I feel the love pouring out of his mom when the two switch positions, allowing Amelie and Kaleb to embrace. He keeps his arm around her neck and pulls me into the other side of his body.
“Mom. This is Jade. Jade, my mom, Evie.” No handshake from her. I’m brought into her embrace as well and have no choice but to encircle her in my own arms. She reminds me of my mom.
“This is a great day. Finally, he has found someone. I hope he treats you right.” Evie teases her son as she steps back from me. Her gaze goes back and forth between the two of us, and I know she’s observing us and probably picking up on a little tension even though we’re both trying to hide it.
“Of course, I do. I had to live with the two of you, didn’t I? Specifically, this one.” He jeers his head toward his sister.
“Ha. Come on, Jade. Let me fill you in on the younger days of the badass, pain in the ass Kaleb Maverick.” Amelie hooks her arms through mine. Her loud voice carries us all the way through the airport until we’re outside and in the car. Her laughter and stories continue until we’re about halfway to his mom’s house. I love hearing her insight and smile even wider when Kaleb corrects her story to his view of how it went.
We pull into the long drive, and I can’t take my eyes off the house in front of me. Its historical beauty takes my breath away. “This is gorgeous,” I tell them as Kaleb grabs ours bags and leads me through the black rod iron fence. There’s a swinging gate to the white picket fence and green painted stairs that match the color of the house.
“Wait until you see the inside.” Amelie opens the big, wooden door, and as we step through it, I let out an unfamiliar gasp. I don’t gasp when it comes to material things. I don’t get all tied up in knots over homes, but this…. Seeing where Kaleb grew up, pictures of him and his sister and Ty in every stage of their lives all over the walls and along the mantel of the fireplace, brings tears to my eyes.
How could Ty turn his back on this? How could he walk away from a family who’s full of support and unconditional love? I could ask myself the same question about the few years I became detached from my family. Although, I lost my true self when I lost my brother. My heart bleeds for his mom, his sister, and for him. Because, as of now, Ty is very much alive in this family.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
KALEB
As much as I’ve enjoyed the interaction with all of my girls today, seeing my mom’s face light up when she saw me and met Jade was the highlight. My fucking body is tired. I’ve hidden it well from everyone but Jade. Every damn time I moved, her head snapped in my direction, watching my every move. She’s on to me about many things, but I’ll have to let her fuss over me when it comes to my recovery. It’s about time to go.
Jade and I have two days before we head over to her parents. I intend to use those days fully. Fucking her sweet body before I drop the bomb that’s sure as fuck going to explode in my face.
We leave Sunday morning to head back to Mexico. Al-Quaren finally talked; in fact, he squealed and ratted out the name of one of the most infamous Mexican fugitives on the FBI most wanted list: Fernando Sanchez. Hell, I knew the second I heard his name that he’s behind so much more than just drug trafficking. I remember seeing his name when we were working on the job to put an end to the sex trade ring that was discovered.
The informant for that mission mentioned an American man. I’ve never even considered that my brother could be that disgusting filth we investigated and were never able to uncover his identity. Whoever he was seemed to always stay just one step ahead of us on that mission. It was the reason we relocated the entire team to the compound. We needed high-end security and completely secure facilities to meet in. Our homes were no longer safe to plan missions of that magnitude. Hell, we even began to think one of our own was feeding information to the damn enemy.
Once we intercepted the delivery of over one hundred teenage girls, we actually killed three of the leaders in that ring and handed over files on countless international leaders trying to purchase the young girls.
It makes vomit rise in my stomach to think my brother may be the ‘American’ they kept referring to. I continue to watch my mom prepare her coffee pot so that it’s ready and waiting for her when she wakes up at five in the morning like clockwork.
“Kaleb. What are you hiding from me?” I lean against the counter, knowing I’ll hate this conversation.
“You know I can’t talk to you, mom.” I bow my head in frustration.
“Why do I think there’s at least something you can say?” She turns to face me and stares at me with soft eyes, her look saying so much to me, and I struggle to find a way to make her relax about this whole situation
“Not sure. Just let me do my job and do what the security guys say.”