Sandpipers' Secrets (17 page)

“Not all of it, Brody,” Zak clarified, “but I think he should know that there are people out there that might not like us. People that might want to…hurt us. We don’t have to tell him how. We could just explain that these letters hurt us in a way. And that there might be other ways they might try to hurt us.

Let’s just make him aware, okay?”

“You don’t think…?”

“No, Brody. Nothing is going to hurt that little boy. Nothing. I won’t let it. I won’t let anyone hurt you or
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Lark either. Wolf’s safe here. And so are you and Lark.”

Brody wanted to believe. He really did, but doubt lingered and niggled at the back of his mind.

“I want to talk to this investigator.” Zak shifted his hold so that Lark could move under one arm while Brody snuggled into the opposite shoulder.

“We need to tell them about your paint incident, too,” Lark replied.

Brody tensed, readying himself for the conversation to deteriorate into another argument. But Zak simply squeezed him gently.

“It’s okay, Brody. We’re not going to fight anymore. It’s pointless. We need to stick together and sort this mess out. Not fight amongst ourselves.”

“I like that idea. Sticking together,” Brody murmured.

“Mmmm…me too,” Lark stretched across Zak’s body and cupped Brody’s cheek before leaning in for a soft, slow kiss. “Sticking together sounds good. I hate fighting with Zak, but the make-up sex…oh, baby!”

Brody felt so strange when a small, strangled little chuckle managed to escape him. The way he had been feeling only a few minutes ago he didn’t think he’d be capable of it. But Lark always seemed to be able to make him smile. Brody’s grin stretched even wider when Zak gently jostled Lark’s shoulder and pulled him in for a tight, one armed hug against his side.

“Behave, Trouble,” he warned playfully.

“Never!” Lark sounded truly affronted by the suggestion, and Brody laughed again.

Lark placed a light, tender kiss against Brody’s lips again.

“Love you,” he whispered, before turning his head up to Zak and treating him to the same gentle affection. “Love you, too.”

“Love you, Lark,” Zak and Brody managed to echo in unison and Brody felt something ease inside him.

It was going to be okay. Really it was. Lark and Zak wouldn’t let it be anything else but okay. And Brody was determined to hold on to what they had. Fiercely, with both hands.

Whoever was doing this to his men could just fuck off. Brody had found something good. Something wonderful and strong. He wasn’t giving it up for anyone, especially not to a small-minded, arrogant asshole.

Brody finished sweeping the entryway and straightened the kink in his back. The twenty-four hours since Lark had come clean about the letter, and Zak about the vandalism, had been pretty tough. Explaining the situation to Wolf without frightening him had been hard work, but Brody was glad Zak had insisted.

He felt better knowing his brother wasn’t completely unaware. Brody hoped it made Wolf less vulnerable this way. Just in case.

Settling back into their normally peaceful domestic relationships and routine had been a little tricky at first, too. But Brody had to admit the make-up sex was fantastic. He was stiff and sore in places he never knew he had. It was such a pity they all had to work later on today. He had much more creative things he’d rather be doing with his lovers this evening, but the real world was intruding.

He would be looking after Wolf through the afternoon until around six, then Zak would come to relieve him so he could help out in the kitchen until close. Hopefully, after that there would be time to find more soft, vulnerable spots to mess with before they all fell asleep in a tangled mess together.

Just as Brody began to grin like an idiot and turned to go find someone to share his happy mood with, the front door bell chimed. He placed the dustpan on the small hall table and leaned the broom beside it, then opened the door—and froze in horror.

“Good morning. I’m Officer Rosenthal and this is Officer Denkewitz. We’re looking for Zak and Larry Piper.”

Brody felt his heart leaping about in his throat and swallowed heavily to try and get the organ to settle down. Flashbacks of Leonard’s smug face, the police officers’ sneering comments and the crowded, hostile courts that had sentenced him to juvie battered for space in his mind. They jostled and pressed in on him, threatening to send him down into a sea of madness.

“Is there a Zak or Larry Piper living here?”

Brody nodded, too afraid to speak and possibly betray himself or his lovers somehow.

“Are they at home?” Officer Denkewitz asked, speaking to him as if he was a rather slow child.

Brody didn’t care. He nodded silently in reply. Maybe they’d leave if they thought he couldn’t string two words together.

“May we speak with them?” the first officer hinted.

No such luck, obviously.

“Perhaps if we could come inside for a moment?” Denkewitz suggested pleasantly.

Brody froze. He didn’t want to. He really didn’t want to let the two imposing men in uniform into the house. He felt the threat of their presence like a physical force battering at him.

Just as they looked like they were going to become insistent, Brody felt Zak step up behind him. He knew it was Zak. He could feel the solid presence and heat from his larger body seeping into him even though he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the men at the door. He wanted to lean back into it, have Zak wrap his arms around him and tell the cops to go away. But he didn’t. He just stood staring at the two
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policemen on their doorstep.

Zak, in contrast, didn’t hesitate. He gently took the door out of Brody’s hand and pushed it wide open.

“I’m Zak Piper. Please come in, gentlemen.”

Brody snapped his head around to stare at Zak in slack-jawed disbelief. He felt himself being gently pulled away from the door to let the stranger inside.

“We were just about to have coffee. Would you care for some?”

As Zak led the men down the hall towards the kitchen, Brody had to rush to catch up. Fear prickled all over his body. He felt every hair stand on end and a fine sweat break out across his skin.

Stepping out of the short hall from the front door, Brody saw Lark look over and jump up from the couch where he had been reading a magazine. Lark’s reaction only made Brody’s own sense of foreboding worse.

“Lark, get the file, please?” Zak asked calmly.

When Lark scurried off without a word, Brody’s heart started to truly pound. He could feel himself edging towards a panic attack as Zak led them all into the kitchen. What was going on? Why were the police here?

Just as Lark returned holding a slim folder of paperwork, Wolf came running into the kitchen. He skidded around the bench and barrelled towards Brody in his usual energetic display of affection. Aiming to tackle-hug Brody’s knees, he froze when he saw the police officers.

Lifting up his arms with a suddenly serious look on his face, Wolf silently demanded to be picked up. He waited until Brody held him securely in his arms before returning his gaze to the police.

“Who’s that?” he asked, pointing at the officers standing on the far side of the counter.

“This is Officer…I’m sorry I don’t know your names,” Zak said politely.

It was all so calm and controlled. Brody was immensely glad Zak had taken charge of the situation. He wasn’t sure he could speak at the moment to save himself.

“Rosenthal and Denkewitz,” one of the officers supplied, staring at Wolf.

Brody tightened his hold on his brother, consciously having to fight to relax his grip around the boy.

“They’ve come to say hello,” he suggested in a thin, reedy voice he hardly recognised.

Zak looked over at him strangely.

There was no way Brody was going to let Wolf become afraid of cops. Brody was afraid enough for both of them. His experience had never been good when it can to police officers and the law. Brody felt his palms begin to tickle and sweat. But Wolf shouldn’t be scared of them.

But what if they were here to investigate how he was caring for Wolf? Maybe they had heard about the fire? Or maybe they wanted to know why he had left Wolf with Mrs. Tolimay. Or…or
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perhaps…Brody’s heart pounded impossibly hard against his ribs and he felt lightheaded with fear. He could lose Wolf.

Brody fought for control. He couldn’t let the little boy know that he could be taken away. Brody breathed in and out and tried to project a calm, serene appearance, if only for Wolf’s sake. The cops would have to shoot him before he let them take Wolf away, he decided.

Don’t look afraid, Brody reminded himself.Cops always thought you were guilty if you looked afraid.

“Are you going to find the bad people that keep hurting my brother and his friends?”

“Umm…” one of the officers began uncertainly.

“Good!” Wolf barrelled on, completely oblivious to any other possibility. “Cause hurting people and making them feel bad isn’t right. They shouldn’t be allowed any ice cream. Brody said if you’re naughty you don’t get ice cream.”

“It is bad,” Officer Denkewitz confirmed grimly. “Does anyone ever hurt you?”

Zak’s face instantly turned as dark as a late summer thunderstorm, and it was obvious he was about to explode. All traces of the reasonable, composed man evaporated. Fortunately, Wolf saved the day.

“No,” he said with blithe innocence. “Brody wouldn’t let them, and Zak and Lark are looking after us now, too, so no one gets to hurt me.” Apparently finished with the officers, Wolf turned to Brody. “I’m hungry. Can I have a cookie?”

“How about a sandwich and a drink of milk?” Lark suggested, and Brody was so relieved he’d have to remember to kiss the man next time they were alone.

He didn’t think he’d be able to sound anything but hysterical right now.

“Okay,” Wolf replied reluctantly looking disappointed before his face suddenly brightened. “Can I have a cookie if I eat all my sandwich?”

Lark chuckled and Zak grinned, his face still tight with anger, but the tension in the room beginning to unexpectedly lighten under the boy’s sunny, carefree disposition. Even Brody felt a tiny smile tug at his lips. He was still as nervous as hell with the police officers in the room, but Wolf’s happy influence was hard to resist.

“Deal, squirt. But crusts and all,” Brody managed to croak out.

“Okay!” Wolf wiggled excitedly to get down and raced to the fridge.

“We have a few questions we’d like to ask you—”

“Perhaps down at the station,” Officer Rosenthal said as he eyed Wolf pointedly.

Brody felt the air rush in and out of his lungs in great panicky gulps. They were taking Zak and Lark away.

“No—”

“Brody,” Zak said firmly, moving to stand in front of him and gripping his shoulders with just enough pressure to get his attention. “It’s going to be fine. We’re just going to go down to the police station, sort this out and be right back.” Zak reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. After a quick search he handed Brody a small white business card. “I want you to call this number. It’s our lawyer, Mac. Have him meet us down there. Can you do that?”

Brody clutched the card like a lifeline and nodded as he stared up at Zak. He was too terrified to take his eyes off the man in case it was the last time he saw him. As he felt Lark move past him, Brody wanted to reach out and grab him so he wouldn’t leave. Then he felt a small hand settle into his own.

Looking down, Brody saw Wolf watching him, his thumb in his mouth in a gesture that only emerged now when Wolf was feeling sick or tired…or anxious. Brody struggled to put a weak smile on his face and squeezed Wolf’s little hand gently.

“Back soon, guys,” Lark called cheerfully as he left the room.

Brody wasn’t sure who he was trying to reassure, but it did nothing to ease the tight tangle of cold, hard knots that had formed in his stomach. The knots pulled even tighter now that he could no longer see his lovers, and threatened to double him over when he heard the front door close behind them.

Brody wanted to run out, drag them back inside and lock the world, and more specifically the policemen, out. He wanted to pull his men under the covers of the bed and make it all go away. But instead, he bent down and picked Wolf up, giving him a quick, thorough hug.

“How about that sandwich? Then I might even be able to find a couple of choccy-chip cookies. One for you and one for me, huh? I think we deserve it.”

Wolf smiled and nodded enthusiastically around him thumb.

“Come on then. You can help.” Brody thought they could both use the distraction of work and chocolate.

It still promised to be a long, torturous afternoon.

Brody paced and fussed. He checked the window to see if he could spot Zak and Lark coming back, and he waited. Impatiently.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuckity! Fuck! What the hell was going on?The lawyer, Mac something or other, had said maybe a couple of hours. It had been four now. He’d had to callRio , Mark—the new mains chef—and the senior waitress in early to handle getting the restaurant prepped and open up for dinner. He couldn’t leave Wolf, and he had no idea when Zak and Lark would get back. So all he could do now was cool his heels and wait.

Shit! Shit! Shit!Brody yanked on his hair and growled in frustration. He couldn’t even go down and see what was happening at the police station. Wolf had finally settled down for an afternoon nap. He’d been unsettled and stirred up all afternoon, but Brody had eventually got him to go to sleep about thirty minutes ago. And there was no way he was taking him to a crowded, noisy, smelly police station, anyway.

Suddenly, Brody heard the key in the lock. Racing madly to the front door, he was just in time to see
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Zak securing the latch quietly behind them and a weary-looking Lark hanging up his coat. Flying across the short space that separated them, Brody flung his arms around the pair and pulled them into a tight hug, burrowing his head between them and breathing in their combined scents.