Chapter Twenty
Rex
B y the time Dre and I reach the living room, Wreck seems to have snapped out of his shock at finding Dre standing on his doorstep.
He rushes towards his brother, and I just manage to release his hand before Wreck gathers him in the tightest embrace I’ve ever seen.
I’m not quite sure how Dre is actually managing to breathe right now with how tight the hold is.
He doesn’t seem to mind, though. He’s soaking in the comfort and familiarity of his brother’s embrace.
It warms my heart to see them reunited. I know how much this means to them both.
How much they’ve both suffered over the past year.
It might have been in very different ways, but they suffered all the same.
By the time they release each other, both their faces are stained with tears.
Tears that are still falling at a rapid rate.
Fucking hell, I’m having to hold my own back from watching this reunion.
They have such a special bond. There is no denying it.
It’s so similar to the ones I have with my own brothers, and I know not many people have these sorts of connections with their siblings.
It’s so much deeper than a normal sibling relationship.
It’s not very often I get to see this side of things when I rescue someone.
Normally I rescue someone, and then it’s someone else’s job to deal with everything that’s involved with getting them back to their lives.
It’s honestly fucking amazing to see this side of things.
To see how much my actions and the things I endure to save these people mean to those involved.
To see firsthand the good I’m actually doing.
It’s one thing knowing what I’m doing is good for those involved; it’s another seeing it for myself.
When I look over at Shadow, I see he isn’t doing any better than I am.
He has a few stray tears on his face too.
We’re both impacted by the scene taking place in front of us.
If anyone knows how much this means to Wreck, it’s Shadow.
He’s probably the only person who’s seen the true repercussions that Dre being missing has had on Wreck.
“Come on, you two. Let’s sit down. There’s a lot to talk about.” I say, knowing I need to get this moving before Dre’s nerves return with a vengeance.
At the moment he’s overwhelmed with happiness and relief from seeing Wreck, but I know that’s not going to last much longer. Not when he starts to think about what he still needs to share.
Wreck moves to take a seat, trying to pull his brother to sit next to him, but Dre isn’t having any of it.
Pulling away, he comes to take a seat next to me.
I can see the confusion on Wreck’s face about his brother’s actions, but he doesn’t say anything.
Instead, he heads to sit next to Shadow, who immediately places his hand on Wreck’s leg.
I can tell by the look of Shadow’s face he knows something is about to happen.
Something that isn’t going to be all sunshine and rainbows, like I’m sure he was hoping this reunion would be.
He’s preparing himself for whatever is about to happen and to be the support that Wreck needs.
Dre glances at me, and I can see the internal struggle he’s having. He knows what has to happen now, and I know he’s dreading it. God, I wish I could do this for him, but I know it’s something he feels like he needs to do.
As Dre begins to talk, I place my arm over his shoulder and pull him into my side.
He immediately melts into my side but doesn’t stop talking.
Offloading the truth about what happened to him.
I keep a watchful eye on Wreck, ready to act if need be.
I don’t think he’d ever intentionally hurt Dre, but sometimes when emotions are running high, things happen.
The minute Dre reveals who was behind his kidnapping, all hell breaks loose.
Not even Shadow has a chance to stop Wreck’s volatile reaction.
Wreck’s up and out of his seat so fast it actually makes my head spin.
Picking up the coffee table that is in front of him, he launches it across the room in the opposite direction of where we’re sitting with a scream.
A scream filled with anger and pain. Shadow reacts quickly after that, getting up from his seat and wrapping his arms around Wreck from behind.
Stopping him from causing any more destruction to their home.
Shadow’s arms create a band around Wreck, holding him immobile.
He’s whispering something we can’t hear directly into Wreck’s ear.
Whatever he says seems to have the desired effect, and Wreck stops fighting against Shadow’s hold.
Practically sagging against him. It’s a testament to Shadow’s physical strength that he actually manages to keep them both upright. Wreck is not a small man.
Shadow helps guide Wreck back to his seat. Instead of taking his seat next to Wreck, he sits directly in his lap. Well, that’s one way to ensure Wreck can’t do anything else when Dre reveals the rest.
“How the fuck are they alive? We were told they died when their plane went down.”
“They faked their deaths.” Dre reveals, and I can see confusion mixing with the anger on Wreck’s face now.
“But why?”
Dre glances at me, and I can tell from the look in his eyes he wants me to answer this question. Can’t really blame him for that. He knows I hold the most information where Beau and Annmarie’s scheme for faking their deaths is concerned.
“Because they found out my team and I were coming for them. They were part of a criminal network that we worked to take out a few years ago. Instead of dealing with the consequences of their actions, they chose a different route. Your parents are worse people than you could ever imagine, Wreck.”
“You know, I should be surprised, but I’m not. I’ve always known they weren’t good people.”
“Wreck, they’re worse than you think.” Dre says, taking back over again.
“How so?”
“When Rex rescued me, I wasn’t alone.”
Even though Wreck is underneath Shadow, I still see the moment his entire body goes rigid at Dre’s words. He’s preparing himself, but even I know he’s never going to expect what Dre has to say next.
“Can I borrow your phone?” Dre asks, turning to look at me as he speaks.
I don’t even think about it as I pull my phone out and hand it over. I know what he plans to do next. He’s going to show his brother Immy.
Dre stands and heads over to where the other two are sitting, messing with my phone as he goes. I know he’s pulling up the picture of Immy we took before we left. He turns the phone around for them to see.
“This is Immy. I’ve been caring for her since she was born. Thanks to Rex and his friends, she’s no longer about to be sold into slavery. Now, she’s officially my daughter.”
“They were going to sell a fucking baby.” Wreck rages.
“We stopped them, Wreck. They can’t harm anyone else ever again.” I say, hoping my words will help to calm him.
“As long as they’re still breathing, they’ll always be a threat to someone.”
Dre snorts loudly, and I have to hold back my laugh at his reaction. I know he’s thinking about whose custody Beau and Annmarie are currently in and how little of a threat they pose now.
“They couldn’t even threaten a fly right now, Wreck.”
“How can you say that?” Wreck asks.
“Because he knows they’re currently in the custody of two of the world’s top assassins. They aren’t going anywhere; we don’t want them to.”
“Assassins. How the hell did they end up in the custody of goddamn assassins?”
“It’s a long story.”
“We’ve got all the time in the world. Get explaining, Rex.”
“You might as well tell him everything now. He’s got that stubborn look on his face.” Dre says, eyes twinkling as he looks at his brother.
Clearly, he’s trying to lighten the mood in the room. It works because despite everything, Wreck actually cracks a smile at his brother.
Knowing I have no other choice, I take a deep breath and start at the very beginning.
Explaining everything as I know it from the moment Beau and Annmarie’s names appeared in the files to do with Operation Counterstrike.
There’s no point in holding back anything.
Wreck won’t be satisfied until he knows everything, and I can’t really blame him for that either.
I’d be the exact same way if I were in his shoes.