“Talk,” Jonathan said. “You were all over the news a month ago. We went out of our minds searching for you.”
The accusation in his voice surprised her. Had he been worried about her?
“So? Did you murder him?” he said.
Amber’s nails bit into her palm. Did he even have to ask? Of course he wouldn’t believe her. How had she ever thought he would.
“What do you think?”
“I didn’t think you could, but you running and hiding didn’t look very good.”
A slow smile bloomed on her face. Her brother was on her side. “I was set up. That’s why I’m here. I need your help to prove I’m innocent.”
He sighed. “Why didn’t you come sooner?”
“Because…” She fingered the nail of her thumb. “I didn’t think you’d believe me.”
“What? Why?”
“You know why. We haven’t been exactly close. We never really were. I didn’t think you’d want to risk anything to help me.”
Jonathan sighed and massaged his face with his hands. “Yeah. Well, you’re wrong. I have your back. Do you hear me?”
She finally found the strength to look at him. Her brother had always been intimidating. Their father had treated him as his heir, the perfect son. The image Amber had helped him maintain when she’d taken on various little sins that he’d committed.
But now, looking him in the eye, she didn’t see annoyance and arrogance like before. She saw guilt.
And love.
He covered her hand with his.
“I’m sorry for what we did when we were kids. I know it was wrong, but I was young and stupid. And cowardly. Dad loved you so much, I didn’t think anything could change that.”
She snorted. “What? Me?”
“You never stood up for yourself. You never said anything.”
“I didn’t say anything because I thought you’d despise me even more if I did. All I was trying to do was get on your good side. For you to see we were on the same side.”
He sighed. “But we never were, were we?” He shook his head. “You know, after Dad died, I realized how many mistakes I’d made. How precious the time we had together was. I’d give anything to have him and Mom back.”
“Yeah. Dad was the rock. Without him, the family fell apart. There was no one to protect us.”
“Yes. There is.” He squeezed her hand. “Me. I’ll help you.”
Hope and love bloomed in her chest. She understood now how Owen must have felt when his father supported him in front of the king. Her brother had her back now.
“Thank you.” She squeezed his hand, and tears welled in her eyes. “You have no idea what it means to me.”
He smiled warmly, his eyes watery. He pinched the bridge of his nose and wiped the tears in the corners of his eyes.
“So tell me everything, and start from the beginning,” he said, businesslike.
“Okay.”
Amber told him about Bryan. How he’d gotten into debt with Jackson and become irritable and angry.
“I thought it was his pride,” she said. “That he hated owing anyone anything. But now I think he hated being in business with him. He hated being involved in a crime like that. Bryan was hotheaded, but he was a good man. I think he simply felt guilty that he was helping Jackson smuggle drugs into America.”
“Can you remember any information? Anything he said that might help us find proof?”
“He mentioned Aman Safar, the owner of a teahouse in Kabul. But he didn’t like to talk about anything he did with Jackson. He got so angry and agitated when I asked questions. Anyway, it got worse and worse, and one day he said something about making a deal with the devil.”
Jonathan nodded thoughtfully. “Jackson.”
“Yeah. I realize that now. Back then, I had no idea what he meant, and he wouldn’t say. Soon after, we split up, but I saw him getting more and more irritable.” She looked down at her hands. “Now I think he was trying to figure out how to get out of the business with Jackson. I should’ve been more understanding. But back then, I thought he just wanted to get back together.”
“Stop the guilt, Amber. If you’d known and tried to do something, who knows what Jackson would’ve done to you. Or if you’d even be alive now.”
“Still. Maybe Bryan would be alive now.”
“All right. Tell me what happened the night of the murder.”
She told him, her hands shaking as she revisited the evening, every little detail. How she’d pushed him in front of everyone. How she’d discovered him later in a pool of blood. How he’d told her about Jackson and asked her to stop him. And how Jackson had found her there.
“And then what?”
“I pointed the gun at him, tied him up, and ran away. There were a lot of witnesses that saw me being aggressive towards Bryan. It looked like I killed my ex-boyfriend. Best case, I’d be charged for manslaughter. Worst case, Jackson could pin a murder rap on me and make sure I got the death penalty. Knowing him, I just didn’t think there was any way for me to fight it. I felt so helpless. He’s a freaking major, Jonathan.”
“Yes. I know. It was stupid, Amber. By running, you signed your own guilty plea.”
She sighed. “I’m here now. And I want to fight. First, I need to find Aman Safar. He might come forward and talk. If not, maybe we can find other evidence through him. Maybe even record Jackson in action.”
Jonathan propped his elbows against his knees and leaned forward.
“No,” he said. “Not you. I’ll go.”
“Jonathan, no. It’s my mess.”
“It is. But every time you go through airports and security, you’re pushing your luck.”
She opened her mouth to contradict him, but he waved his hand and continued.
“I’ll call my connections. I know someone in the military police. They might give me an idea of what they have on you and what the charges are.”
No. That was too dangerous. She didn’t want to involve her brother that much. “Jonathan—”
He didn’t let her continue. “Also, once we have any evidence, I think it might be wise for you to come forward. They’ll arrest you, of course, but I’ll bail you out, and if we get something on Jackson, we might be able to strike a deal. Kyle knows a stellar military defense lawyer.”
Amber shook her head. This was too much. She thought Jonathan might give her advice or call someone for her. This was so much more. This was risking his own freedom.
“They might come after you for helping me…”
He looked at her with sadness in his eyes. “How many times did you take the blame for me and our brothers? It’s time for me to pay you back.”
Chapter 34
West Virginia, one month later…
* * *
Jackson’s house looked just like him: large and imposing.
So this is where the drug money goes.
Her stomach in knots, her palms sweaty, she fought a battle inside her head. Despite her earlier bravado and her decision to come back and clear her name, her confidence and her bravery were gone. She wasn’t sure this was the right decision. In fact, she’d started to think this was the biggest mistake she’d ever make. This pathetic attempt of hers might just ruin her life forever.