CHAPTER FIVE
“Are they dead?” Margret’s demanding tone vibrated through the phone.
Brad looked at Hank and shrugged. He was used to her harshness, but her willingness to kill her own sons had been a shock.
Once the job was finished and their business was attended to, Brad planned a quiet, speedy divorce.
He didn't want Margret to decide he was taking up too much room.
“There has been no word, and I haven’t reported them missing yet.
They were nearly incapacitated when I last saw them, and the temperature dipped below freezing last night.
By all accounts, they should be dead by now.
" Silence fell, and the tension was building. Deep down, he was afraid of his wife.
“Go out there and make sure they’re dead, and then call the police. I want to receive a call before nightfall letting me know my sons are dead. Do I make myself clear, Bradley?”
“Yes, ma’am." She closed the call, and Brad turned to regard Hank, who looked as uncomfortable as a man could look.
“On second thought,” She barked. “I’m on my way. I’ll meet you two at the Lodge. I want to be there when their deaths are announced." With that, she abruptly closed the call. Brad tucked his phone into his pocket and drew in a long, deep breath.
"We need to get this done, sell the dealerships, and disappear," Hank said with a strain in his voice. He knew Margret and knew what she was capable of. People who disappointed Margret tended to disappear, and they didn’t want to join their number.
“I’m not going out there to look for them. They’re dead guaranteed. If they weren't, they would have made it to the main road by now and called someone." Brad theorized. Hank nodded, looking relieved.
“Yes, they would have called. They didn’t know it was us who left them out there. They would have called looking for help." Hank smiled. "I think you can alert the authorities soon, and we can get this show on the road.”
Brad slapped him on the back. “Let’s go have a drink first. We’ll make the call from the Lodge.”
Casey finished washing up after Kyle, and they slipped into the navy blue sweats that Bram had provided. They were a little large, but they would do. "Can you believe we've bagged a guy like Bram Ferdinand. Even his name is drop-dead sexy."
“I can’t believe how easy I fell for him. The guy has taken up residence in the middle of my heart, and he fills my every thought." Kyle remarked, and Casey chuckled.
“Never thought I’d see you lose it over a guy. Your cold, one-and-done philosophy isn’t working with this one.”
“There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him apart from murder, but that's still a possibility, depending on the circumstances." Kyle shook his head and smiled softly. “I also know he would do the same for me. I don't know how I know, but I know."
Casey stared at him for a moment. “I feel him in my chest under my skin, making himself at home. He became a part of me. I feel him, and I know he feels me. It must be a bond thing. What did Sean say about beloves? Do you remember?”
“A beloved was the most loved, most cherished, and that vampires had leveled continents in the defense of their Fated love.
It was intense, and Sean almost seemed a little jealous of their absolute dedication to their bond.
" Kyle moved toward the door. "Bram has lunch ready; let's not keep him waiting. " He winked.
"I've been apart from him too long already." Casey moved quickly from the room and, with Kyle by his side, he headed to the kitchen area. Bram turned from the cupboard and looked over his shoulder at the two of them, smiling, melting every single molecule. There were two puddles at his feet.
Bram raised his arms, and they rushed forward.
He took them in his arms and crushed them tightly to his chest. “I missed you.
" He said, then kissed the top of their heads, before ushering them to the small table and getting them seated.
He then set two prepared plates before them, poured their drinks, and took a seat between them.
It was a position he preferred; he liked to have them both within easy reach.
“Eat up, you need to get your strength back." Casey loved the sound of his voice and just the feeling in the air when he was nearby. He hoped this was real and that, once life settled, he would remain close.
"I understand you both work remotely, so it shouldn't be too difficult for you to relocate to the vineyard." He was fishing, and they both side-eyed him with a knowing smile.
“Are you asking us to move in Bram?” Kyle asked, always blunt and to the point.
“I certainly am. I can arrange to have your things moved here by tomorrow, just say the word." He drank his coffee and kept looking back and forth between them, obviously reading them clearly.
"Word," Casey stated wholeheartedly.
“Word.” Kyle echoed with the same earnestness.
“Done.” Bram took out his phone and made the arrangements.
"We're really moving in with you, Bram?" Kyle sounded incredulous.
"You're my beloveds, and your place is with me." He said it so confidently, then reached over to grab the juice and refill their glasses. "Drink, it will help get that poison out of your system.”
“Yes, sir.” They both said in unison and drank their juice. The moment was perfect, and Casey prayed that it was all real.
"It's real, baby, it's all real," Bram said and leaned over and kissed him sweetly on the lips. He had read his mind.
Brad heard a knock at the door, and he called out for them to enter. Truce, looking his usual tall and handsome in his dark suit and gold accessories, entered and leaned
against the cupboard. Bram introduced his beloveds, and although they were gracious and well-mannered, they paid Truce little notice, keeping their eyes and hands on Bram. It was a definite ego boost.
"I wanted to meet you, beloveds." He admitted and then added. "But I also have information on Bradley, Hank, and your mother, Margret." He turned to regard the twins. This got their attention, but they simply moved closer to Bram, an instinct that came with their growing bond.
"What is it? What did you find out?" Kyle spoke nervously. His hand found Bram's and held on tight, waiting for whatever Truce had to share.
“The dealerships are underwater, losing money, and Brad and Hank are on the verge of bankruptcy.
Your mother has blown through most of the money left to her by your father.
All she has left is the house and the vacation home.
She has the vacation home on the market, but that won't net enough to solve their problems.” He paused and took in the shocked look on their faces.
“He acts like he has money to burn," Casey spoke up. "Always puts on airs."
"The well is running dry, apparently. He’s already closed two locations, but if he can come up with a large cash infusion, he believes he can save himself."
"He wants to borrow money from us?" Kyle asked, his brows drawing together tightly. "We don't have that kind of money."
“When’s your birthday?"
“Next month, we’ll be twenty-one.”
“Your father left a trust for you both that you can tap into at the age of twenty-one.”
“I never heard anything about it.” Kyle was looking at Casey, who was simply shaking his head.
"They never told you about it, obviously.
" Truce poured himself a cup of coffee and took a sip before continuing.
"This is the rough part, so prepare yourselves.
" Both Kyle and Casey leaned closer to Bram, who wrapped them in his arms. “They discovered that if you die before accessing the trust, it can revert to your mother, Margret.”
They sat there, stunned, no sound and barely breathing. "They tried to kill us for a trust that our father left us?" Casey was asking for clarity, but he already knew the answer.
“Yes, that was their plan. The trust is substantial and has grown considerably over the years.”
“How much, how much are we worth to them?” Casey’s tone was harsh.
“It’s at a little over eleven million right now." Their eyes popped, and they stared at each other. "Your mother received fifteen million but has managed to blow through it with the help of Brad.”
"This whole hunting trip was a setup to have us die in the woods so they could make it look like an unfortunate accident, and mother could collect on the trust." Kyle again pushed for clarification.
It was too awful, and they were having trouble processing the betrayal, the coldness, the inhumanity.
Bram hadn't said anything; he just held them and let them pull calm and peace from him through their bond.
“I'm going to take them to the Chateau," Bram announced. "Can I take your vehicle? I came on the ATV, not enough room for all of us."
“Let me drive.” Truce offered. “They need you close right now.”
“Can we stop at the Lodge? Is it very far from here?” Casey asked. “I want to get out of that place. I want to get my things and get away from them.”
"Yeah, me too," Kyle spoke up.
“It’s not too far.” Truce told them. “We’ll stop there and then onto the Chateau. I’m sorry if I upset you.” He apologized.
"We had to know," Casey spoke up.
"I wish we'd known sooner. I wonder if there were any other attempts on our lives?” Kyle wondered.
“Their mounting financial problems took shape about six months ago. Brad and Hank made some very bad investments. Before that, they had plenty of money, and your mother still had some of her inheritance. I think they were trying for an easy way out and discovered the clause in the trust.” Truce tried to soften the blow.
"I knew they didn't like having us around, and mother didn't give a shit about us, but I never thought she hated us this much." Kyle choked up a little and buried his face in Bram’s shoulder.
"It doesn't surprise me, Kyle," Casey spoke up. Truce excused himself and told them he would wait for them in the SUV. He knew they needed some privacy.