Foster Siblings 3: Brokedown Hearts (43 page)

Without having to see if Detective Crenshaw responded, David kept his gaze locked on Ben. “You’ll take care of everything. I know it.”

“I will.” Using his shirt, Ben wiped blood from David’s face. “I promise.”

Everything still spinning, David looked up at Ben, and for the first time the man’s harsh features came into clear, singular view. Just as fast as lucidity came, fatigue and bruising hurt tugged at David, dragging him under. He reached up and said, “You’re so handsome,” and touched Ben’s strong jaw as his eyes fluttered closed.

Instantly Ben yelled, “Get me those EMTs now!” and clutched David tighter against him.

With Ben’s arms around him, keeping him warm—
he’s in charge again
—David slipped into the darkness nipping at his heels, knowing everything would be okay.

* * * *

In the middle of the afternoon, with the shades drawn, Ben sat in a chair next to David’s hospital bed, their hands glued together in the tightest hold, and he watched David sleep. Soon a nurse would come in, rouse David to check his vitals—a precaution in case of concussion—and Ben would have to smile and keep everything together so as not to worry David. But fuck, Ben trembled where he sat, and he knew he was not okay.

Without any sense of conscience, Ben had beaten a man with the intent to kill him for taking and hurting someone Ben loved and believed to be his. Had Braden not put that gun to the doctor’s head, the direct sight of which had snapped Ben out of his haze, he would have murdered that bastard. And he would have done it right in front of David.

I scared the shit out of him this morning. I saw it in his eyes. Hell
—Ben wiped his face, snagging his rough hands on the haggard skin—
I scared myself
. What frightened Ben more was the knowledge that he would do it again. That primitive part of himself, a piece of his makeup he’d tried so hard to keep suppressed, not only condoned but embraced extreme brutality, in particular in defense of the man he loved.
It’s why, no matter how much I let pieces of myself love Braden, I never let myself give him everything
. Ben had always held back enough to keep his head above the water and be able to walk away without losing his soul. With David, though, Ben not only couldn’t keep his head above the water, the depth of love that lived in him for this one man had filled his being to the point of drowning him.

Ben had always wanted his man to need him more than anyone or anything on this earth. And David did. But Christ, Ben had not fully understood how much he would need David too, and how much that kind of love would wreck him.
If he died, I would die too. So quick, already I can’t be without him
. Worse than that, after this morning, after the way Ben had unleashed on Dr. Fariday, Ben had begun to fear that his love and passion for David ran so deep he could turn that violence on David too.
If I truly believed David had betrayed me, if I knew he’d wronged me or tried to rip out my soul by leaving me, I would return to that dark place I went this morning and kill him for trying to end our love.

Jesus.
Chilled to his bones, Ben slipped his hand out of David’s and paced across the room.
I don’t want to live with that in my heart every day. I don’t want David to, either.

The bedding rustled and the mattress squeaked, and Ben rushed back to David’s side just as David blinked open his eyes.

“Ben?” His mouth and eyelids cut and swollen from the beating he’d suffered, David winced and touched his bandaged cheek. “What time is it?”

As gently as Ben could, he brushed a lock of hair off David’s forehead. “Not too late.” With every cut, bruise, and scratch Ben noted on David’s body—as he’d been cataloging them over and over for hours now—the urge to maim the bastard who’d done this bubbled up again, pushing to get free. Somehow Ben managed to smash the lid down, deprive it of oxygen, and smile softly at David. “You slept for a little more than an hour.”

David tensed and grabbed Ben’s arm. “Did you go see Elsa?”

After capturing Dr. Fariday, the police had discovered Elsa in her carrier on the backseat floor of the man’s SUV. To anyone passing the doctor’s car while he’d been out, the black fabric carrier probably looked like a gym bag. Elsa had been unconscious upon discovery, but her chest still moved a bit, and Ben had ordered them to take her to the shelter for immediate care.

David squeezed Ben’s arm and squeaked, “Is she okay?”

“She was drugged and dehydrated,” Ben reminded David, since the man had a hell of a lot of painkillers in his system and might not remember what Ben had told him an hour ago. “She looked sluggish, and her eyes were glassy, but Erin already had the vet out to the shelter, and the doctor said in a few days she will be fine.” Folks at the shelter had rallied around the kitten. They’d craved information about David’s well-being too and sent wishes for him to get well soon. Ben stroked David’s bandaged hand and told him, “Erin said she’ll keep Elsa for you until you get out of the hospital.”

Instead of smiling, David frowned. “Can’t you and Mika take care of her?” His voice wobbled, and he went from holding Ben’s hand to picking at his hospital gown. “She knows you, and she has to be scared, and I don’t want her to be.” David’s Adam’s apple bobbed convulsively, but he kept his head up and looked Ben in the eyes. “I know with you, she won’t be afraid.”

Goddamn it
. For the umpteenth time in the past twenty-four hours, Ben could barely push words past the clog in his throat. “If that’s what you want, of course we’ll keep her with us.”

David smiled, and the show of happiness slammed through Ben’s gut like a bullet train. “It’s what I want. She’s as much yours as mine. We found her together.” Around the bandages, bruising, and fat lip, a blush spread across David’s skin. “I think of her as ours.”

Just as Ben lifted David’s hand to press a kiss to the gauze covering the cuts, a knock sounded at the door, and a nurse breezed into the room. “Ah, you’re already awake.” Every time the young brunette came in, her chipper personality visibly lifted David’s spirits. “I’m glad I don’t have to put my cold hand on your forehead and shock you awake.”

With a few steps, Ben leaned back against the wall, close by but out of the way. “I’ll be right over here,” he promised David.

Ben had already laid down the law with the hospital staff, assuring them he would not be leaving David’s room, no matter the examination being given. David had agreed, so there hadn’t been much point in the staff making a fuss.

Settling in, Ben crossed his arms against his chest and watched David chat amiably with the nurse. As Ben did, worry about the aggressive nature of the beast David had unleashed in him grew, and fear of his nature festered in his core.

If Ben didn’t have command over the feral animal inside him, if he couldn’t regain the control he’d maintained his whole life, he might have to walk away from David for good, even if the loss killed him. Better him than David. For Ben, nothing mattered more than keeping David safe.

Even from him.

* * * *

Later in the week, feeling a heck of a lot better, David sat up in his hospital bed and congratulated Brittany and Travis on their reunion. Travis had even gruffly thanked David for giving him the swift kick in the ass he’d needed to clear his vision and make him take a second look at their family and the choices he’d been making in regard to his wife. They’d both explained that with what had happened with David, the preciousness of life had hit home for them, exposing how quickly things could change or go bad, and they didn’t want to waste another day apart and fighting.

“When will you move?” David’s question followed Brittany sharing that they’d both agreed a move down to Hialeah would be good for their marriage. “I’m not adept at texting a lot yet. You need to give me a little bit of time to get better at a long-distance friendship.”

Brittany glanced up at Travis, and he nodded and took her hand. “We’d like to move right away, but we’ll hold off until Travis finds a job down there.” As she looked back to David, she grazed her hand over her belly and added, “Even if that means having the baby here.”

“What?” David’s mouth gaped. “You’re pregnant?” Then all Brittany’s food binging and sickness hit him, and he rolled his eyes. “Of course you are. I should have seen it.”

Brittany said, “I think I did know. But with everything that was happening with Travis”—her face lost some of its color, and she rubbed her arms—“I was scared to accept it and embrace it.”

Travis slipped his arm around Brittany’s waist. “But I’m wide-awake now, and I can see what an asshole I was.” His face went hard for a moment, and David knew his brother was remembering how much his dismissals of Brittany’s feelings had hurt her. “We’re going to figure out how to get everything right between us again, and we’ll do it together.”

David waited for Brittany to nod in agreement before saying, “I’m happy to hear that. Congratulations.” For the first time in years, he smiled at his brother without fear and held eye contact. “Both of you.”

Animated again, Brittany squealed and grabbed David’s arm. “You’ll finally get to be an uncle, like you wanted to be.”

As fast as David’s happiness had lifted for the couple, his heart lurched, and he jerked his gaze to Travis. David had nieces and nephews already, but most of them had been born while he’d been incarcerated. And even if he could wipe away his prison time, his family still would have prevented him from having a relationship with the kids because he was gay.

Although sharp, Travis nodded. “The baby will want you around.” His cheeks went ruddy, and he added, “And I will too.”

David knew how much soul-searching Travis had done in the past few days to get to this level of acceptance, and that he would need more time to unlearn a lifetime of programming. But the fact that he’d already reached this place of openness… David could barely speak as he said, “Thank you.”

Stepping closer to the bed, Travis put his hand on David’s foot. “I’m glad you’re okay.” He sounded just as rough as David had. “It shouldn’t have taken something like this to make me open my eyes about how I was acting and about the things I was saying to you. Bottom line, you’re my brother, and we were close when we were kids, and I would have been devastated if that bastard had taken you away from us while I still had my head buried in the sand and was pushing you out of my life.”

Choked up, David took Brittany’s hand, since he couldn’t reach Travis’s. “It’s all behind us. We’re only looking forward now.”

Travis took hold of Brittany’s free hand but held eye contact with David. “Good.”

“Hello?” A knock sounded at the door, and a moment later someone David hadn’t forgotten about, but had hoped to see, poked his head in.
Sam
. The kid took in the scene and immediately pulled back. “I’m sorry. I’ll come back later.”

“No,” David called out, finding the strength in his voice. “Don’t leave.”

Sam paused, and Brittany tugged on Travis’s hand. “We have to get going anyway.” She leaned down and pecked a kiss to David’s cheek. “Travis wants to give your family all the good news.”

Ugh
. David made a face. “Good luck with that.” He wasn’t sure their family would consider a move down south and an impending baby “good” news.

Travis grimaced too. “Thanks.” He squeezed David’s ankle, and the look they exchanged finally felt like that of brothers with a wealth of shared history and knowledge between. “I’m gonna need it.”

The pair said their good-byes and murmured hello to Sam as they exchanged places. Sam stepped inside but didn’t move more than an inch or two away from the now closed door.

Four days had passed since the incident. Since David had been admitted to the hospital, numerous folks from the shelter had come to see him. Christian had come for a short visit to wish David well too. Jonah had not been with him—which David completely understood—but Christian had assured David that Jonah knew of the visit and hadn’t fought him on it. Even David’s ex-wife had sent flowers with a card promising him that for all the hard feelings still between them, she’d never wish harm to him and was glad he was all right. Heck, David hadn’t met Ben’s bosses yet, but they’d sent a card and basket too. Ben had brought Mikael to meet David. With each visitor, David had grown more and more emotional and touched by the compassion of the individuals in his life. He’d been forgiven and given a second chance by so many people in this town; he would treasure the kindness and gestures and work toward deserving it more every day.

But with everyone who’d come, David had hoped to see Sam. David liked the kid, and he didn’t want to lose him as a friend. Last night, David had told Ben everything that had gone down with Sam the day of the kidnapping, along with his wish that Sam would come by so they could make things right. Ben, certainly knowing a sweet eighteen-year-old boy was no threat to him, had theorized that maybe Sam didn’t think David would ever want to see him again, and that maybe David should text him and tell him he did. David had done that this morning, and Sam had replied with a simple
OK.

Now the guy hovered near the escape, and David just wanted to hug Sam and tell him everything would be all right.

Shifting higher against the pillows at his back, David folded his bandaged hands on his lap. “Sam, I’m sorry if I handled things wrong that day at the shelter. I just want you to know I’m not mad at you.” Taking a breath, David added softly, “And I hope you don’t hate me. That would suck for me. You’re a good guy, and it would be my loss if you did.”

Like someone had poked a prod against his hind end, Sam rushed across the room. “I don’t hate you.” His voice cracked like an adolescent’s. “I’m sorry for what I said. I’m sorry I acted just like the punk-ass little bitch kid I was hoping you wouldn’t see me as.” So lanky and tall, Sam dug his hands into his sandy locks and pulled them into disarray. “Shit, man.” Bleak gray rainstorms marred his silver gaze. “I ruined everything by kissing you.”

Sighing, David shook his head. “No, you didn’t. It happened, but I want to get past it so we can be friends again. You have such a cool and easy way about you, and you were kind to me when nobody else was, and I can’t imagine going to the shelter every day and not checking the schedule to see if we’ll be working together and can have lunch.” David itched to take Sam’s hand, but he closed his fingers on his lap, fighting the urge, knowing he wouldn’t do either one of them any favors by sending mixed signals right now. Still, David couldn’t strip the emotions from his voice as he added, “I don’t want to lose one of the few real friends I have because of this, and I can only hope you feel the same way.”