Part of my brain tells me I no longer have a brother and that I hate this individual in front of me for the pain he has caused not only today, but to my family for years. I'm preparing myself for another physical attack, while he staggers toward me. Another part of my brain continues to analyze and count down to the second until I'll move to strike against the man I despise.
“I’m not on drugs anymore. Haven’t touched them in years. Not since I learned you can make a hell of a lot more money selling than shooting up. I’m a rich bastard, Kaleb. This piece of shit place you see here is a front to the mansion, the *, the money, any damn thing I want. It’s all behind you. Tucked nice and safe in the middle of this jungle.” His hands go out wide, like he’s the king. Maybe he is down here, but he’s a motherfucking peasant to me. An absolute nobody.
He lifts the bottle to his lips and tips it back before he wipes them with the back of his hand.
“Let me check out my work.” Stepping around me, he kicks at my legs. I fight like crazy to keep them from buckling. I’m afraid if they do, my arms will break and my shoulders will dislodge from their tight joints. His slimy fingers run across my sore skin like he’s admiring a canvas he’s painted.
I close my eyes, fading away inside, when he pours the alcohol over my ripe skin. Goddamn shit, fucking hell, that hurts. My eyes are closed tight as I dig deep, holding my breath, waiting for the pain to subside. It may sting like holy hell right now, but fuck me, he did me one hell of a favor by killing the infection and the bacteria I know damn well was building on my back. I need him in front of me. Face to face. There isn’t a damn thing I can do when he’s behind me. The only weapon I have is my head and the first chance I get, I’m using it.
“If you expect me to bow, then you may as well kill me now. I couldn’t care less how much money you have, or anything else for that matter. You can kiss my bare ass while you’re back there. However, you pansy ass, what I do care about is how in the hell you and I have the same mom. A woman who would have laid her life down to protect you. A woman who worked her fingers to the bone and did everything right by you, and yet you still broke her heart. That’s all I want to know. Everything else you can shove up your selfish little ass. No, wait, before you shove anything up your ass, I understand why you took off. You're just like our father. A piss-poor excuse of a man. A deadbeat. A goddamn loser.” I become furious at the same time I'm relieved he's finally right where I want him. I spit in his face just to get him even closer. I'm baiting him, and he's taking it just like I want him to. Before he gets a chance to answer me, in fact the very second he steps in front of me, I smash my forehead into his face.
The bottle clanks to the ground. His arms and shoulders automatically lurch forward. His body moves backwards, while his head snaps back in a whiplash motion.
He’s knocked out in one fucking blow.
And I’m still standing. With my fucking arms tied to the damn tree.
CHAPTER FIVE
JADE
“What's taking them so long?”
“Jade, it's only been ten hours. They'll be here as soon as they can.” Harris’ tone is calm, while I’m anything but. My arms are craving the man I desperately miss. I just feel the need to hold him. I ache to soothe him from the torture I know he's endured. He needs to know how much he means to me.
“We should be doing something. How can I just sit here, knowing they have him? I have to do something, Harris.” My pacing is out of control, and my mind will not stop with the nightmares that could very well be Kaleb’s reality. I'm scared to death I'll never see him again.
“Okay, fine. You need a distraction. Tell me how the two of you got to where you are now. How did a man get so deep into your heart so damn fast?” I stop walking, not sure how to take his question. Is he being accusatory? Or just genuinely curious? Looking at his face, I quickly see he's being sincere and worried about me. I let the past few weeks rush over me and play through my mind, trying to determine the exact moment Kaleb Maverick made it through my wall.
“I don't know what it is about him, Harris. He just hit me hard from the first fucking moment I saw him.”
“You do realize where you were when you first saw him?” Of course, I do. How can anyone forget?
“Yes.” I continue looking at him, not sure where he is going with this either. He stands and moves closer to me, his arms going around me when he gets close enough. I embrace him, because right now, I need to pull from his strength. I'm holding back the tears that are beginning to fall. I need to remain strong in all of this, but I'm on the verge of falling apart. One slip of my mind, and I won’t be able to function. I won’t be any good to anyone, and right now, Kaleb needs me. I need to stay focused.
“As good as we would've been, I'm glad he stopped us.” His deep voice continues just over my shoulder as he pulls me into a tight embrace.
“You and me both. I mean, can you even imagine?” He takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly.