“I love you too.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
CAIN STARED AT the papers littering his desk, and with a growl, swiped them to the floor. He leaned on his desk, his arms spread, and he wanted to scream at all the injustices in the world. Instead, he stood and kicked his chair across the room.
“Not a good time?”
Cain shook his head. “Sorry. Got stuff going on at home.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s hit the news.”
Cain slowly lowered his hand and stared at Cecil, his eyes widening in horror. “What?” How could it have hit the news? They hadn’t told anyone.
Cecil nodded. “You have this week off. Don’t argue about it. Go home, Cain.”
Cain picked up his chair and collapsed into it, his head dropping into his hands. “Shit.” Just what they didn’t need.
His cell rang, and he blindly reached out for it and without checking who was calling, he answered. “What.”
“Cain, it’s Lydia.”
Cain sat up and stared across the room. “I just found out; it’s on the news.”
“So, you know about the others?”
Cain blinked his eyes and shook his head. So, there were others. “No, I didn’t hear about that.”
“We’re dealing with it, but there are many more children involved.”
“Anton?” God, he hoped Anton didn’t know. It was far too soon for him to deal with that on top of everything else he was struggling with.
“He doesn’t know, and we want to keep it that way. He has his first session tomorrow. Robert arranged it.”
“What about the trial?”
“I think they’ll finish their case there and then extradite him here or try and merge the two. I don’t know. I don’t know how the jurisdiction works in this. I never needed to know. Robert’s lawyer is involved and talking with other families now. This case is going to be huge.”
“If he’s convicted, then maybe Anton won’t have to go to court.”
“You think he’ll plead guilty?” Cain could hear the hope in Lydia’s voice.
“If he has any sense, he will. Look Lydia, I’m off for the rest of week, so I’ll head over to your house now and then go see Anton.”
“I’ll let Robert know. He’s busy taking calls, but he’ll be glad to know you’re coming.”
Cain finished the call and closed down his computer then spent several minutes tidying his office and putting his designs away. A final glance around the room to make sure it was orderly, and Cain left and drove to Robert and Lydia’s.
By the time he arrived, there were several other vehicles in the driveway, and Cain had to park on the street. He knocked on the front door and walked in, hearing the sounds of several voices coming from the kitchen. He paused when he heard Walter, but knew he had a right to be there too. He was family now.
Entering the room, he was surprised at how many people were there. His family and Lydia’s but also Lydia’s former brother-in-law, Harry. Harry was Grantham’s brother and had been the one to introduce Robert to Lydia, as Robert and Harry were friends. He’d had a huge part in Robert and Lydia falling in love.
Harry’s twin sons sat around the table, both big and butch men, covered in tattoos, who, if Cain didn’t know them, would cause him to hesitate before disagreeing with them.
They were, however, two of the nicest men Cain had ever met. Even though he’d only seen them a handful of times since returning to the States, he knew they would do anything to help someone in need. Travis and Dustin were the twins, and ten years later, Corey arrived. It had been two years since Seth, the middle brother, had died from cancer. They talked of him often, and Cain knew they all still felt his loss.
He sat next to Travis, surprised the chair was free. “What’s happening?”
Travis leaned closer, keeping his voice as low as Cain’s. “We’re coming up with a plan of action.” Cain furrowed his brow, and Travis shrugged. “Rob wants to find the man and beat him to death with his own arms. Dad’s trying to talk him out of it.”
“He got his gun out yesterday.”
“I heard. I’m going to see Anton later. He used to piss me off when he made his comments...” Travis growled. “If I get my hands on the bastard...”
“You and me both.”
Dustin leaned over. “Has anyone heard from Quince? Anton’s staying him, isn’t he?”
“Archer heard from him last night.” Cain rolled his eyes when Dustin grinned.
“Oh yeah, you know our Archer real well.”
“We didn’t know.” How many times was he going to have to tell his family? “It was a surprise.”
“I bet it was. The guy you’d been banging standing in the church with Lydia. That moment of dawning horror and realization that he was now your brother and knew how your come tasted.”
“Fuck, Travis!” Dustin poked his brother. “I don’t need to hear that, and the last I heard you’d settled on women after your experimental phase at college.”
“I still like men. I going through my pussy phase.”
“I like women too. I just like Archer more.” Cain shrugged.
Travis grinned and opened his mouth, but Dustin slapped his hand over it. “It’s a twin thing,” he said when he caught Cain’s arched brow. “It’s like I get this funny feeling when I know Travis is about to say something crass.”
“Not too crass,” Travis disagreed. “I’m not afraid to speak my mind.”
“Not everyone wants to—”
“Not my problem. They—”
“No, they don’t. You’re an—”
“And that means I can’t be honest! That’s—”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Stop, please. You’re giving me a headache.” Cain rubbed his forehead. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the way you two can finish each other’s sentences. I don’t know how your family have managed all these years.”
“Has it made things difficult between you and our Archer?”
“No. We talked and sorted things out. I think other people find it difficult. Once we got over the shock, it was good.” He kept a straight face when he answered Travis’ question. He wasn’t ready for everyone to know, and now wasn’t the time. Their focus had to be on Anton and his healing as well as the impending trial, whenever that happened.
Cain heard the click of heels on the floor and smiled when Corey entered the room. Tight black jeans and a bright red T-shirt completed by killer red stilettos. The make-up was perfect, the eyebrows on point, as was the styled hair.
When he’d first met Corey, he’d been surprised at how he dressed, given his two older brothers. “Corey.”
“Cainni!” Corey air kissed him then sat on Dustin’s lap. “Dustin, thank you for keeping my seat warm.”
“Corey, today’s outfit is extra special gay.”
Corey fluttered his eyelashes and placed a hand with manicured red nails on Dustin chest. “Why, thank you, hon.”
“You can knock it off now.” Travis grunted. “No one to shock here.”