Chapter 24
DORI
My nerves are scratching at my skin as I get out of my rental car. I don’t think I’ve ever been so anxious about seeing my brother as I am right now.
I get to his front door and ring the bell. It’s strange to do because he gave me a key and told me I can come and go as I please. I think this situation justifies my reasoning for not just going in.
The door swings open, and he looks me over, stone-faced. “Hey. It’s great to see you, but what are you doing here?”
“I was wondering if we could talk.” I swallow and roll back my shoulders. “If we’re ever going to have a relationship, we need to figure out some common ground.”
He takes a moment then nods. “You can tell me what you have in mind over a cup of coffee.”
“Thanks.” I wait for him to open the door and let me in.
“Do I get a hug for agreeing to this?”
My anxiety drops about ten levels. “I’d love that.”
“Good, then come in.” He widens the space to allow me inside.
I step in, and we embrace as soon as I do. He squeezes me tight, like I’ve been missing for years. Our emotional distance makes it feel like I have been.
“I’m glad you’re here. There’s a lot I want to say.” He pulls away and gestures to the kitchen. “Let’s go in there to talk.”
“Just promise not to throw hot coffee on me if I do.” I smirk as I catch his gaze.
He rolls his eyes and shows me to the kitchen. “Why don't we just be better to each other more than we have been over the last month?”
“I’ll be civil if you can be.”
He points to a chair at the table. “Sit and I’ll make you some coffee.”
“Thanks.” I get settled as I gaze out his back window.
The last time I was here comes to mind. The first night here I slept next to Jami, allowing his comfort to soothe me. The last night I slept here, I longed for him and wondered if we would find our way to each other. But Hunter was going to be a huge obstacle.
It’s wild to remember how much has happened since then. Maybe in a year from now, I’ll have my life sorted out.
Aiden grinds some coffee beans. The shrill of the grinder brings my attention to him.
“How have you been since”—I fiddle with my bracelet—“everything went down?”
He measures out the coffee and starts brewing our drinks. “It’s been good and bad. I’m not working for the FBI anymore. I don’t have to explain why. You can figure it out on your own.”
“Are you in any legal trouble?” I turn his way and give him a supportive message with my gaze.
He rests his hip against the counter as the hot liquid percolates through the filter. “No. I made a deal with them. I can’t go into the details due to the legal agreement in place, but I’ll never work for a government agency again. ”
“Are you okay with that?”
“Yes. Despite what you believe, Dori, I didn’t enjoy being an agent. I was always undercover and doing things that didn’t align with who I’ve always envisioned I would be.”
I do as Jami suggested and step into my power. “Does that include working for Dad?”
“Yes. I never wanted to be a part of that. And before you make assumptions, you need to understand I didn’t know what I was involved with until I started digging.”
“But you knew it couldn’t be good if he was having you bury tips coming into the department.”
Aiden turns, hiding his eyes, and pours us some coffee. He prepares them in silence exactly how we’ve always made them. My heart warms that he knows how I like my drink. It’s little things like this that make me miss him the most.
He brings a steaming mug to me. I reach out to take it from him, and my bracelets slide down my arm. As I cup my hands around the drink, his eyes narrow on my wrists.
Crap.
My bracelets were hiding the red irritation the material left after being tied up, but now the marks are easily noticeable.
I place the mug on the table, and he’s grabbing my arms within seconds. He turns them over and assesses the damage.
He forces a breath of disgust out through his nose as he flings my arms away. “Everyone thinks Jami’s this great guy, yet he leaves injuries on your skin. Can’t he figure out a way to show you he cares without causing pain?”
I shrink into myself as my cheeks flood with embarrassing heat. “It’s not that bad.”
“If you show me your back, will there be marks?” Aiden deadpans.
I want to crawl under the table. This is not how I wanted to start this conversation. I push my bracelets down as I hang my head .
“You don’t have to answer. I know what Jami’s into. That’s another reason you’re in danger being with him.” Aiden growls and stomps back to the coffeepot.
I whip my head up to fight for the man I love. “Jami would never hurt me. Not that it’s any of your business, but if you need the details so you understand, you should know I asked him to do this to me. These marks aren’t a sign of abuse. They’re a sign of a profound level of trust.”
Aiden turns and flashes me a look like he’s going to prove me wrong.
“Maybe you should ask him about the girl whose shoulder was dislocated. She was suspended at the time, so it took a while to get her unrestrained and get her the help she needed. If that’s the kind of trust you want in a partner, then who am I to care? ”
My blood goes cold, then boils as my stomach rolls over. I’m sick about the girl’s injuries and jealous as fuck. Images of Jami and another woman doing what we did scramble my brain.
Aiden has put me in my place, and I haven’t been here for more than five minutes.
“This was obviously a bad idea.” I push out of my chair and gather my belongings off the table.
Aiden rushes over to me and places his hands on my shoulders. “Please don’t go. I shouldn’t have brought that up. It has nothing to do with us.”
I inspect his gaze for sincerity. He shrugs and waits for me to respond.
I relax my stance. “If you can leave what I do with Jami out of this, I’ll stay.”
“That’s fine. I shouldn’t have said anything in the first place.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.” I sit again and regroup.
Aiden brought that up to throw me off, and he succeeded. I remember Jami’s words. I have the power I want; I just need to own it .
Aiden gets his coffee off the counter, comes back to the table, and sits across from me. He takes a drink while staring at my hand. I can’t help but think he’s searching for more marks.
I bring my arms under the table and rest my hands in my lap. “Hunter told me you were doing some work for him.”
Aiden raises his eyebrows and nods. “I needed a source of income, and he was willing to help me out. It was surprising, considering what you did to him.”
“I had to end it with him. We wouldn’t have worked out in the long run when my heart has always been with Jami.”
“I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about telling Hunter you’re marrying Jami on his birthday. That’s pretty cold. I thought you were more compassionate than that.”
My heart drops out of my chest. “What?”
“That day you told him. It was Hunter’s birthday.” Aiden gestures to where my hands are hidden under the table. “I didn’t see a ring on your finger. Is it true, or did you tell Hunter that so he wouldn’t fight for you anymore?”
I’m losing all my leverage and letting Aiden run this interaction.
I steady myself and focus on what I’m here to discuss. “First of all, I would never hurt Hunter like that on purpose. I wasn’t paying attention to the date so I didn’t realize it was his birthday. Second, I’m telling the truth. Jami and I are getting married. That’s why I’m here.”
“Then where’s your ring?”
“It’s getting sized.” I lie because I need to get back on equal ground with Aiden. My engagement ring has nothing to do with that.
He throws me an unconvinced look. “I’m sure it is.”
“Do you want to mend our relationship or sit here and try to make me feel bad about every decision I’ve ever made?”
He takes a slow drink then places his mug down. “I don’t want to fight with you, but?— ”
“No. There’s nothing to add. It’s a yes or no answer. If you try to bring things up that are irrelevant to our relationship, I’m going to leave. And if I do, it will be the last time we speak.”
“Then tell me what you have in mind. Let’s see if your intentions are sincere.”
I glare across the table. “One more comment like that, and this discussion will end.”
“Sorry. I’ll focus on what you have to say.”
“Where do you stand regarding Mom and Dad?”
“Nowhere. Once Dad was brought in for questioning for his involvement in the trafficking rings, I was cut off. I haven’t spoken to either of them since.”
“So, working for Hunter is your only source of income?”
“I already told you that.”
I reach for my purse and hold my palm over it. “You did what Dad wanted because you were promised a trust fund to support your dream of becoming a private detective and running your own business. Is that correct?”
Aiden’s cheeks grow red. He stands and treks to the coffeepot. “It didn’t start out that way, Dori. He would come down on me every time he saw you and Jami getting closer. It got worse every time I failed to keep you two apart.”
“Is it true he abused you?”
He pauses for a moment then straightens his back. “It is, but I don’t want to discuss that. It’s in the past.”
My heart aches for him. “Aiden?—”
“No. Don’t bring it up. I have nothing left to share regarding that.” He turns to me, looking like a scared little boy.
“Understood. Just know I’m sorry he did that to you, but it wasn’t and isn’t my fault. It’s not Jami’s either. Dad has mental problems, and you fell victim to that. Where you went wrong was hiding things from me. I would’ve helped you if you had told me. ”
“I was young when it started, and then it just got out of hand.” Aiden drops his head back and stares at the ceiling. “I didn’t want him to go after you.”
“He made you his pawn. It’s always been his game with us, but it doesn’t have to ruin us.” I stand and walk over to him.
He faces me. “What are you saying?”