“Brett, be reasonable,” Shane began.
“Me be reasonable? Me! Speak for yourself. There’s something you two don’t seem to get here. For the past four months, Jordan has been referring to Kiley as his future. He is so in love with her. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“You said they haven’t even gone out,” Alyssa interrupted.
“Doesn’t matter. Jordan’s positive and that’s enough for me.”
“This sounds like another one of his impulsive schemes,” Shane snapped.
“Shane, I am so tired of you putting Jordan down like that.” He stepped closer until they were nose to nose. Alyssa was certain they were going to fight. “It’s time you took a long, hard, honest look at your brother and stopped making the same asinine assumptions you’ve made all our lives. If you did, maybe you’d see that he rarely does anything impulsive. He’s organized and thorough and every damn thing about him is planned down to the last detail. You just don’t want to accept that this is the truth because you can’t verify it like you usually do. You can’t audit love, Shane. Not like you did before you turned over your savings.”
“You had your own brother audited?” Alyssa gasped.
“Yeah, he did,” Brett confirmed. “Twice. The first time shocked the hell out of Jordan. It hurt. You alone make him feel incompetent even though he knows better. And of course Jordan hid it completely, just like always.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, like always?” Shane demanded.
“It means like every other time you were an asshole and hurt him. As long as I can remember, you’ve never given him any credit. No matter what he did, you dismissed him like he’s some insignificant nothing you don’t give a shit about. Big brother Shane, Jordan’s hero. He idolized you and you barely knew he was there unless there was trouble. Then you’d swoop in and put him in his place. He only did all that stuff to get your attention.
“Didn’t you realize how he tried to do everything you did so you’d have something in common? No, you were such a self-centered asshole that you never noticed, not unless you had some bogus criticism to shove down his throat. You never did figure out that he moved here and took that shit job just to be close to you.”
“The shit job that he lost,” Shane pointed out.
“That he lost because he wouldn’t back down on something he believed in.” Brett was growing angrier by the moment. “The deal that cost him that job earned your useless, screw-up of a brother his first million. Why is it, Shane, that the most wealthy and powerful people around flock to Jordan and trust him implicitly when you, his own brother, are so suspicious of him that you had him audited twice for a few measly thousand dollars?
“Maybe I should thank you for that second audit. That’s the one that pushed him into finally waking up about you. Not that it matters. Even though he’s accepted the fact that all you’ll ever be is a mere relative and not the friend he always wanted, he went ahead and put you in our investment group anyway. I hope he lets me be there when he gives you your first million although I’m sure you’ll find something negative in that too.”
“Gee, McKade, you’re even worse than I thought,” Alyssa said smugly.
“What makes you think you’re any better than he is?” Brett turned on her.
“Hey,” Alyssa bristled.
“You’re not so high and mighty yourself and you know it,” Brett stated. “Okay, so you passed on the chance to be embedded with a combat unit in Iraq but have you told Kiley about your latest scheme yet? What’s with you? You got some sort of weird death wish? Do you get a thrill from walking out your door every day, knowing that steady, predictable, dull Kiley is being a good girl, going to work at her nice, safe boring job, visiting with her old folks while you intentionally put yourself in danger? You think she doesn’t deserve to have some fun with a great guy? She shouldn’t have someone who’ll do anything to make her happy? Or is all the good stuff reserved for you? Well let me tell you, Kiley is so far out of your league. You need to stop trying to drag her down to your level and start using her as an example instead.
“You knew damn well that Kiley would get tickets for tonight’s game. It’s your birthday and this is what you told her wanted so she made sure that’s what you got. Unlike you, it matters to her whether or not she lets people down.
“She’s honest and giving and truly cares about the people around her. I, for one, consider myself very fortunate to have her call me a friend. I hope she and Jordan do get together because they’re perfect for each other. Neither of them would ever lie to someone they care about.”
“I don’t lie,” Alyssa declared.
“No?” Brett glared. “How are your ribs? Did you enjoy your night in the emergency room? What does Kiley think about your idea for your next assignment? Omission is just another form of lying in my book.”
When Alyssa just stood there with her mouth gaping, Brett switched back to Shane. “You still over on the south side? Jordan’s pretty much stopped telling me what you’re working on since he’d probably end up getting yet another of my pointless lectures about you.”
It was Shane’s turn to look stunned.
“Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to call my best friend and ask if he or his love need me to drop anything off before I head home. I’ll be visiting tomorrow, after lunch. In case you actually decide to listen for a change and don’t barge in on them tonight, I’ll leave the morning free for you since you’re family.” He turned to go. “Oh and Shane, I’ll save you the trouble of hunting down Bo. The third guy tonight goes by the name of Malcolm Winslow but you’ll want to check Melvin Wilson too since that’s his real name. Jordan could tell you a lot more but I doubt you’ll bother to ask.” He gave them each one more pointed glare before stalking off.
Alyssa and Shane stood silently, staring down the street long after Brett departed. Eventually, Alyssa spoke. “I don’t think I could feel any worse. How about you?” When Shane didn’t respond, she continued, “Everything he said is true. How does he know about all that? I thought he was going to hit you.”
“That’s maybe the fifth time I ever saw Brett angry. But this is the first time Jordan wasn’t around to step in.” He paused. “I guess I’ve had that coming for years since, like his assessment of you, he was right about me too.”
“So now what do we do?”
“We do what he advised. We call to check on your cousin and remind them that we’re available if they need us and tell them we’ll be over in the morning. Maybe, just in case, you should ask Kiley if she’s still okay where she is or if she’d prefer you to take her home. Did you know about them?”
“No but that’s my fault. Kiley mentioned that a guy had started coming in at lunch and was paying a lot of attention to her. When she said he had a sexy voice, I made fun of her. She hasn’t brought him up again and I haven’t talked to our friend, Dee, who works with her recently so I forgot about him. Kiley always listens to whatever I want to talk about. She’s so supportive of me and I don’t do the same for her.”
“You’ve never publicly humiliated her though, have you? I really did have my brilliant brother audited twice. Maybe he could forgive me the first time but the second? I was way out of line. Brett was right. Jordan handles million dollar deals for high profile people and top notch companies and I questioned his ethics. I was somewhat afraid his success was due to illegal activities rather than his abilities. I really never have given him the credit he deserves.”
“I guess we both have a lot to think about,” Alyssa decided.
“Yeah and I’ve got a lot to make up for. Can I suggest something?” She nodded. “Tomorrow, I’d like to go to Brett’s first. He should be there in the morning, more than we should.”
“Can I meet you somewhere so we can all go together?”
“Why don’t you come to Brett’s too? And I think I’ll talk to Jordan before I start checking into that Winslow guy. I’ve heard that Jordan investigates potential clients before he accepts them but I guess I assume he did it haphazardly. We better call before it gets late.”
She agreed.
“Hi, Jordan. How’s Kiley?”
“Worn out but otherwise okay. After her shower, she managed to eat a little.”
“Good. Is she still awake? Alyssa wants to talk to her if she is.”
They both turned over their phones. “Hey Kiles, how are you feeling?” Alyssa felt shy.
“Better. I had some soup.”
“That’s always good. Do you want me to come take you home or are you okay there?”
“I’m good where I am. Jordan has me tucked in and I’m cozy. We’ve been waiting for you to call before I doze too much. I’m sorry I wrecked your birthday.”
Alyssa felt her throat close. She reached out and clutched Shane’s hand as she fought the tears that threatened. “You didn’t. Brett told me the lowlife who drugged you is pretty scummy.”
“He said you were in trouble and needed me. I never stopped to think that there was no way it could be true.”
“Of course you didn’t. I’m sure you were too worried about me to think about anything other than helping me. You’ve always come to my rescue, Kiley. If I weren’t so reckless all the time, you wouldn’t be so worried about me getting into trouble.”
“Lyss, I’ll worry no matter what you’re doing. You know me, Kiley the worrier.”
“Yes, I do know you. You’re Kiley, my kind-hearted, caring, super-sweet, over-generous cousin. Do you need anything?”
“No, Jordan took care of everything for me.”
“He seems like a good guy. I’ll let you get some rest and Shane said we’d come by in the morning. Can I talk to Jordan a sec?” Kiley said good night and handed him the phone. “Jordan, thank you for taking such good care of my cousin.”
“No problem.”
“Brett told me how you arranged for all the tickets and planned to run into us. You must be quite a guy to do all that just to make Kiley comfortable with you.”
“Yeah well, Kiley’s very special to me.”
“I’m beginning to understand that. I wish it had turned out the way you’d wanted it to.”
“Me too.”
“Okay then, I’ll meet you tomorrow. I think your brother and I are going to grab something to eat but I’ll be home after that. Call me if Kiley needs me. Here’s Shane.”
“That goes for me too. Try to get some sleep once Kiley’s out. You must be almost as wiped out as she is.”
“I’m fine, Shane.”
“You’re a good man, Jordan. I’m proud of you for the way you got her out of there earlier. You were quite impressive.”
“Uh, thanks, Shane but I really didn’t think about what I was doing at the time. I just did what I had to in order to get Kiley away from them.”
“I can’t wait to meet her. Brett tells me the two of you are perfect for each other.”
“I think so.”
“I’ll say goodnight now so you can turn in. We won’t show up too early so you can let Kiley sleep as long as she needs to.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Something weird is going on,” Jordan stated after hanging up.
“I’m so glad you said that,” Kiley seconded. “Lyssa was so strange.”
“Strange how?”
“She said things that were very unlike her.”
“Same with Shane.” When the phone rang again, he said, “This’ll be Brett.”
“Hey Jordan. Kiley feeling any better? You guys need anything?”
“She’s remarkably fine. We’re about to sack out.”
“She’s staying then.”
“Yep. She told her cousin that she is good right where she is.”
“They didn’t show up there?”
“No, they called to check on Kiley and said that they’ll be over in the morning. What’s up, Brett? What did we miss? I thought you were with them.”
“I screwed up. Major big-time. I’m so sorry. I…”
“What do you mean? What happened?”
“Shane was being all blustery and controlling and Alyssa was insisting on coming to get Kiley away from you and I lost it. I blew up and said all sorts of things that I shouldn’t have.”
“Like what?”
“For starters, I told them how you keep saying Kiley is your future. I was trying to convince them to leave you alone tonight. Then, when Shane tried to object, I lost it and told him what I think about the way he’s always treated you.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“I told him about the money. Then I blasted Alyssa. I called her a liar and I asked about her ribs and her night in the emergency room. I said she must have a death wish, doing the projects that she does. To top it off, I asked Shane if he’s still working on the south side. I’m such an idiot.”
“Hmm, at least you didn’t hit him. Or did you?”
“Almost but with Alyssa there, I managed not to.”
“Well that definitely explains why they were both so strange just now. Shane said he was proud of me.”
“Wow. He may have said that but he’s still going to be relentless when he questions you.”
“I was ready to tell him about most of it anyway. You may have made it so he actually listens. And it’s never been a secret that I have sources I use to check out potential clients. He’s just chosen to underestimate me. It’ll be okay, Brett.”
“What about Alyssa? Running my mouth off means you need to explain some things to Kiley now instead of whenever you would have. Oh I blabbed how I was the scalper too.”