’t cry anymore, he just breathed, and Felix was content to hold him as long as he needed it, but eventually Brett pulled back.
“I suppose we should see everyone,” Brett murmured. Felix nodded and stepped back. Brett stood, catching Felix’s hand. “Oh, who…” His breath caught, and he swallowed before continuing. “Who took the shot?”
Felix met his gaze. “My dad.” His shoulders lowered. “I didn’t know anyone else to ask without asking the military, and I didn’t know who to trust there.”
“He’s almost as good as you,” Brett said, a small smile on his face.
“Almost.” Felix grinned.
They headed back towards Sec HQ but met Damon on the way.
“We’re all in the receiving room.”
“All of us?” Felix asked. “Can we fit?”
Damon smirked. “Just.”
They entered, Brett just ahead of him, and he almost walked into his back when he halted.
He peered around him, eyes widening when he saw just how many people they’d managed to squeeze into the large room.
Bodyguards, royals, family and friends. This wasn’t the usual debrief Felix had been expecting.
He caught Brett’s hand, fully expecting him to pull away in front of all the people, but he didn’t; he tightened his hold.
“What’s all this about?” Felix asked.
“We just wanted to show our appreciation for everything you’ve both been doing lately,” Andrew said, stepping forward.
“Your entire team has been through hell and back these past few months, just like our family did not so long ago, and as you were there for us at that time, now we are here for you.”
He opened his mouth as if to say something else, but his words were cut off by another guard entering the room.
“I apologise for the interruption,” Darius said, “but Detective Keegan and Detective Dodd are here to speak with Felix.”
Felix sighed, knowing they had put it off as long as possible. He glanced at Brett. “I’ll take them to the interview room. It’s about time I went through everything with them.”
“I’ll come with you,” Brett said.
“No, stay. I’ll be fine.”
Brett glared at him. “I’m going with you.”
Felix ignored how that tone sent frissons of awareness through him and nodded. They followed Darius to the entrance, quickly discussing what they could and couldn’t tell them, to where the detectives waited.
“Felix Jamison,” one said. “You are a hard man to get hold of.” He held out his hand. “I’m Detective Keegan, and this is Detective Dodd. We’d like to talk to you about your whereabouts and your activities please.”
“Of course,” Felix said. “If you want to follow me, we can talk in one of our rooms.”
They went to the interview room and all settled down around the table. They weren’t happy about Brett staying with him, but they didn’t toss him out. Small wins.
“Okay, Mr Jamison. Tell me what’s going on. We have accusations of sniper activity, of drugs, of trafficking, and now we have a rifle linked to you. And yet, we were told you were kidnapped, but now you’ve returned. I’m a little lost in all honesty.”
Felix leaned back, uncaring about the questions. It was only right, after all. His story would be a little far-fetched in most situations. He talked them through most of what he could divulge, and once he had, they seemed on board.
“I apologise for the hard-head approach I took when I arrived,” Keegan said. “Sometimes it’s difficult to get information about of the royals or their guards.”
Felix grinned. “I can imagine. I have the same problem.” They chuckled between them, Brett and Dodd not joining in. “If there’s anything else you need, please let me know.”
“I think we can safely say the accusations towards you are false, and we have more to pin on Maddox now. I’m sure we have plenty we can use to round up some other people, too.”
They said their goodbyes at the entrance, and Felix exhaled. “Why do I think that’s not the last I’ve heard from them?”
“Because you’re smart,” Brett said, sliding his arm around his waist and kissing his temple.
****