16. Brooke
brOOKE
My stomach had been in knots since I walked out of Jimmy’s house, and they had only grown tighter since I’d pulled out my phone. I trusted Brayden. I knew he’d meant it when he said he wouldn’t put me or my job in jeopardy, but he hadn’t seen what I’d seen.
“Daniel and I did a home visit today.” I turned my phone over in my hands, staring at the black screen. “It was for a boy who’d caused some trouble for another case of mine. The specifics aren’t important.”
“Okay. Keep going.”
“We were there to make sure he was safe after everything that happened.” I looked up at him as I continued, “The house wasn’t good, but it was far from the worst I’ve ever seen.
It was dirty and dusty with ashtrays overflowing with cigarette butts and empty beer cans strewn on the floor… It looked like only men lived there.”
I expected a reaction from him on that, but he didn’t even flinch.
He just sat there, silently listening as I went on, “There were two bedrooms with actual beds. Again, they were messy but livable. There was food in the kitchen and the fridge, and we didn’t see any weapons lying around, which was the reason for our visit”
“So, the place checked out.”
“For the most part.” I held my phone a little tighter as I told him, “Daniel was jotting down some notes in the kitchen while I checked out the basement. It looked just as I expected. It had an old, beat-up sofa and an old TV in the center of the room. There was a gaming system and tons of games, but nothing that stood out as a problem.”
“I’m not seeing the issue, babe.”
“I’m getting there.” I swallowed, hoping to ease the lump in my throat before saying, “There was a table in the back corner. I almost passed it by, but something drew me over to it. At first, I thought somebody was working on a scrapbook or something.”
“A scrapbook?”
“I know it sounds ridiculous, especially now that I know what it was.”
“Brooke…”
“It was a bunch of pictures of men, and their names and addresses were on the back, along with a list of everyone in their family.” His eyes never left mine as I told him, “I wouldn’t have thought anything about them… it wasn’t like I knew any of the men, but they were wearing cuts.”
Every ounce of color drained from his face as he asked, “What do you mean?”
“The men in the pictures, with all the information written on the back of them, were wearing Satan’s Fury cuts… just like yours.” I opened my pictures and turned the screen to face him as I added, “There was a picture of you, too.”
“Holy shit.”
He started flipping through the various screenshots, pausing whenever it showed the writing on the back of the photo. His grip tightened around the phone when he came up to his picture, and he swallowed hard as he read what was on the back. I watched every emotion cross his face.
Recognition. Confusion. Disbelief.
And then something darker appeared when he came across the image of one of the older men.
I leaned in closer and saw the name Preacher.
Something about that particular brother had him on the edge.
His shoulders grew rigid as he swiped again and again.
He zoomed in on one of the pictures, and his breathing slowed until it was unnaturally calm.
Curious what he’d seen, I asked, “What is it?”
He didn’t answer.
I couldn’t make out everything from where I sat, but he seemed more concerned with the writing on the back of the picture than the image itself. He remained silent until I pushed, “Brayden?”
He finally looked up and asked, “Where is he right now?”
“Who?”
“The father of the kid”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s for us to worry about.”
“I risked my job showing you these.”
“I get that, but the less that’s said the better for both of us.” He kept his tone low and steady, trying to seem unfazed as he told me, “We’re not sure what we’re dealing with here. No sense in jumping to conclusions.”
He was saying all the right things, but his expression told me everything I needed to know. He was worried. Actually, it was more than that. He seemed truly rattled. He pulled his phone out of his back pocket as he announced, “I need to get this to Shep.”
“Wait… Who’s Shep?”
“You could say he’s our computer guy.”
“You have a computer guy?”
“We do, and he’s the best around. Dude can do just about anything.”
“Okay, but I only meant for you to see these. If anyone else…”
“I know you’re in a tight spot with this, Brooke.” His eyes met mine as he said, “I wouldn’t do something stupid. He’s good. You can trust him.”
“But…”
“You have my word.” He stepped over and crouched down in front of me. “This will never come back on you. No one will ever know you were the one who got us these pictures.”
The knot in my stomach didn't loosen, but I found myself nodding anyway. “Okay. Go ahead and send them.”
He stepped away as he dialed the number. He was silent for a moment, and then I heard him say, “Hey, Shep. It’s Smit… I’ve got something you need to see.”
He listened for a second, then continued, “No, I’m not at the clubhouse. I’m over at Brooke’s. She found something during one of her home visits.”
His eyes met mine as he added, “She’s putting a lot on the line by showing us this shit, so I’m gonna need you to keep things under wraps.”
Another pause, and then he told him, “No, I don’t want to explain it over the phone. I’ll send it over the secured line. Just give me a minute.”
He was quiet while the photos uploaded. I’d known Brayden for years. I’d seen him interact with all kinds of people, and he’d always been pretty light-hearted and easy-going. Not tonight. I’d never seen him quite so reserved and intense.
I watched every change in his expression, wishing I knew what was being said on the other end of the line, but no such luck. After a few minutes, Brayden announced, “That’s the last of them.”
Brayden’s jaw tightened, and then he shook his head. “I can’t tonight, brother. The baby’s already in bed, and no way I’m getting her out of it. I’ll bring Brooke by as soon as we drop Anslee off at daycare.”
His face hardened for a moment, and I feared his friend might’ve pushed for us to come there tonight. But then Brayden nodded and said, “Yeah, I will.”
“What did he say?”
“He wants to meet you.”
“Why?”
“He has some questions.”
“He’s going to want to know about the father.”
“He will.”
My chest tightened with worry. “What is all of this, Brayden?”
“I wish I knew.”
“Do you think this dad is dangerous?”
“I can’t say, but it’s not looking good.”
“So, you think he is… and Shep does, too.”
A chill crawled up my spine when he said, “I know enough to say those pictures weren’t for a family scrapbook.”
“Are we in danger?”
"That’s not something you’ll have to worry about.” He took my hand in his. “Even if this was bad, really bad, nothing will touch you or Anslee. Fury protects its own, and now, that includes both of you.”
“How come?”
“Because I’m a brother, and you are my family.” He slipped his arms around my waist. “We protect our own, so whatever this is, we’ll handle it.”
“You sound so sure.”
“Because I am.” A crooked smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I’ve got a club full of brothers who don’t know how to quit.”
“Sounds like a bunch of guys just like you.”
I smiled, and Brayden leaned in and gave me a quick kiss. “Let’s get you to bed. We’ve got an early morning coming our way.”
Brayden led me to the bedroom, and I crawled into bed while he undressed.
Seconds later, he crawled in next to me.
We lay there in silence for several long moments, and even with Brayden holding me close, I couldn’t settle my thoughts.
The images of his brothers kept going through my mind, and the look on Brayden’s face when he first saw them. It was too much.
I let out a slow breath and shifted closer, until my head was resting on his shoulder. Knowing I was struggling, his arm slipped around me, pulling me closer. I tipped my chin up and brushed my lips against his. That was all it took.
He kissed me back with the same quiet tenderness, and somewhere between the softness of his touch and the warmth of his body against mine, the fear and worry began to loosen their grip.
We didn't speak. We just moved with one another.
It was soft and tender, slow and gentle, and I'd never felt closer to him.
When we were done, he pulled me close, and I rested my head on his chest and listened to the rhythm of his heartbeat. As I lay there next to him, there was no doubt.
I loved him.
I always had and always would.
The next morning, I woke feeling like a bundle of nerves. As I got dressed, I tried to remind myself that I trusted Brayden and knew he would never do anything to put Anslee or me in danger. That didn’t stop me from holding her a little longer than usual when I pulled her out of her crib.
I carried her into the kitchen and found Brayden standing at the counter, making himself a bite to eat. I put Anslee in her highchair, and I’d just placed a handful of Cheerios on her tray when Brayden announced, “I made coffee.”
“Thank goodness. I’m gonna need all the caffeine this morning.”
“I figured,” he chuckled under his breath.
I started making my coffee, and Brayden used the opportunity to pull a chair in front of Anslee and said, “Whatcha got there, kiddo?”
She grabbed a handful of cereal and offered it to him, and without even thinking, he leaned forward and opened his mouth, letting her shove several pieces inside. He started chomping down and smiled, “Not too bad.”
He tore off a bite from his peanut butter and banana sandwich and offered it to her, “Wanna try mine?”
Anslee grabbed it from his hand and stuffed it in her mouth.
Brayden laughed and took another bite for himself, never once looking in my direction.
Somewhere between Anslee's giggles and the quiet smile that spread across his face it hit me. He wasn’t putting on a show.
He wasn’t trying to prove something. He was simply being Brayden.