Page 16 of Fire in My Blood

The kids have been waiting for me to arrive, and they have a lot of activities planned for me. First, I watch a show they performed, a magic show. And although their tricks are not perfect, they’ve obviously been practicing.

Next, they both play a piece on the piano. And they’re both so talented; there are tears in my eyes by the time they finish.

Nadine has a board game she wants to play, and we play before dinner. Nigel doesn’t join us, since this particular game is forbabies, as he so eloquently puts it. So, I promise he’ll get to choose another game after dinner.

Nigel and Nadine finish their dinner quickly and are allowed to leave the table. And it gives me an opportunity to spend some time with my brother and his wife.

David smiles at me. “Have you decided what you’re doing for New Year’s? You were talking about going to France.”

I sit back in my chair and give him a small smile. “I don’t know. I have the money saved up, but I’m not sure who to ask. I don’t really feel like going by myself.”

David scrunches up his forehead, thinking. “How about Anne or Michelle? None of them have kids, so they might be able to take the time off. I’m sure they would love to go.”

My brows crease. “Anne just started a new job, so I don’t think taking three weeks off is possible for her. I’m not sure about Michelle. We haven’t really spoken much the last few years.”

Mina’s lips stretch into a teasing smile. “I guess you have to find yourself a boyfriend then. Someone who likes to travel.”

An image of Lucas fills my mind, and I remember the scorching hot kiss we shared. I would have no objections to go traveling with him. Getting to know him better and seeing France at the same time sounds like the perfect romantic holiday.

“Have you met someone?” David’s amused voice breaks into my daydream, and I realize that something must have shown on my face.

“No,” I blurt. “I… No.” I don’t want to lie to them, but what can I say? I can’t tell them about Lucas without making up a story about us. It’s better if I don’t tell them about him at all.

I’m also not delusional enough to think he’ll stay once he gets out. He will leave as soon as he can, and I’ll never see him again.

But thinking about Lucas makes me wonder if David knows about him. Although I doubt it, this might be my best opportunity to find out.

I school my features into a casual smile like I wasn’t just flustered by David’s question. “It’s not like I spend my evenings out meeting men you know. And no one has ever caught my interest at the grocery store in the middle of the day.”

“Perhaps you’ll meet someone at work? There must be more than one handsome man working there.” Mina looks at her husband with a loving smile on her face.

I grin.Thank you, Mina, for giving me the perfect opportunity.

My gaze finds my brother. “There aren’t a lot of people there in the late afternoon when I arrive, but who knows, maybe there will be a hunk waiting for me in the basement one of these days.”

He flinches and can’t seem to find any words for several seconds. Then, he forces a laugh before launching into a speech about the hobbies I should consider taking up to meet nice men. But I know him well enough to know he’s only talking to regain his equilibrium and draw my attention away from work.

I pay polite attention to what he’s saying, my mouth curved in an easy smile while I inwardly seethe with anger. If I hadn’tseen with my own eyes the way David flinched, I would never have believed it. But there is no longer any doubt he knows about Lucas.

My brother has always been the best. He’s supported me and cared for me my whole life, and particularly after my assault. How can he be involved in tormenting a man like that? Even just knowing about it and letting someone else torment a person is not something I thought David capable of. Perhaps I don’t know my own brother as well as I thought I did.

The rest of the evening, I try to relax and act like nothing happened. But it takes a lot out of me to pretend that everything is fine and that I enjoy myself.

On my way home, I try to sort through my thoughts and feelings, but my effort to come up with a rational explanation for what is happening quickly stalls.

The way David flinched and immediately started talking about something else is typical for him when he’s feeling guilty or embarrassed about something. Does that mean he doesn’t condone what’s being done to Lucas? Or, does he feel guilty because he’s actively involved? It could be either, and I have no way to determine which.

The fact is that Lucas is stuck in that basement, and he can’t stay there for much longer without starving to death. Whether my brother is involved or not doesn’t really matter. My conscience is telling me to help Lucas out of that room no matter the consequences.

I drive into the parking garage below my building and park in my space. After grabbing my keys and my purse, I get out of the car and head toward the elevator.

My gaze automatically scans the large space. Most of the garage is well lit, but there’s an area near the back where a couple of the overhead lights have gone out.

The hairs on the back of my neck suddenly stand up, and I freeze halfway between my car and the elevator. There’s someone there in the dark. The silhouette of a large man is visible, if indistinct.

Chapter 11

Erica