“Umm…” Josh looks at Rose. Silently asking her for help. Moving my hand from her back to her hip, I just stare at Josh waiting for his answer. “Well, as I said, I would be banned from the house for a few months. He knew I loved coming there as often as I could. He just didn’t know why.”
“You got banned from the house?” Trigger says quietly. “Do you have any idea what your deadbeat father did to your sister?”
“No, that’s why I’ve been going over more often. She has been withdrawn and scared since she was a little girl, but I never knew why. Every time I went, she was less and less a person, and more a shadow. Last year I got this letter in the mail asking for my help. I knew then that something more sinister was going on in that house when I was away.”
Rose let out a soft sob before taking another step closer to Josh. “Every time you came over, Father left me alone. He made me stay in my room or help his workers clean and cook. I didn’t mind. You coming over were my favorite days.”
Josh’s face paled before he asked, “What did he do when I wasn’t there?”
Not wanting Rose to relive that again, I ask if Josh wanted to come inside so we can talk. On the walk in he informed me that he knew his father was dead. He also told me he knew who put the hit out on his father. He just didn’t know why.
Once inside, I walked Rose straight up to our room. Our room with the brand-new bed.
“I’m going to go talk to Josh for a little while. In the meantime, make yourself at home. Soon a lot of people will be here. I’ll explain everything when I return.”
“Bear.”
“I won’t be long,”
“Bear, I’m coming with you,” she demanded.
“Sweetheart, your brother and I are going to have a heart to heart about a few things and it might be best if you didn’t hear.”
“You’re going to tell him what Father did to me.” Rose squared her shoulders and glared right into my eyes. “I have every right to be there. I can give him more detail that you can. I’m afraid, yes. There isn’t a single moment when I’m not afraid. But, I’m strong enough to handle a freaking conversation, Landon Bear Allington!”
I stare at Rose with what I know is a shocked look. Look who is coming out of her shell.
“Who told you my real name?”
Rose’s eyes widen and her face is heated with that beautiful blush. She’s shocked herself with her little outburst.
“Um, I heard your mother call you by your first and last name. And, Hawk mentioned once that Bear and Hawk were your actual middle names.”
“Yeah, my parents went a little wild with our names.”
“I think they are beautiful. Bears are very protective, extremely curious, and insanely strong. Did you know that a brown Bear can crush a bowling ball with the force of its bite?” Smiling, I shake my head. “Hawks are one of the most intelligent birds and are extremely fast. Researchers have recorded some Hawks flying at almost two-hundred miles per hour during a hunt.”
My grin stretched so far that my face actually hurt. “Where did you learn such fascinating facts?”
“Oh, um. I’ve read a lot of books.”
Chuckling, I wrap her in my arms. “Alright, miss information. You can come with me. But the moment you start feeling overwhelmed we are out of there.”
Chapter Sixteen
Rose
We walk into Bears office and see Hawk, Trigger, Chains and Josh all waiting. Bear walks over to his desk and sits down in the well-used chair, pulling me onto his lap.
“Let’s make this quick. Everyone is starting to show up.”
“Okay,” Josh takes a deep breath before continuing. “Do you remember how Father acted last Christmas, sister?”
“Uhm, I remember him being home more. I remember him whistling all the time. I guess you could say he was in a good mood.” I think back to last Christmas and picture my father walking about the halls and whistling tunes. He didn’t talk to me much, but that was when he started giving me those creepy looks. The ones that made me feel uncomfortable.
“Yes, he had just received news that a deal he had been working on was going to pull through. He never told me what that deal was. I did find out who it was with shortly after.” I nod my head because I already have an idea on who he’s talking about. “So, right after Christmas, I got a letter in the mail from a woman named, Sandra Brown. Have you ever heard of her?”
“No,” I whisper. I don’t know why, but my body starts to shake. It’s like it’s already reacting to some big news Josh is about to deliver. I feel Bears arms tighten around me.
“I have the letter here. It might be easier if I just let you read it instead of me trying to explain it to you.”
Josh reaches into his pocket, pulls out a white envelope and slides it across Bear’s desk. I stare at it for what feels like hours before Bear reaches over and picks it up. I can’t find it in me to open the letter. I just have this feeling my whole world is about to change. Again.
With one arm still wrapped around me, Bear somehow opens and unfold the letter. He holds it right where we both can read it. Taking a deep breath, I lean further into the protection that is Bear and silently follow along while he reads aloud for all of us.
Dear Josh,
You don’t know me, but I desperately need your help. My name is Sandra Brown, and Twenty-Five years ago I made a terrible mistake. You see, I was a drug addict. The only thought on my mind was how I would get my next fix. When you’re in that position, you will do anything, and I mean anything, to get what you desperately crave.
I’ve been watching you, Josh. I’m pretty sure you’re a good person. Nothing like your father. Your father is NOT a good man. No matter what he lets the world see. I know this because I used to be his best friend. We used to be inseparable. We had a child together, but still, the only thing I could think about was my next fix.
He kept demanding that I sign over all my rights to our daughter and walk away. I couldn’t do it. But then he stopped giving me money and I couldn’t get what I needed. So, I did what was best for me. I signed the papers, I got my money and I walked away from my perfect, beautiful little girl.
I left my angel with that monster.
I have a source from inside Brian’s house that tells me she is being mistreated in the most terrible ways. That she is not living life but is merely surviving. I’m told that Brian has major plans for her involving a man named Roman Hernández. Something that will better his life but could very well end hers. I don’t know what those plans are. I don’t know when they will take place. But, please, get my daughter out of there before anything happens.
Find someone to protect my Amara. Someone who can protect her with their life. Tell her I love her with everything I am. Tell her that I am so sorry I took so long to straighten myself out and rescue her from the prison I signed her up for. I hope one day she can find it in her heart to forgive me.
Sandra Brown
Bear places the letter on his desk and wraps both arms around me. Holding me tightly as if I might fall apart at any moment. Which is exactly how I feel. The tears are clouding my vision and I’m trying my best to hold it together.