I wasn’t the only one who hadn’t left him alone. Muffy and Millie had been glued to him, and I was grateful for them. They’d given my brother some comfort.
He held Millie now as he slept.
It was time to get our day started, but we weren’t delivering our dog food today. We needed a break, though I’d considered keeping our routine so Eric would feel normal.
“A hearing is set for Monday. I’ll testify when the time comes.”
I jumped.
Lincoln spoke softly so as not to disturb Eric. He motioned toward the door with his head. Reluctantly, I followed him, but he stopped just in the hallway. I stood where I could see my brother.
“I spoke to Zegas. He made sure none of the attorneys he knows will take your parents’ case. He’s very familiar with the judge who was assigned and feels she’ll sentence to the fullest extent of the law. Which will be life.”
That was the most he’d spoken to me since we’d found Eric. What little I’d slept, I’d done in his office on the floor by Eric.
Lincoln was already dressed in a suit, looking like he’d been up for hours even though it was only a little after seven.
“How were they caught so quickly?” In the heat of the moment, I hadn’t cared about them. Getting Eric back had been the most important thing.
“I sent Daniel a text about our plan to meet them. He has some contacts with the authorities and they were stationed nearby. When your parents left, I alerted him to have the police move in.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “We didn’t have Eric at that point, and I’d hoped if they were caught, they’d be forced to tell us where he was.”
“But they didn’t.”
“They interrogated them the entire time we searched, but no, they wouldn’t talk. Not even for promises they could keep the money.”
He was back to the emotionless façade, strictly stating the facts. But I heard something in his tone that sounded like regret.
“You gave them the money?” I’d been so focused on finding Eric, I didn’t know how or why they’d left. Only that after I’d searched the old apartment in the dark, they were gone. I hadn’t thought of the money.
“No. I abandoned the bag when Donnie had you pinned on the floor. Marlene wielded her gun again and I released him. They grabbed the money and ran.”
“At least they were caught quickly so you could get it back.” I’d never liked the idea of him sacrificing that much to my parents, though Lincoln had begun to gather the cash from his safe the minute my father told me how much he wanted. I hadn’t had to ask.
He said nothing in response. Only stared with his hands in his pockets.
“You did get it back, right?”
“I imagine the police department will find a good use for it,” he said robotically.
My brows shot up. “They have to return it.”
“That isn’t how it works.”
He’d given up two hundred thousand dollars for my brother and didn’t seem to mind it was just gone.
“But your assets are frozen.” I hadn’t completely thought through what that meant before, but was pretty sure he was operating on a cash basis. And we’d just taken a big chunk of it.
“I’ll find a solution.”
I’ll. Not we’ll. That stung. But it wasn’t exactly like I’d been warm and fuzzy since last night either. Part of me was angry with Lincoln because he’d allowed my parents to kidnap Eric. Whether it was fair or not, somewhere in my mind, I held him responsible.
And mixed with that fury were the words my dad had said to Lincoln.
I think the deal has changed. If you brought what I asked, that’s just the down payment. You’re gonna owe me for both of my children. In cash. Every week.
There was just too much anger swirling within me. And hatred. No doubt Lincoln was well and truly done with us after that stellar introduction to my parents.
I’d only had the ability to focus on my brother after all the chaos. Now I realized Lincoln wasn’t the only one who’d been silent. I hadn’t intentionally shut him out but recognized that I’d done it. Yet it had been Lincoln’s arms that Eric had first thrown himself into when Cal got him out. He’d thanked Lincoln. For saving him.
I needed to thank him for helping return Eric safely, yet I couldn’t get the words to come out.
“I should get back to him.”
Eric was still sleeping soundly with the dogs protecting him, but this conversation had triggered some realities I needed to process.
“Is he . . . traumatized?” The question was asked hoarsely. In it, I heard every ounce of how much Lincoln blamed himself and how much he cared for my brother.
“I don’t think so, but we’re not that far removed from the situation.”
He nodded once and pivoted toward the front of the apartment. Now we were at no goodbyes either.
I didn’t move until he disappeared. The front door clicked shut. Muffy raised his head, but when he saw me, put it back down.
I returned to the chair next to the sofa. Eric’s expression was peaceful and free of worry. I hoped that it would stay that way when he woke.
I wasn’t sure if I should mention that our parents wouldn’t be coming back. That seemed too good to be true, but I had to trust they’d be locked away for a long time. Otherwise, I’d make myself crazy with worry.
Not that I wasn’t already.
Eric was tough. We’d survived the horrors before, but I hoped this experience didn’t bring all the old ones crashing back. If only it had been me they’d kidnapped. I’d have done it a million times over if it kept him from going back to the hell of our childhood.
I tucked my feet under my legs.
I’d had an unsettled feeling since we’d returned last night. The brief conversation with Lincoln had helped in some respects and intensified it in others.
I needed him close by but wanted space to think. To come back to reality. Because we’d been living in a fantasy land for the past few weeks. One that included a penthouse apartment instead of a castle.
I’d lost focus on what was most important: Eric’s well-being. My wants and needs always came second, at least they were supposed to. I’d let them creep to first because being with Lincoln was like a gift I’d never expected to receive. And he’d been good for my brother too.
Because I’d wavered from the routine and life we’d built, everything had tilted into chaos. And I wasn’t sure what we had left.
Tomorrow, we’d planned to move our things out of the old apartment. That was before. I had to figure out if that was best . . . or if Lincoln still wanted us to. Or whether we really needed to go back to our old life. We were no longer in danger from our parents. Maybe we just needed to go home.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Lincoln
“Someone tipped off the feds about the tax evasion.”
Zegas cut into his steak and shoved a bite into his mouth.
I pushed my untouched plate away. “What about the Logans? Are you certain they’ll never be released?”
He put down his fork. “I can’t promise, but let me put it to you this way. Even the most scumbag lawyer doesn’t want to defend abuse like that. Their public defender isn’t going to put a lot of effort into seeing them go free.”