I might be a bad man, but they are the only ones who would understand the pain of losing Elise.
“Can I help you?” Chuck asked, crossing his arms and spreading his legs in a defensive stance.
“My name is Devlin Callahan. I’m Elise’s boyfriend and I need to speak with you.”
Chuck looked behind me to the car and his face was a mix of confusion and recognition. My name was associated with death and upheaval for many years, and I hoped he would give me the chance to explain before he tried to send me away. I wasn’t going anywhere, but I needed him on my side to find Elise.
Blowing out a breath, he shook his head. “What can I do for you Devlin?”
“Can we go inside? There’s something urgent we need to talk about, and it’s better to be away from prying eyes,” I explained. He observed me for a moment before he turned and walked into the house. I followed behind him and looked around the home that had protected and nurtured my sweet girl.
I could hear the television coming from the room to the right,which Chuck had just walked into. Blaire turned it off and stood from the couch, walking up to Chuck and gripping his hand in hers. I knew my appearance must be alarming to them, but I needed to be ready to find my lamb at a moment’s notice. At least I was nice enough to keep my guns in the car.
I looked at them and began, “As I explained to your husband, my name is Devlin Callahan and I’m Elise’s boyfriend. Something happened tonight and I need your help.” Closing my eyes briefly, I locked eyes with Chuck and explained. “Your brother kidnapped Elise from the grocery store on her way home. I need to know how to find him.”
“WHAT!?” Chuck yelled into the room and rushed toward me, gripping me firmly by the body armor strapped around my chest.
“OH God, NO!” Blaire screamed, and I removed Chuck’s grip, easing him away from me.
“I know this comes as a shock, but your brother isn’t here by accident. A few weeks ago, he approached her in the park, dressed like a homeless man and tried to scare her away from me. I’ve been looking for him since and the night he showed up here, I had people tracking him. He gave them the slip somehow and tonight, he took her. Chuck, I need to find her. Where is your brother?”
“I don’t fucking know. He disappeared when he was fourteen and showed up three days ago, looking for money. I assumed he was a con man and got rid of him. He called me Sunday evening, wanting to get together this week and I blew him off. Why would he take my daughter? Did you dragher into some of your bullshit? And why do you look like your about to start a war?”
“Because I am. He took the most precious thing in my life and I will kill him for laying a finger on her.” The deadly venom seeped from my voice into the room.
Chuck appeared conflicted and I couldn’t have him trying to save his worthless brother. I had cut my worthless family off and it was time for him to make a choice.
“It’s either Elise or Cameron. You can’t have both, and she will always win in my mind. Choose.” My gaze was burning through him and I saw something shift in both of them.
Blaire spoke up. “Kill that fucker for hurting my daughter.” Her eyes turned to Chuck. “Do we call the police?”
She was handling this better than I would have expected. I would have expected more yelling and possibly blame being laid at my feet. The only thing they wanted was Elise back, just like me.
Chuck shook his head at her, turning his gaze to mine as he spoke. “Devlin isn’t the kind ofman who calls the police. Or have things changed in your life? I’ve heard that you have legitimate business now. I just hope you haven’t dragged my daughter into your old life. She deserves better than that,” Chuck announced, and I saw the street kid from all those years ago push through to the surface.
“I quit that life almost a decade ago. I’m legit with all my businesses and it’s all because of her. We’re wasting time. Tell me whatever you know. I need to find her before he does something stupid.”
“You may be able totrack his phone through the number he called from.”
I reached out for him to hand it to me but he pulled it back. “I’m coming with you.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“I took a macheteto my inner thigh during an ambush in Fallujah. It nicked the femoral artery and I tied it off after I killed the fucker who stabbed me. I took out another three insurgents before backup arrived.I have no problem spilling blood. Even my own brother’s.”
Tough motherfucker.
I nodded and he tossed me the phone as he turned and sprinted from the room. I pulled up the call from Cameron and relayed the information to James as Chuck walked back into the room, his outfit closely resembling mine. He went to the cabinet along the wall and pressed against the lip, revealing a hidden gun safe that pulled out of the furniture.
Blaire walked up and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face into his chest. He hugged her deeply and I gave them the moment, since I had no idea how this would play out. Fighting the sick feeling burrowing deeper into my gut, I cleared my throat.
They separated and Chuck grabbed a couple of boxes of ammo before kissing her and joining me at the door.
“Bring my family back to me, Devlin.” Blaire’s tone left no room for argument and I nodded before walking out the front door, Chuck in step with me.
The two men who had vowed to protect Elise were teamed up, going into battle to destroy the person responsible for taking her. We were going to deliver him to hell, and heaven help anyone who stood in our way.
As we drove away, Chuck spoke into the car, his stare locked on the darkened road ahead. “It was you who killed her adoptive parents, wasn’t it?”
