The final book in the Sanctuary series
Secrets and lies threaten Brandon and Daniel’s new love.
Brandon Hoselton is running scared, finding security in his obsession with patterns and numbers. With his family threatened, he feels he has nowhere left to go, and even considers ending his life to keep them safe. Until Sanctuary, in the shape of the enigmatic Daniel Karnes, gives him a reason to stay alive and offers the possibility of a future free from fear.
Former SEAL Daniel is new to Sanctuary, tasked with watching Brandon, a brilliant geek with way too many secrets. Falling in love with quirky Brandon is easy; now he just has to make sure secrets don’t end up with them both dying.
The only way of destroying Varga is to cut the crime boss’s money, and the two men become part of an intricate take-down involving millions of dollars. But Brandon has a secret he can never share with Daniel, and their new love is at stake.
When the villain has murder in mind, sometimes the only way to stay alive is to lie.
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Excerpt
Chapter 1
Brandon took down the drapes in his room as
soon as he was able to. He could have asked his sisters, but they didn’t know
just how badly looking at the geometric pattern in the fabric upset his
equilibrium. They knew he was weird; most
sisters thought their big brothers were weird.
But he also had twitches and nervous tics about certain things, and they’d seen
it all, even though his list of crazy was something he could manage now.
soon as he was able to. He could have asked his sisters, but they didn’t know
just how badly looking at the geometric pattern in the fabric upset his
equilibrium. They knew he was weird; most
sisters thought their big brothers were weird.
But he also had twitches and nervous tics about certain things, and they’d seen
it all, even though his list of crazy was something he could manage now.
They didn’t need to know he’d spent three hours
last night counting the squares on the drapes and being irritated to the point
of stimming that they weren’t even and the stitching was wrong. And Jesus,
stimming—having to move his fingers, loosen his muscles, anything to ground
himself—he hadn’t done that in years.
last night counting the squares on the drapes and being irritated to the point
of stimming that they weren’t even and the stitching was wrong. And Jesus,
stimming—having to move his fingers, loosen his muscles, anything to ground
himself—he hadn’t done that in years.
And hell if he was going to ask Daniel into his
room to help him, because Daniel was someone Brandon did not want in his space. Not taking down drapes, or talking to
him, or even breathing near him. There was only so much of Daniel that Brandon
could take, because when he was anywhere
near the SEAL, he lost his ability to form coherent sentences. He didn’t have
time to have these powerful feelings of
lust that kept hitting him.
room to help him, because Daniel was someone Brandon did not want in his space. Not taking down drapes, or talking to
him, or even breathing near him. There was only so much of Daniel that Brandon
could take, because when he was anywhere
near the SEAL, he lost his ability to form coherent sentences. He didn’t have
time to have these powerful feelings of
lust that kept hitting him.
Like the time he and Daniel had met on the
landing and Daniel had been in just a towel. Or the time Daniel had teased him
fondly about the glasses he wore. They’d only been together a few days, but
Daniel was funny, and sexy, and kind of dangerous, and exactly everything Brandon
should be avoiding in his life.
landing and Daniel had been in just a towel. Or the time Daniel had teased him
fondly about the glasses he wore. They’d only been together a few days, but
Daniel was funny, and sexy, and kind of dangerous, and exactly everything Brandon
should be avoiding in his life.
He had way too much to worry about, and a date
written in his memory that he wouldn’t forget any time soon. The deal he had—to
stay alive, to hide himself away, and then to present himself to Varga—was just
about the only thing that filled his thoughts.
written in his memory that he wouldn’t forget any time soon. The deal he had—to
stay alive, to hide himself away, and then to present himself to Varga—was just
about the only thing that filled his thoughts.
Varga thought that, on a given date, Brandon
would join him in his huge mansion, pull together all the funds Varga had
hidden in various places, and then join him in whatever country the US didn’t
have an extradition treaty with.
would join him in his huge mansion, pull together all the funds Varga had
hidden in various places, and then join him in whatever country the US didn’t
have an extradition treaty with.
Like hell he would. He was meeting with Varga,
getting all his money, dispersing it to the
right causes, and sending any intel he could get out to the authorities.
getting all his money, dispersing it to the
right causes, and sending any intel he could get out to the authorities.
And then Varga would kill him for doing that.
Inevitable, really, and something he’d come to
terms with. He’d blown his chance to do this when he’d worked for Varga, so he
had to make up for it. He was doing the right
thing.
terms with. He’d blown his chance to do this when he’d worked for Varga, so he
had to make up for it. He was doing the right
thing.
He’d been biding his time in Hope, but had been
unfortunate to be scooped up by Sanctuary. He just needed to work out a way to
get away from them, and in particular Daniel, but he had about ten days to go
yet until that magic date when Varga had decided he would be leaving the
country.
unfortunate to be scooped up by Sanctuary. He just needed to work out a way to
get away from them, and in particular Daniel, but he had about ten days to go
yet until that magic date when Varga had decided he would be leaving the
country.
For now, Sanctuary was safe for him and his
sisters.
sisters.
So yeah, choosing to avoid having Daniel in his
room, with his probing questions and his distracting body, was an easy decision
to make in among all that crap.
room, with his probing questions and his distracting body, was an easy decision
to make in among all that crap.
The only downside was that it meant he had to
take the drapes down himself.
take the drapes down himself.
He waited until day four, when the pain in his
shoulder had lessened to the point where he could at least manage to get out of
bed and to the window. Trying to shoot himself hadn’t gone so well; instead of
being dead and gone, he had a through shot and muscle damage which hurt like
knives in his skin.
shoulder had lessened to the point where he could at least manage to get out of
bed and to the window. Trying to shoot himself hadn’t gone so well; instead of
being dead and gone, he had a through shot and muscle damage which hurt like
knives in his skin.
But today he felt capable of dealing with drapes
he didn’t need anyway. There were blinds at the windows, and behind the blinds
each window was coated so you could see out but no one could see in. He pushed
the offending fabric under the bed and clambered back to a standing position,
wincing in pain as he banged his shoulder, and sat on the edge of his bed.
he didn’t need anyway. There were blinds at the windows, and behind the blinds
each window was coated so you could see out but no one could see in. He pushed
the offending fabric under the bed and clambered back to a standing position,
wincing in pain as he banged his shoulder, and sat on the edge of his bed.
The drapes were still there—he could picture
them under the bed—and exasperated, he lay back on the mattress and attempted
to think of something else. Blue skies, blue mugs, blue eyes. Anything blue,
because it was a color that calmed him.
them under the bed—and exasperated, he lay back on the mattress and attempted
to think of something else. Blue skies, blue mugs, blue eyes. Anything blue,
because it was a color that calmed him.
He lasted about a minute.
Huffing, he rolled up carefully and reached
under the bed, pulling out the drapes and screwing them into a ball. Opening
his door, he threw them out onto the landing, not even checking if anyone was
standing there.
under the bed, pulling out the drapes and screwing them into a ball. Opening
his door, he threw them out onto the landing, not even checking if anyone was
standing there.
Daniel. Of course it would be Daniel, who
reacted like a ninja and had the drapes under submission in seconds.
reacted like a ninja and had the drapes under submission in seconds.
Once they were dead, or at least overpowered
with some sort of karate move, Brandon felt like he should apologize.
with some sort of karate move, Brandon felt like he should apologize.
“My bad,” he said, and shut the door in Daniel’s
face.
face.
He expected the knock, but hadn’t quite decided
what he was going to say to Daniel when he came in. Maybe if he ignored the
request to enter and said nothing, then Daniel might go away.
what he was going to say to Daniel when he came in. Maybe if he ignored the
request to enter and said nothing, then Daniel might go away.
Daniel knocked again, and this time instead of
waiting for Brandon to say he could come in, he pushed his way in, looking irritable.
He was shirtless, his hair wet—evidence of a recent shower—his sweats hanging
low on his hips and every muscle deliciously tight and toned.
waiting for Brandon to say he could come in, he pushed his way in, looking irritable.
He was shirtless, his hair wet—evidence of a recent shower—his sweats hanging
low on his hips and every muscle deliciously tight and toned.
“What the hell, Brandon?” he asked, his dark
eyes angry, his lips in a set line. He wasn’t holding the drapes, so Brandon
counted that as a win.
eyes angry, his lips in a set line. He wasn’t holding the drapes, so Brandon
counted that as a win.
“I didn’t want them up at my window,” Brandon
explained, and eased himself down into the chair by his bed. He was most
comfortable there; he could see out the window and it was easier to keep the
pressure off his injury.
explained, and eased himself down into the chair by his bed. He was most
comfortable there; he could see out the window and it was easier to keep the
pressure off his injury.
“So you decided to throw them in my face?”
Daniel sounded less pissed and more confused about getting fabric in his face.
Daniel sounded less pissed and more confused about getting fabric in his face.
Brandon indicated the door. “To be fair, I didn’t
know you were there.” Then he couldn’t resist, “And you heroically subdued them
so fast, I knew you could handle the danger.”
know you were there.” Then he couldn’t resist, “And you heroically subdued them
so fast, I knew you could handle the danger.”
Daniel blinked at him. “You…” he began, but
stopped. Whatever he’d been going to say
was lost. He’d looked amused for a moment, but now he was frowning again. “You
do realize we’re not going to be here long enough for you to redecorate.”
stopped. Whatever he’d been going to say
was lost. He’d looked amused for a moment, but now he was frowning again. “You
do realize we’re not going to be here long enough for you to redecorate.”
“Why wouldn’t I realize? You told us last
night.”
night.”
“I didn’t mean that, I meant… Oh, never mind.”
“Anyway, I wasn’t redecorating,” Brandon
defended himself. “I just didn’t like the pattern.” Then he changed the
subject. “And exactly how long is long enough? You said we’re moving, but when precisely?”
defended himself. “I just didn’t like the pattern.” Then he changed the
subject. “And exactly how long is long enough? You said we’re moving, but when precisely?”
This place was so small, and the tension was
building even now. His sisters weren’t the easiest to live with. Hannah
listened to much too loud music and continually
dogged Daniel’s footsteps. Yvonne left clothes everywhere and kept shouting for
Hannah to turn the music down. And as for the bodyguard, Daniel? Well, he was
constantly up in Brandon’s space, checking his dressing, taking his vitals,
asking him questions.
building even now. His sisters weren’t the easiest to live with. Hannah
listened to much too loud music and continually
dogged Daniel’s footsteps. Yvonne left clothes everywhere and kept shouting for
Hannah to turn the music down. And as for the bodyguard, Daniel? Well, he was
constantly up in Brandon’s space, checking his dressing, taking his vitals,
asking him questions.
Messing with Brandon’s head and libido at the
same time.
same time.
And he asked questions that Brandon was not
ready to give answers to. Not until he was entirely
sure of his place in this game he was in the middle of. He’d promised Varga one
thing; that he would stay alive and away from the people who wanted to kill
him.
ready to give answers to. Not until he was entirely
sure of his place in this game he was in the middle of. He’d promised Varga one
thing; that he would stay alive and away from the people who wanted to kill
him.
Of course, he wasn’t entirely convinced that
Varga didn’t want to kill him too, particularly since it had become completely
clear to Varga that Brandon didn’t want to be one of his boys. But there were
also the men who wanted to kill Varga who would want to kill him, and… fuck, it
was a messy maze in his head.
Varga didn’t want to kill him too, particularly since it had become completely
clear to Varga that Brandon didn’t want to be one of his boys. But there were
also the men who wanted to kill Varga who would want to kill him, and… fuck, it
was a messy maze in his head.
Sometimes he forgot who he was pretending to be
with which person.
with which person.
“A few more days,” Daniel replied. “Elliot and
Cole have some leads on one of Varga’s lieutenants and are planning a sting
operation to get him out in the open.”
Cole have some leads on one of Varga’s lieutenants and are planning a sting
operation to get him out in the open.”
“What kind of operation?”
Didn’t they know Varga was dangerous? Didn’t they know that the man had people
working for him who would split your head open with a bullet just for smiling
wrong?
Didn’t they know Varga was dangerous? Didn’t they know that the man had people
working for him who would split your head open with a bullet just for smiling
wrong?
“Something about one of them pretending to be
captured, or… look, I don’t know the full story, but at least it’s another step
in the right direction.”
captured, or… look, I don’t know the full story, but at least it’s another step
in the right direction.”
“The path
to hell,” Brandon muttered. “He’ll just appoint someone else; he’s like a
lizard that can grow back its tail.”
to hell,” Brandon muttered. “He’ll just appoint someone else; he’s like a
lizard that can grow back its tail.”
Daniel crossed his arms over his chest. “You finally
want to talk today?”
want to talk today?”
“What about?”
“Your connection to Varga.”
Brandon shook his head so fast he felt dizzy
and curled his fingers into his sweatshirt to keep himself from moving them and
freaking Daniel out.
and curled his fingers into his sweatshirt to keep himself from moving them and
freaking Daniel out.
“Nope,” he said, popping the p and looking anywhere but at Daniel.
“You’ll have to talk one day. Unless we know
everything, we can’t give you any real help. Brandon?”
everything, we can’t give you any real help. Brandon?”
Brandon looked up at Daniel’s use of his name
and recognized the compassion in his expression. There was something about this
man—quite apart from his muscles, and his size, and his general attitude of
being able to handle anything life threw at him—that set him apart from any
other man Brandon had ever lusted over. That something was that Brandon had an absolute
belief in Daniel’s ability to take care of him.
and recognized the compassion in his expression. There was something about this
man—quite apart from his muscles, and his size, and his general attitude of
being able to handle anything life threw at him—that set him apart from any
other man Brandon had ever lusted over. That something was that Brandon had an absolute
belief in Daniel’s ability to take care of him.
Or as near as he could get to thinking another
person could help him in any of this.
person could help him in any of this.
“Why does he want to kill you?” Daniel asked.
The same question, over and over—Brandon had had
enough of that damn question. Daniel wasn’t directly torturing him to get information,
but being stuck in this house, with people he needed to keep secrets from, and
with questions every day, was close to breaking him.
enough of that damn question. Daniel wasn’t directly torturing him to get information,
but being stuck in this house, with people he needed to keep secrets from, and
with questions every day, was close to breaking him.
Varga didn’t
want to kill him. He just wanted him watched, protected, the codes and
programming in his head enough to put him high on the list of people Varga
needed surveilled.
want to kill him. He just wanted him watched, protected, the codes and
programming in his head enough to put him high on the list of people Varga
needed surveilled.
Brandon’s fingers twitched; he desperately
needed to move them in a rhythmic pattern that would settle his head.
needed to move them in a rhythmic pattern that would settle his head.
“Okay,” Brandon said. “You need to go now.”
Daniel shook his head. “I have to check the
window after you destroyed a security layer.”
window after you destroyed a security layer.”
Brandon thought about the hideous drapes and
frowned. “They were there for a reason? For real?”
frowned. “They were there for a reason? For real?”
Daniel approached the chair Brandon was sitting
on, putting his hand on its back and leaning over Brandon to examine the
window. Which put Daniel’s groin right at face level, the sweats leaving
absolutely nothing to the imagination. And the scent of the man, of shower gel
and Daniel, was in every breath Brandon took.
on, putting his hand on its back and leaning over Brandon to examine the
window. Which put Daniel’s groin right at face level, the sweats leaving
absolutely nothing to the imagination. And the scent of the man, of shower gel
and Daniel, was in every breath Brandon took.
He’ll move soon. Stay calm.
“Looks okay,” Daniel announced. “Wait…”
He sounded worried, and that seemed to morph
into him leaning even further, with his
junk right there for inspection. Not to mention his flat stomach, and that damn
scent, and the way crisp, dark hair
marked a trail to Nirvana.
into him leaning even further, with his
junk right there for inspection. Not to mention his flat stomach, and that damn
scent, and the way crisp, dark hair
marked a trail to Nirvana.
This is what it must
be like to want,
was all Brandon could think.
be like to want,
was all Brandon could think.
Daniel was bi—that
was what he kept telling Hannah every time she used the word gay in reference
to him as she followed him around. But bi
didn’t mean that he’d be interested in Brandon. God, look at Hannah. She had
all the good Hoselton genes; she was
slim, blonde, and gorgeous. Who wouldn’t want her?
was what he kept telling Hannah every time she used the word gay in reference
to him as she followed him around. But bi
didn’t mean that he’d be interested in Brandon. God, look at Hannah. She had
all the good Hoselton genes; she was
slim, blonde, and gorgeous. Who wouldn’t want her?
Abruptly, he was desperate to get out of being
trapped between Daniel McSexy and the window, and he attempted to move the
chair. It tipped as he moved, and that caused Daniel’s balance to wobble.
Somehow the SEAL managed to right himself, and Brandon plus chair, and still come
out of it looking all kinds of bad-ass.
trapped between Daniel McSexy and the window, and he attempted to move the
chair. It tipped as he moved, and that caused Daniel’s balance to wobble.
Somehow the SEAL managed to right himself, and Brandon plus chair, and still come
out of it looking all kinds of bad-ass.
Whereas Brandon had just come over as the idiot
who couldn’t even sit on a fucking chair.
who couldn’t even sit on a fucking chair.
And from here he could see the drapes in a pile
out on the landing, and it was all too much.
out on the landing, and it was all too much.
“Get out of my room,” he snapped, pushing at
six one of near-immovable muscle until
Daniel actually moved.
six one of near-immovable muscle until
Daniel actually moved.
Daniel looked down, and Brandon followed his
gaze, and then completely lost it.
gaze, and then completely lost it.
His hands were pushing on Daniel’s thighs, way
too close to his groin for comfort. God, all he would have to do was move his
hand an inch to the right and he’d be touching Daniel’s cock.
too close to his groin for comfort. God, all he would have to do was move his
hand an inch to the right and he’d be touching Daniel’s cock.
“Brandon?” Daniel asked, his voice husky.
God, they’d been doing this for days now; this
touching thing that Daniel had going, and his husky voice.
touching thing that Daniel had going, and his husky voice.
Too much.
“Out. Out. Out!” Brandon snapped, shoving and
pushing up out of his chair, his hands flailing, until he had Daniel backed up
and out and he could close the door on the confused man.
pushing up out of his chair, his hands flailing, until he had Daniel backed up
and out and he could close the door on the confused man.
There were a few seconds of silence, and
Brandon thought that maybe Daniel had left. Then there was a soft knock.
Brandon thought that maybe Daniel had left. Then there was a soft knock.
“Brandon? Are you okay?”
Brandon groaned under his breath, sliding down
the door and drawing up his knees. He allowed himself the luxury of moving his
fingers in a pattern—ring finger, thumb, third finger, thumb, first finger,
thumb, pinkie, thumb, and over again, both hands. He could feel the air moving around
his hands and he concentrated on the swirls he could imagine.
the door and drawing up his knees. He allowed himself the luxury of moving his
fingers in a pattern—ring finger, thumb, third finger, thumb, first finger,
thumb, pinkie, thumb, and over again, both hands. He could feel the air moving around
his hands and he concentrated on the swirls he could imagine.
“I’m fine,” he lied. “Go away.”
More silence. Then, “Okay. Breakfast in thirty.”
Brandon waited until he heard Daniel going down
the stairs, and then he let out a huge exhalation. 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67,
71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97. The prime numbers up to a hundred were his go-to
place to help calm himself down, upward from 2 to 97, then back down to 2, then
up again, and through all of it he breathed, in, out, regular, deep breaths.
His fingers tapped out a rhythm with the numbers, and finally he had himself
calmed down.
the stairs, and then he let out a huge exhalation. 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67,
71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97. The prime numbers up to a hundred were his go-to
place to help calm himself down, upward from 2 to 97, then back down to 2, then
up again, and through all of it he breathed, in, out, regular, deep breaths.
His fingers tapped out a rhythm with the numbers, and finally he had himself
calmed down.
All of this shit because of one pair of drapes
and Daniel’s groin in his face.
and Daniel’s groin in his face.
He slowed his fingers, and after a few moments
he used the wall as support to stand up. He needed a shower, to get dressed,
and then he’d feel a lot more capable of handling Daniel at breakfast.
he used the wall as support to stand up. He needed a shower, to get dressed,
and then he’d feel a lot more capable of handling Daniel at breakfast.
In the shower he ran some lines of code, added
in some digits, calculated responses, emptied his head of the buzzing, and by
the time he was dressed and downstairs he was normal, level-headed Brandon
again. He caught Daniel side-eyeing him as he stole a perfectly cooked piece of
bacon, but he could handle that, because
a few steps and he’d be on the other side of the counter.
in some digits, calculated responses, emptied his head of the buzzing, and by
the time he was dressed and downstairs he was normal, level-headed Brandon
again. He caught Daniel side-eyeing him as he stole a perfectly cooked piece of
bacon, but he could handle that, because
a few steps and he’d be on the other side of the counter.
“Hey, gorgeous,” Hannah said, and leaned on the
counter next to Daniel. She was wearing the tiniest of shorts and a crop top,
and Daniel glanced at her.
counter next to Daniel. She was wearing the tiniest of shorts and a crop top,
and Daniel glanced at her.
In his head, Brandon had words he needed to
say, about how it was inappropriate for Hannah to flirt with Daniel, about how
she needed to stop.
say, about how it was inappropriate for Hannah to flirt with Daniel, about how
she needed to stop.
About how he
wanted to be the one to flirt with Daniel.
wanted to be the one to flirt with Daniel.
But he said nothing.
“Still not appropriate,” Daniel said with a
smile in his tone.
smile in his tone.
“But we have all this time.” Hannah pouted,
leaning in to steal bacon just as Brandon had. Only with her, Daniel grabbed
her hand as it moved and gently eased it back.
leaning in to steal bacon just as Brandon had. Only with her, Daniel grabbed
her hand as it moved and gently eased it back.
“No one touches the food until we’re all here,”
he said firmly.
he said firmly.
Hannah laughed. “You’re no fun.” She sat on a stool
at the counter. “Why is there a pair of drapes on the end of my bed?”
at the counter. “Why is there a pair of drapes on the end of my bed?”
Brandon hesitated. To admit what he’d done
would expose yet another flaw in his shitty head, and his sisters didn’t need
to know he was reverting to type. He thought on his feet, but Daniel got there
first.
would expose yet another flaw in his shitty head, and his sisters didn’t need
to know he was reverting to type. He thought on his feet, but Daniel got there
first.
“They were messing with security in Brandon’s
room. Can you stow them in your closet or something?”
room. Can you stow them in your closet or something?”
“Sure.”
She opened up her iPad. There was no internet
here, no way for her to post on Facebook or twee pictures of breakfast, but she
seemed to be okay reading, going through so many books it was ridiculous.
Seemed like that was another service Sanctuary offered, on top of the thorny
issue of keeping the Hoselton siblings alive.
here, no way for her to post on Facebook or twee pictures of breakfast, but she
seemed to be okay reading, going through so many books it was ridiculous.
Seemed like that was another service Sanctuary offered, on top of the thorny
issue of keeping the Hoselton siblings alive.
Yvonne joined them, and only then did Daniel
release the food.
release the food.
Everything seemed so normal, the four of them
drinking coffee, eating breakfast, as if it was a
typical day.
drinking coffee, eating breakfast, as if it was a
typical day.
But for Brandon, nothing was normal, and the
weight of everything in his head was heavy.
Looking at his sisters, it seemed impossible to imagine they’d been in danger.
His last conversation with Varga’s lackey, a cop named Merrick, had been very one-sided. Brandon was to keep his head down
until he was called upon for his skills, and if he didn’t go to the cops, then
his sisters would be left alone. He didn’t like Merrick; hated that this apparently
respectable cop was actually deep in Varga’s organization. One of the things he
knew he would do was to expose Merrick as soon as he could. Sanctuary would
know what to do with him.
weight of everything in his head was heavy.
Looking at his sisters, it seemed impossible to imagine they’d been in danger.
His last conversation with Varga’s lackey, a cop named Merrick, had been very one-sided. Brandon was to keep his head down
until he was called upon for his skills, and if he didn’t go to the cops, then
his sisters would be left alone. He didn’t like Merrick; hated that this apparently
respectable cop was actually deep in Varga’s organization. One of the things he
knew he would do was to expose Merrick as soon as he could. Sanctuary would
know what to do with him.
Hannah and Yvonne were Brandon’s priority, and
that was the end of it. He was their big brother, their guardian since he’d come
of age, and he wanted to be the rock the rest of the small family could
depend on.
that was the end of it. He was their big brother, their guardian since he’d come
of age, and he wanted to be the rock the rest of the small family could
depend on.
Varga didn’t need to kill Brandon to keep him
quiet; he simply needed to threaten Brandon’s sisters.
quiet; he simply needed to threaten Brandon’s sisters.
“I got a text from Chris,” Yvonne said out of
the blue. “Before Daniel got us.”
the blue. “Before Daniel got us.”
Brandon liked Yvonne’s longtime boyfriend,
Chris—level-headed, pre-law, he was the kind of man he wanted for his sister.
Chris—level-headed, pre-law, he was the kind of man he wanted for his sister.
“And?” he prompted when she sat there chewing
on her lip.
on her lip.
“He broke up with me.”
Brandon dropped his fork onto his plate with a
clatter.
clatter.
“What the hell?” he asked. “How? Before you got
here?”
here?”
“By text.”
“You are shitting me,” Hannah snapped.
Yvonne shrugged. “I was so over his I’m-going-to-be-a-lawyer
bullshit.”
bullshit.”
Brandon opened his mouth to say something, but
he caught Hannah’s warning expression. Evidently this was something a big brother
needed to stay out of. He pushed down his need to go find Chris and tell him
how a real man looked after his girlfriend. Not that he had any experience in
breaking up with someone. To break up you’d need to be seeing a guy first, and
he hadn’t quite managed more than a couple of nights with anyone.
he caught Hannah’s warning expression. Evidently this was something a big brother
needed to stay out of. He pushed down his need to go find Chris and tell him
how a real man looked after his girlfriend. Not that he had any experience in
breaking up with someone. To break up you’d need to be seeing a guy first, and
he hadn’t quite managed more than a couple of nights with anyone.
Daniel appeared to pick up on the tension, and
suggested they make a list of things they needed in the new place.
suggested they make a list of things they needed in the new place.
Yvonne wanted some movies, Hannah wanted
chocolate milk, but Brandon needed something a bit more important than that.
chocolate milk, but Brandon needed something a bit more important than that.
“I’ve run out of contact lenses,” he said, not
looking at Daniel, but focusing on the eggs on his plate.
looking at Daniel, but focusing on the eggs on his plate.
“Okay. I guess we need a prescription?”
“I have that.”
“What about glasses?”
“I don’t have any of those. I didn’t have any
time to collect them from my place when Cole and Elliot took me from town.”
time to collect them from my place when Cole and Elliot took me from town.”
“He’s as blind as a bat without them,” Yvonne
teased.
teased.
“I’m not,” Brandon argued.
“Last summer he walked into a desk and
apologized,” Hannah added.
apologized,” Hannah added.
“Shut up,” Brandon snapped. It wasn’t so much
them sharing embarrassing stories as the feeling that Daniel was staring at
him. “It’s not like I’m Thelma in Scooby Doo—I can see without them, you know. Things
are just blurry.”
them sharing embarrassing stories as the feeling that Daniel was staring at
him. “It’s not like I’m Thelma in Scooby Doo—I can see without them, you know. Things
are just blurry.”
“Sanctuary will get you lenses, or glasses at
least.”
least.”
They added a few more things to the list and
Brandon listened as Daniel phoned it through. He finished breakfast and tidied
away. The girls said they’d help, but washing up was another one of Brandon’s things. The heat of the water and the
randomness of bubble creation was soothing, and it kept his hands busy, even if
he was lopsided with the soreness in his shoulder.
Brandon listened as Daniel phoned it through. He finished breakfast and tidied
away. The girls said they’d help, but washing up was another one of Brandon’s things. The heat of the water and the
randomness of bubble creation was soothing, and it kept his hands busy, even if
he was lopsided with the soreness in his shoulder.
He hummed while he worked and no one spoke to
him.
him.
Win.
After breakfast he was at loose ends. He had
some exercises that he needed to do, and he
did those before sitting on what he considered his end of the sofa. He picked up
the Sudoku book that was on the table and flicked through the pages, coming to
rest on a puzzle that was half done and clearly wrong. He picked up the pen
next to him and tapped the page, looked at the pattern, then completed the
puzzle, amending the incorrect numbers.
some exercises that he needed to do, and he
did those before sitting on what he considered his end of the sofa. He picked up
the Sudoku book that was on the table and flicked through the pages, coming to
rest on a puzzle that was half done and clearly wrong. He picked up the pen
next to him and tapped the page, looked at the pattern, then completed the
puzzle, amending the incorrect numbers.
Hell, why would whoever had done this put a 7
in that column? That meant there was two 7s. He flicked through the rest of the
book, coming to the extreme puzzle at the
end. This was guaranteed to drive you mad, or so the explanation at the top said.
With only five numbers suggested in a six by six grid, it was an empty
nothingness of possibilities.
in that column? That meant there was two 7s. He flicked through the rest of the
book, coming to the extreme puzzle at the
end. This was guaranteed to drive you mad, or so the explanation at the top said.
With only five numbers suggested in a six by six grid, it was an empty
nothingness of possibilities.
But he saw it all. He never even thought about
it. He placed the numbers in the right squares neatly, efficiently, happy as he
wrote the 2s and the 7s, his favorite numbers.
it. He placed the numbers in the right squares neatly, efficiently, happy as he
wrote the 2s and the 7s, his favorite numbers.
“You’re good at that,” Daniel observed, the
sound of his voice making Brandon jump.
sound of his voice making Brandon jump.
Brandon immediately shut the book and placed it
back on the table, pissed that he had the entire solution in his head, but he
couldn’t complete the puzzle.
back on the table, pissed that he had the entire solution in his head, but he
couldn’t complete the puzzle.
He sat on his hands and wondered what would Daniel
say next.
say next.
“You can take the book if you want—I’m crap at
those things,” Daniel said, and he looked openly friendly and regretful at the
same time. Reading emotions on faces was something Brandon could do;
understanding the root of the emotions
maybe not so much.
those things,” Daniel said, and he looked openly friendly and regretful at the
same time. Reading emotions on faces was something Brandon could do;
understanding the root of the emotions
maybe not so much.
“Thank you,” he said, and picked up book and
pen. He stood up and nodded some more thanks.
pen. He stood up and nodded some more thanks.
“You don’t need to go,” Daniel said.
Brandon pulled the Sudoku book close to his
chest, feeling the warmth rising in him that would make his face scarlet in
seconds.
chest, feeling the warmth rising in him that would make his face scarlet in
seconds.
“I do,” he murmured, and left.
His room was small, but it was his space, and
he finished the really hard puzzle in a few minutes.
he finished the really hard puzzle in a few minutes.
Then all he could think about was Daniel. The
man confused him with his friendliness that was edged with something else. What
that extra bit was, Brandon didn’t like to guess at. His sisters would likely
know, but to talk to them about how every time Daniel smiled at him Brandon
went all turned-on and lust-filled would be courting drama.
man confused him with his friendliness that was edged with something else. What
that extra bit was, Brandon didn’t like to guess at. His sisters would likely
know, but to talk to them about how every time Daniel smiled at him Brandon
went all turned-on and lust-filled would be courting drama.
He didn’t want to think about the things he had
in his head, the things that had nearly got his sisters killed, that had ended
up killing his friends, Jamie and Michael. And he didn’t want to feel anything
for Daniel. He certainly had no time to mess about and lust after a man who
appeared to take everything incredibly seriously.
in his head, the things that had nearly got his sisters killed, that had ended
up killing his friends, Jamie and Michael. And he didn’t want to feel anything
for Daniel. He certainly had no time to mess about and lust after a man who
appeared to take everything incredibly seriously.
So he’d stay in his room.
He was safe there.
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