Dirty Little Lies: A Men of Summer Novel (35 page)

“Thank you, Uncle Thomas,” she murmured.

“Grace, sweetie, this family sucks when it comes to its girls,” Lana Magden Maddox, Teague’s wife, gave her a quick hug, her hazel eyes solemn. “And don’t think I didn’t chew Teague’s ass for how he acted the other day, honey. Maddox men are just big assholes, right?”

“They can be,” she agreed, returning her aunt’s hug.

“At least Egan had the good sense to leave,” Jane Westbrook Maddox snorted as Lana moved aside. She, too, hugged Grace, winked, and moved back for her husband, Egan.

“Sorry ’bout the mess, Gracie,” he sighed, hugging her as well. “I’ve missed ya, though.”

Her heart clenched at the softly whispered words against her ear. “Thank you, Uncle Egan.”

“Get out of the way, Egan.” Camden nudged his brother aside, shook Zack’s hand, and gave Grace a quick kiss to the top of her head. “He’s too damned slow, all the time.”

Teague was the only one of her uncles who didn’t hug her. He didn’t even meet her gaze.

“Let’s sit down and talk a minute, then,” Vince announced, moving from behind his desk and perching at the corner of it, facing his family as his sons stood protectively around him.

They took their seats slowly, watching as Vince stared at all of them for long, heavy moments.

“You know,” he began. “I’ve known a lot of shame in my life, and no small amount of tragedy. And other than the death of my wife, Sierra, I count today, as one of the most tragic. But I also count it as my greatest shame.”

Surprise filled their faces, as well as confusion. In one, guilt flashed but for a moment before confusion filled it as well.

“Vince?” Mary whispered, distressed. “What are you talking about?” She reached for her husband’s hand, gripping it like a lifeline. “What’s happened? Is Kenni okay?”

“My baby girl,” Vince sighed, shaking his head as Grace saw the tears that glittered in his eyes for a moment. “Eight years. For eight years I thought she’d died with Sierra. My sweet little girl, murdered, along with her mother, and I couldn’t find who had killed them. No matter how hard I looked.”

Silence filled the room.

Looking to the back of the room, he nodded. One of the agents there stepped from where he’d stood unnoticed and opened the office door to allow Victor Brigham and half a dozen agents to enter the room.

“What’s the meaning of this, Vinny?” Teague spoke up, his tone bordering on anger. “Why are they here?”

Vince turned his gaze to his brother, abject pain and sorrow filling his expression. “Did you know Lana and Egan have been sleeping together since before the two of you married? That she, along with your brother and his wife, has been systematically destroying this family?”

Shock, disbelief. Teague stared from his wife to his brother Egan, then to Vince. “That’s not true,” he seemed to wheeze. “No—”

“Neither of them is protesting, I notice,” Victor Brigham boomed as he stepped to the desk beside Vince. “Think that’s because they know Vince wouldn’t make a move without proof?”

“Lana?” Teague whispered, searching for a denial, all but begging for one.

She rolled her eyes. “It’s not exactly a crime,” she drawled, shrugging.

Egan and his wife sat still and silent, watching Vince without expression.

“Vince…?” Mary whispered, her voice hesitant. “Why are you doing this?”

Vince lowered his head.

Immediately, two of the agents stepped to the supply closet and opened the door.

Ben, Ureana, and Calli stepped from inside.

Calli stared at the family, tipped her head to the side, and gave a slow, clearly audible “Tsk, tsk, tsk.” As she wagged a finger at them.

It was Ben who held all their attention, though, as he moved to stand next to his twin, leaned against the desk, and crossed his arms over his white shirt.

“You’re right, Lana,” Ben stated. “Infidelity isn’t a crime.” He stared at his brother with icy fury. “Murder is, though. I believe these agents are here to take you, Egan, and Jane in for questioning. I hope you fare better than Lucia and the agent who was murdered this week.” His smile was hard. “Or the four agents that have been helping you make certain your secrets were kept. They’ll be joining you in the holding facility where you’ll be questioned.”

Egan shook his head, a sneer on his face. “Hell, and here I thought Luce was crazy when she said Ben was still alive,” he laughed, rising to his feet only to have two agents grab him by the arms and secure them behind his back.

Two others were fastening nylon restraints on both Lana’s and Jane’s wrists as they stood, chins lifted mutinously, glaring at Ben and Vince.

“But why, Egan?” Mary whispered, standing now, holding on to her husband’s arm as he watched the proceedings warily. “Why?”

“You should ask your husband that, Mary.” Alexander stepped away from Vince, catching her as Thomas was pulled from her, restraining her arms as she cried out and reached for him. “It’s okay, Mary,” he whispered, his arms going around her gently. “It’s okay.”

“You bastard!” Thomas snarled, struggling against the agents now, his brown eyes filled with fury. “That’s why. Did you think I didn’t know what happened before we married? You lying bastard.”

Mary’s face was ashen and filled with pain as Alexander held her to his chest, her green eyes staring at her husband in horror.

“I would have brought everything you loved down around your ears,” Thomas sneered at Alexander and Vince both. “And I still will. Do you think you could possibly have taken down something I’ve worked twenty-five years to destroy?” he laughed.

“Shut up, Thomas!” Egan snarled furiously, his expression tight with contempt.

Thomas’s head snapped around to the other man. “We’re not innocent until proven guilty, you fucking moron. What does it matter? We’ll never see daylight again anyway.”

Egan turned to his brother, some hope, some certainty of salvation flickering in his eyes. “No.” He shook his head. “Vince wouldn’t do that. Not to his brother.”

“You did,” Alexander stated, his deep voice grating. “You planted the bomb, you intended to kill Ben and his daughter. Just as you conspired to kill your sister-in-law and your niece. Your brother’s daughter, Egan. Not just his twin, but his wife, his daughter. Do you think you’ll find leniency in Vince’s heart now?”

Desperation and shock filled Egan’s face as it paled to a sickly white. “I’m your brother, Vince,” he protested.

“No, you’re not.” Teague stepped back, the horror and betrayal rushing through him and reflected in his face, in his eyes as his fists clenched at his sides, his gaze going between his wife and his brother. “You’re no brother.”

“Camden…” he cried out.

Camden also stared at him in horror, one arm holding his wife, Gina, behind him as he watched his brother in disbelief. “My God, Egan…” he wheezed. “Why? Why?”

“Your brother?” Gina whispered. “My God. Sierra?” Tears spilled down her face. “She was like a sister to all of us. To all of us—”

“I’m your brother,” Egan cried out again, struggling against the agents as they dragged him to the door. “Vince. Vince, please…”

Vince stepped forward, his fingers burying in Egan’s shirt, jerking him nearly off his feet. “My wife,” he snarled into Egan’s face. “My daughter. My twin. My fucking world, Egan!” He was almost nose to nose with his brother. “I’d kill you myself if I hadn’t sworn to our parents I’d never allow my position to cause me to harm one of my own brothers or my children. I’d kill you myself.”

Egan spat at him, the moisture spraying over Vince’s cheek. “I would have killed you next, you son of a bitch—”

The agents jerked him back and away before Vince could retaliate, before the rage and bleak grief rising inside his eyes could cause him to break the promise he’d made to his parents.

“Dad.” Cord caught his father’s arm with one hand, the other gripping his father’s shoulder. “It’s over. It’s over. Let it end here.”

The pain, betrayal, and grief filling the room were overwhelming, a family broken, a past once revealed showing the shattered lines that had divided it all along.

Her uncle’s expression was twisted with hollow pain, Ben’s no less filled with the grief of betrayal as his daughter, Calli, wrapped her arms around his waist and he held on to his wife, watching as another brother was dragged away.

And Zack held her.

The loss and sheer aloneness she’d felt for so long were gone, leaving behind only regret and a sense of loss. It wasn’t her father’s fault; it wasn’t her fault. He’d been taken from her, and he chose the path he’d felt was the right one to protect her as well as the woman he loved and the child they had together.

Her father was back now. The danger to all of them revealed. She could face her future safely, with the man she loved.

She wasn’t alone anymore. Zack had her.

“Take me home,” Grace whispered as Zack’s arms tightened around her. “Just take me home, Zack.”

“Grace.” Alexander Brigham moved to them as they headed for the door, then stood before her, his gray eyes as warm and kind as she’d always known them to be. “I need to tell you something.”

She stared up at him, wishing he’d just let them leave. “Tory expects to see you at that party this weekend. I hope you’ll be there. And no matter what I let Zack find out about the orders for interrogation, you’d have never been questioned.” He smiled gently. “Kept at the estate for a while, but I’m confident you and Tory would have found enough nail polish and girly stuff to keep you busy. If that weren’t enough, I received two messages informing me how much gators liked human flesh when they got good and hungry.” He grimaced at that. “Call those boys off, if you don’t mind? I might start having nightmares.”

“Beau-Remi?” she questioned, almost amused.

*   *   *

“Beauregard and Maddox Remington,” he told her softly but looking up at Zack. “I’ll tell you this once, son,” he said. “I loved your mother like my own children. It was her decision to leave with Richard, her decision to hide you from us, because she’d guessed there were traitors in the agency and in the Kin. The stories you heard were planted by all of us.” His eyes moistened for a second. “She was my baby sister, Zack. Only your father loved her more than her family did.”

“You know,” Grace said with a heavy sigh as the Brigham patriarch strode back to Vince and Ben. “Know-it-alls really bother me. They really do, Zack.”

“Poor baby,” he chuckled, leading her to the open door. “And here there’s so many in your life.…”

They stepped through the door. Just as Grace felt sunlight touch her face, an explosion shattered the quiet as a primal bellow sounded from the main entrance and another explosion ricocheted through the house.

Screams echoed around Grace even as she felt the agony pierce her chest, felt her breath lodge in her lungs and her body bounce backwards into Zack.

Curses, Zack’s roar of rage, and a crash to the floor happened in slow motion as she fought to breathe, fought to remain conscious.

It hurt.

Oh God …

“Grace … Grace,” Zack’s enraged voice sounded distant, hollow as his face blurred above her.

She couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t breathe …

“It’s okay, baby…” Hard hands were suddenly beneath her breasts, fiery pain resonating through her as she felt him pushing at her, felt his hands massaging her, raking talons of fire through her senses.

“Breathe, Grace … damn you, breathe…” he yelled.

The command was followed by more bellowing from outside, then an agonized, enraged scream of horror.

Air suddenly filled her lungs once again, bringing a low, pain-filled moan as knifing sensations shot through her chest once more.

“It’s okay. Stay still, honey, I think that bullet might have broken a rib.” Zack’s voice was hoarse as other voices echoed in her head, that bellow sounding again.

“Dammit. Fuck. Beau-Remi, shut that fucking gator up before I shoot him!” Cord yelled as two figures slid in on the other side of her.

Fierce violet eyes glared down at her, curly black hair framing a far-too-handsome face, times two. There were two of them.

“Eh, an’ here I tink you don’ shame Beau-Remi.” The Cajun accent was smooth, filled with relief. “You good, huh, girl?”

“Hell. Kevlar.” A Texas drawl from the twin image as amusement flickered in violet eyes. “Hell, Gracie. I thought we were too late.”

“Joe got da foot of dat boug.” Beau-Remi grinned. “Dat boy gonna limp to da gallows, yah?”

Her eyes slid to Beau-Remi’s mirror image in confusion.

Mad shook his head. “English, Beau-Remi, English…”

She fought to breathe, what little air she could draw in not nearly enough.

“It’s okay, baby,” Zack whispered again, smoothing back her hair, his expression white, fear darkening his eyes.

“Hurts…” she wheezed.

“Ambulance is almost here, Grace,” he promised. “The vest stopped the bullet, but something might be broke. Just a minute…”

Just a minute?

It hurt.

“She gonna go…” Beau-Remi said, the words making little sense. “Like when she broke da arm, she gonna go…”

Go … Darkness whispered over her, the shock, the pain, and someone said, broke something?

She couldn’t handle … broke something …

The lights went out. Slowly, dimming more and more until darkness settled over her.

*   *   *

“Boug, you dum-ting.” Beau-Remi looked up at Zack and shook his head. “You don’ say broke sometin’ to her.” He glared at Zack as another of those deep, primal bellows sounded outside. “Joe, I turn you to boots you don’ shut up!” Beau-Remi bellowed back, violet eyes gleaming with humor as he turned back to Zack. “Gotta love dees mountains, eh?”

“Zack. God, Zack…” Ben knelt beside his daughter, staring down in shock at the Kevlar vest she wore, then to Zack. “He was going to kill her.…”

Thomas’s cousin, Mark, the only one of those they’d suspected but been unable to find, because he’d been with Thomas when Mary had received the request that she and her husband were needed at Vince’s to discuss who would take Ben’s place.

“I’m the suspicious sort.” Zack could still feel his heart racing, still feel the fear that had nearly strangled him, worried the bullet had struck her in an unprotected area.