Always with You

Saturday, June 22nd 2013

On. Off. On. Off. I lay there listening to the buzzing sound, vaguely aware of the throbbing at the base of my skull. I tried to open my eyes and see its source but my lids felt heavy. My whole body felt heavy.

The buzzing sounds faded a little and I became aware of several voices and a low whispering. There are people here. They sounded far away and that suited me just fine. As long as they’re not close to me. I focused on the buzzing again, trying to tap my fingers in time to it but I only managed a couple of taps before I realised how tired I was. The sheer effort of lifting my fingers wore me out so I stopped and let myself fall back to sleep.

When I heard the buzzing again, it felt louder and the throbbing had intensified ten fold. Before, it had been bearable but now it felt like my head was about to split in two. I tried my hardest to keep quiet despite my pain. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. I couldn’t stop it though; a pained groan escaped my lips and my body writhed up away from the soft surface in protest.

I immediately clamped my mouth shut, terrified that they’d heard me. I felt a hand on my arm and trembled slightly but the touch was gentle.

It’s okay, dear, a kind, feminine voice said. You’re safe.

Safe. I wasn’t safe, they’d taken me… where was I? I was realising for the first time that it smelt different. Before, the air had been damp and dusty, like mouldy leaves and cement. Here, the air was sterile and faintly soapy.

I forced my eyes open and was assaulted by the overhead strip lighting. I raised my hands to my sore head and realised that they were no longer bound. I tried to push myself up on my elbows so that I could see where I was more clearly.

Stay still, duck. You’re safe, she repeated.

I nodded my understanding the best I could and blinked a few times, trying to get used to the light. I’m in a hospital. The realisation allowed my body to relax, releasing a tension I didn’t know I’d been carrying. I’m safe. I let out a breath of air and silent tears surged down my cheeks. I’d refused to let them out before, refused to give them that, but there was no stopping them now.

I heard the woman, who I now realised was a nurse, trying to soothe me and felt her squeezing my hand gently. I listened to her but the words weren’t sinking in. I tried to remember how I’d gotten there but my brain felt fuzzy and concentrating made the throbbing in my head worse.

I rubbed my head gingerly and felt the bandages that were wrapped around me from my forehead to the base of my skull. I heard the nurse asking me if my head was hurting and nodded again. She set about fetching me some pain medication and asking me questions. I nodded, too tired and uncomfortable to form words.

Closing my eyes again, I tried to ignore the painful throbbing. My efforts were rendered completely useless when shouting and thundering footsteps drew closer. My brothers. I’d have recognised those voices and heavy footfalls anywhere. I suspected they were trampling over anything and anyone in their path to get to me.

You can’t be in here right now! The formerly cheerful nurse protested. She needs to rest.

As I expected, my brothers ignored her and I opened my eyes to see them all huddling round my hospital bed.

I smiled weakly but it would have been a full on grin if I’d had the energy. I’d never seen so many emotions on Ian’s face before. He was showing everything from relief, to horror, to fury. I wanted to hug him and let him know I was okay but I didn’t think I had the energy to make that much movement.

Hi, I croaked groggily.

Hi? Rick choked.

That’s the best you’ve got after pulling that shit? Danny grinned, relief washing over his face.

Sorry, I smiled sleepily.

That’s enough. You need to get out of here now, the nurse bustled. I’ll call security if I have to.

I started to giggle but immediately regretted it because it hurt my head. It was too funny though. I doubted there was enough security in the whole building to force my brothers to leave if they didn’t want to.

She’s our sister, Karl answered, his voice thick with unspoken emotion.

I understand that, the nurse said more gently. But there’s just too many of you and she needs to rest.

We’re not going anywhere, Ian shook his head adamantly.

I closed my eyes and tried to shut them out. I loved them all dearly and no amount of words could express how elated I was to see them, especially because I’d thought I was never going to see them again, but I just wanted to sleep.

One of you can stay, the nurse offered.

Three, Ian glowered.

This isn’t a negotiation, young man, the nurse frowned but I could tell she was warming to him and suspected he was trying to win her over with his winning smile.

Alright, two it is, Ian said firmly.

Then I’m staying, a voice chimed in. A voice that had my heart pumping faster and my skin warming with just a few words.

My eyes shot open once more. Jason. I hadn’t seen him before because my brothers were boxing me in but he was here.

Not a fucking chance! Ian growled.

Language! The nurse chastised but they ignored her.

There’s not a chance in hell I’m leaving her, Ian, Jason said. I recognised his no-nonsense tone but I wasn’t sure how well Ian would take it.

Ian, I croaked, still tired but not too tired to try and prevent a conflict. I want Jason here, please.

I saw Ian narrow his eyes but his expression softened as he turned to look at me and he conceded to Jason. I closed my eyes again because I wasn’t about to try and pick favourites amongst my brothers. They could decide amongst themselves, I was all out of energy. Jason took my hand in his and, despite the fact I felt like I was coming apart at the seams, his tingles surged through me and awakened every nerve ending.

My brothers bickered for a few minutes, despite protests from the nurses. Eventually, Ian let Craig stay because he was practically a doctor. I opened my eyes, watching them leave, and saw Ian and Karl standing guard at the far end of the corridor. It made me anxious that they felt the need to do so.

Relax, little squirrel, Jason whispered, stroking my hand. I’m right here.

I could hear the pain in his voice. I couldn’t imagine how worried he must have been when I’d disappeared. Well, that wasn’t true. I had a pretty damn good idea but I didn’t want to think about it.

I’m scared, I admitted on a whisper.

I know, Jamie, but it’s okay. You’re safe now. We won’t let anyone near you, he reassured me.

I felt him climbing into bed behind me and instantly relaxed when his body heat met with my own. I hadn’t realised how cold I’d felt.

That bed is meant for one person. The nurse was back and tried to usher Jason out but he refused to budge.

Please, I need him here, I said sleepily.

I heard her tutting but she made no further move to force Jason away from me. Instead she set about preparing some pain medication.

I can do that, Craig intervened, stepping in front of the nurse and her syringe.

It’s not like putting a plaster on, young man, the nurse laughed.

I’m a foundation doctor, Craig grinned.

The nurse looked him over and it was pretty obvious she didn’t believe him. He fished out his hospital ID and she quizzed him a little further. I couldn’t have kept up with the medical talk even if my head hadn’t been throbbing.

The nurse relented and handed the syringe over to Craig once he’d put on some latex gloves.

My head hurts, I mumbled when Craig started cleaning my arm.

I know, Jellybean, Craig nodded. You’ve got a nasty concussion. This will help.

I felt something cold against my skin but barely registered what he was doing. I didn’t even feel the needle go in and was surprised when he pulled away and told me he was all done.

Concussion? I asked, closing my eyes again because keeping them open was just too much effort.

Yep, Craig confirmed. Your CT scans look fine though. You’ll be okay, sis. You should try and sleep but we’ll have to wake you up every now and then. He looked at the nurse with a cheeky smirk that told me it wasn’t his place to make that call but she just nodded in agreement

Sleep wasn’t going to be a problem. I was already drifting off. I still didn’t really understand what was happening, I doubted Jason or my brothers had a better idea than I had. They must have had thousands of questions, I know I did. I was grateful that they hadn’t asked though because I doubted I’d have been able to answer any of them in the state I was in.

Chapter 2

Friday, June 21st 2013

I couldn’t see or hear anything. I felt the van stopping after what felt like an hour but I couldn’t be sure how much time had passed. I shook uncontrollably when they lifted my weight and moved me somewhere else. I could hear car doors opening and closing and it didn’t take a genius to figure out that the three of them were moving me to another vehicle.

The knowledge that any hopes of being found through CCTV footage of the van were disappearing rapidly was sickening. I found myself at the feet of my captors once more, lying between the boots of what I assumed were the same two men in what must have been another van.

They didn’t talk much and what little they did say was never aimed at me so I kept quiet too. Not that I could have said much with the gag still in my mouth and the bag over my head.

I just kept trying to reassure myself that I was still alive for a reason. If they were going to kill me then I’d be dead already. They’d barely touched me so I wasn’t as concerned about being raped as I might have been but the fear still hovered. I couldn’t figure out why they’d taken me. They could have easily grabbed Alex instead but they took me. They didn’t even bother chasing him.

Why though? I asked myself over and over again. I couldn’t imagine I’d be much use for ransoming. I mean, sure, between them my brothers probably had a decent amount of money. They all had good jobs and low living costs but they weren’t millionaires by any means. Jason had money, I didn’t know how much but I suspected nobody would get rich by forcing money out of him, at least not enough for the risk to be worth it.

I tried to stop thinking about it. I’d know soon enough and I was in no rush to find out what horrible fate awaited me. As the drive progressed, the feeling in my hands and feet alternated between numbness and biting pain from my restraints. I tried not to move too much because I knew what had happened to Jake’s wrists when he’d fought against similar cable ties.

When the van stopped again, I was terrified, completely paralysed by fear. Whilst they’d been driving, I’d been scared but the drive served a purpose and as long as we were driving, we were postponing what was to come. I swallowed thickly as best I could with the gag in place and waited anxiously for something to happen.

I was terrified but the long drive had given me nothing to do but think. I was in a situation where I had no control. There was nothing I could do to change anything. I needed to keep my head clear and focus. Even if they hadn’t had guns, they still outnumbered me three to one and I knew there was no point fighting it. If there was a way out of this, it would be using my head.

I felt somebody touching my legs as they cut the bindings away from my ankles before dragging me out of the van and setting me down on the floor. I followed blindly as they dragged me though the darkness by the arm.

It was an impossible task to let myself be led by somebody I held no trust for. My body resisted by pushing back into the wall of heat behind me, but every time I came into contact with him, he gave me a rough shove forwards.

I felt the air change against my skin and heard a door shutting behind me. I whimpered slightly when I was given a hard shove and fell forwards. I was surprised to feel that I landed on something vaguely soft. It felt like a mattress but smelt like a family of rodents had crawled inside it to die.

I could hear the men talking amongst themselves but not what they were saying. I lay still and quiet, forcing back my sobs, because I didn’t want to draw any attention to myself. I was contented to remain forgotten.

I couldn’t be forgotten forever though. I wasn’t lucky enough for that. I’d heard them eating, at least it smelt like they were eating. One of them approached me and I recoiled when his hands grasped mine, still bound behind my back. He released the cable tie and I immediately drew my arms round to my front. They’d been bound for hours and the new surge of blood was agonizing.

He pulled the bag away from my head and I blinked uncomfortably in the dim light. He was still wearing a balaclava so I couldn’t make out his face, not that I tried. I kept my eyes down because I didn’t want him to see me as a threat, as someone who might try something. I wanted the element of surprise if the opportunity presented itself

Eat, he spat, tossing a packet of cheese and onion crisps into my lap.

Thank you, I mumbled, pulling the gag away from my mouth. How stupid was that? I was thanking the guy who had helped kidnap me for a measly packet of crisps. I inwardly cursed my ingrained manners.

The guy obviously agreed with me because he hit me hard across my jaw, knocking me down onto the mattress. No talking, he grunted.

I didn’t need telling twice. I clamped my mouth shut and bit back the tears, waiting for the pain in my cheek to fade. I could handle the pain but the uncertainty about what was going to happen? That was worse.

I wasn’t hungry; I was too scared to be hungry but I didn’t know how long it would be until I’d get food again and I suspected I’d need my strength so I forced down the whole packet. I hadn’t eaten since the cupcake I’d had at the coffee shop with Alex and, by the lack of light shining through the broken windows, it appeared to be pretty late at night.

We seemed to be in some sort of abandoned warehouse. There were old pieces of machinery that lay unused and covered in dust. I was in the far corner, as far away from the door as I possibly could be.

I curled back up into the foetal position and tried not to think about the disgusting mattress I was lying on or how much longer I’d be alive. Instead, I closed my eyes and pictured each of my brothers in turn, remembering the details of their faces. I drew most comfort from picturing Jason though. I traced his tattoo in my mind, remembering every intricate detail. If I lived through this, I was going to make sure I found out the history behind that tattoo.

I stopped my mental distraction techniques as one of the men approached me again. This time it was the one with slightly darker skin. When he spoke it was with the odd accent that I was inclined to think was in fact Arabic.

On your front, he demanded coldly.

I trembled but did as I was told. I didn’t want to give them any reason to hurt me or threaten me. He pulled my arms back behind my back and bound them again, this time with handcuffs. He pulled me up and dragged me through the building to what appeared to be a bathroom.

He uncuffed one hand and cuffed the other to a metal railing running alongside the toilet. It appeared I was being allowed a bathroom break. I was relieved to have been left alone, but I wasn’t sure how long I’d be given so I tried to be quick. I was only just quick enough. I’d just done up the buttons on my jeans when the guy came back in.

I wanted to wash my hands and moved towards the sink as soon as he removed the cuff from the bar but he yanked me back roughly, the metal cuff digging into my already sore wrist. I cried out as I fell back into him and trembled whilst he cuffed my wrists behind my back once more.

What do you want with me? I asked shakily. I couldn’t hold back anymore, the uncertainty was unbearable. I needed to know my fate.

Silence, he growled, grabbing me round my neck with his spare hand and squeezing so that I could barely breathe.

I whimpered and made muffled noises as he held me, squirming as much as I could but very aware that I couldn’t get far with his hand around my neck and my hands cuffed together.

He pushed me down onto the mattress again and I lay there, as still as I could be whilst he linked a length of chain round my cuffs and into the metal piping on the wall behind me. He replaced the itchy fabric hood over my head and left me there.

I’d seen the other men sat around the table with a deck of cards and I could hear them, still playing. I hated that they could do something so normal whilst they had me kidnapped and bound just meters away. I couldn’t understand how anybody could do that. I bit my tears back once more, for good this time. I needed to be strong. I needed to be prepared for what was to come, whatever that may be.

I don’t know how I managed it but I must have fallen asleep at some point. It wasn’t a peaceful sleep, quite the opposite. I woke up at every sound, and since one of the men seemed to be pacing around quite a bit, I woke up often.

I had no way of knowing how many hours had passed. My shoulders, back and neck ached something rotten. I’d have given anything for them to let me loose. I rolled onto my front and tried to flex and stretch my fingers and arms to alleviate some of the pain but that somehow made it worse.

I felt the mattress dip beside me, and my whole body went tense with fear. The guy barely touched me though. He unhooked my wrists from the piping and refastened them at my front. He roughly removed my hood and beams of sunlight assaulted my vision.

They were wearing balaclavas again but it seemed there were only two of them at the moment. I scanned the room quickly but I couldn’t see anyone else. I lowered my eyes again because I could feel the broader of the two men, the one who’d uncuffed me, glaring down at me.

The other man, with the accent, approached me and dropped a bottle of water at my feet. I was parched and snapped it up eagerly. I wasn’t sure if I should have been drinking water that they gave me but I figured they’d had plenty of opportunities to hurt me and the bottle was still sealed so I gulped it down whilst they watched.

The second I finished the bottle, the broad man pulled me up by the arm and began dragging me across the room. After just a few meters, the man holding me suddenly stilled, coming to an abrupt halt by my side. He raised his hand and signalled something to his accomplice. I sensed a shift in the atmosphere and I could see the tension in their body language.

They must have heard or seen something that I missed. Both of them were looking at the door intensely. I instinctively knew that something was happening. Something they weren’t prepared for or happy about. This is my chance, I thought to myself. If I was going to get away it had to happen now.

I yanked my body away from the man and bolted towards the door. With every step, my chest became tighter because I was one step closer to freedom. My legs moved faster than they ever had before, adrenaline pumping through my veins. Then everything turned black.

Chapter 3

Sunday, 23rd June 2013

When I woke up, Jason was still wrapped around me and Craig was asleep in the chair opposite me. I could tell Jason was asleep by the steady rise and fall of his chest against my back.

I suspected he hadn’t slept much the night before so I tried to remain still and not wake him. A nurse came in and started bustling around the room, refilling the cupboards. I saw Craig jerk awake and smiled over at him.

The throbbing in my head had turned into more of a dull headache and seemed much more bearable. Craig shook his head a few times to wake himself and stood up, making his way over to me. I raised my finger to my lips so that he would keep quiet and not wake Jason up. Craig grinned and looked like he was contemplating waking Jason up but I scowled at him and he let it go. He raised his eyebrow and made the sign for ‘thirsty’ against his neck and I nodded eagerly.

When Craig handed me the water, I carefully pushed myself up onto my elbow so that I could sip it without waking Jason. God, I ache everywhere, I cringed inwardly as awareness of my sore body returned to me.

When I’d finished my water, I saw the evil gleam in my brother’s eye return as he circled round the bed and went to wake Jason with a knuckle between the ribs.

Don’t even think about it, Carter, Jason mumbled his warning sleepily. I could feel his smile against the back of my neck.

Morning, I beamed, rolling onto my back so that I could kiss him on the jaw.

Morning, Jamie, he smiled back, kissing the tip of my nose.

Can you help me up? I asked him.

You should stay in bed, Jelly, Craig frowned, coming back to stand by my side.

Craig, I need to pee, I blushed.

I’ll get you a bedpan, Craig answered seriously.

I’m not peeing in one of those things, I cringed, already pushing myself up and swinging my legs off the side of the bed.

Jelly, Craig growled his warning but I ignored him because my bladder was about to explode.

"I swear to God, Craig, you either help me or I will pee on you," I threatened.

Jason laughed and followed me off the bed and towards the adjoining bathrooms with his arm around me. I spotted Ian still stood by the door but he had his back to me. Did he sleep at all last night?

You shouldn’t be on your own, Jelly, Craig frowned, following us into the bathroom.

Jason kept his armed wrapped around me, supporting me on my admittedly unstable legs.

"You are not staying in the room while I pee, Craig," I scowled.

I’ll stay, Jason nodded.

You neither, I warned him. Get out both of you! I snapped. I didn’t mean to be rude but I was less thank thirty seconds away from an embarrassing bladder leakage.

It’s not up for discussion, Jamie, Jason shook his head, ushering Craig out the door and locking it behind him.

He lifted up my hospital gown and helped guide me down onto the toilet seat, ignoring my angry glares. He grinned at me before turning the tap on full pressure and facing the corner with his hands over his ears.

I wasn’t in a position to argue. He couldn’t see or hear me and that was as good as it was going to get. I breathed a sigh of relief after I eased some of the pressure from my poor bladder.

It’s cute, you know, Jason chuckled, wrapping his arms gently around my waist as I washed my hands. You’re too embarrassed to pee in front of me even after everything we’ve done.

Watching me pee is in no way sexy, Jason, I chided. If you see me pee, you’ll never look at me the same again.

You’ll never be anything other than beautiful to me, Jamie, he reassured me, brushing his lips over my forehead as he pulled me into him. He breathed deeply and held his arms around me tightly as I breathed in his scent. I’ve never been so scared in all my life, he whispered, finally broaching the topic.

Me neither, I admitted, feeling the nagging fear make a return, crawling its way up my throat.

We didn’t speak any more, we just held each other, the embrace soothing us both. I was having a hard time wrapping my head around everything that had happened. I still didn’t really remember how I’d gotten to the hospital, nor understand the fact that I was miraculously still alive.

After an admittedly mediocre hospital breakfast, I was feeling much more human. My brothers had returned and it looked like they’d spent the night in the hospital waiting room, although the bags under their eyes didn’t seem to bother the female nursing staff.

The police will be here in a bit to talk to you, Jelly, Ian said bluntly. No beating around the bush. You need to tell them everything you can.

I nodded glumly. I wasn’t to keen on rehashing it but it needed to be done. I don’t remember how I got here, I admitted.

You were unconscious, Ian grimaced. Looks like you got hit in the back of the head with the butt of a gun.

Flashbacks hit me in a wave and I vaguely recalled the sting of pain as one of my captors slammed something hard against my skull. A tremor of fear racked over me, remembering the cold, hard look in his eyes.

When the police arrived to take my statement, I resolved to push through and get it over and done with. They let my brothers stay, for which I was grateful. I needed familiar faces around me. I took a deep breath and prepared myself to go through the whole horrifying ordeal again.

The officers listened patiently whilst I told them all I remembered. They had question after question and I answered as best I could but there wasn’t much I could tell them. They wanted to know what the men looked like, if they’d used any names, but they’d had balaclavas on every time they removed my blindfold and they hadn’t used any names that I’d heard.

I’d described each man’s build, accent, eye colour, and skin colour as best I could, but that was all I could give them. I felt completely useless. I learned that the two men I’d last seen were both dead. After they knocked me out, they’d engaged the police in a firefight and it hadn’t gone in their favour. I shuddered at the idea that I’d been stuck in the middle of a shootout without even knowing about it.

I was immensely grateful that I’d not had to witness it. I didn’t think I could stomach watching somebody die, even if they were the monsters who’d kidnapped me.

The third man was unaccounted for. The police hadn’t seen hide nor hair of him and the idea that he was still out there somewhere made me nervous.

You look tired, Jelly, Ian said once the police had left.

I’m okay, I smiled weakly. I just want to go home.

You can soon, Craig nodded. But it’s a long drive and you should sleep a bit first, get your strength back.

Long drive? I asked in confusion. Where are we?

Norwich, Ian answered grimly.

I frowned. I had no idea we were so far from home.

You all came all the way over here? I asked sleepily. It had taken a lot of energy to go through the whole ordeal and I was feeling sleepy again.

Of course we did, Ian smiled, leaning over to kiss me on the forehead and pulling the blankets over me.

Karl came over and placed something soft next to my head. I half-opened my sleep-filled eyes to see my stuffed elephant, Nelly. I smiled to myself because it was incredibly sweet of him to bring her to me. I may not have been a little girl any more but the small gesture brought me comfort and helped carry me back off into the land of nod.

Chapter 4

Monday, June 24th 2013

The sight of my house had never been so welcoming. I yawned sleepily as I stepped out of the car and stretched out. I’d slept almost the entire drive back. I’d never slept so much in my life. I’d fallen asleep after the police had left and hadn’t woken up until this morning.

You want some Coco Pops? Ian asked once we were in the kitchen.

It’s Monday, I laughed. When I was a kid, I was only ever allowed chocolate cereal on weekends. Although it was sweet of him to bend his strict rules on my behalf, it bothered me that Ian was acting like I was made of glass.

He shrugged awkwardly and I could see that he wasn’t sure what to do. Ian had an inherent need to fix everything; if something stopped working, he’d take it apart piece by piece and figure out what had gone wrong so he could solve it and put it back together again.

I closed the space between us and wrapped my arms around him. He hesitated a second but returned my embrace.

I’m okay, Ian, I reassured him.

He breathed out heavily but remained silent. Ian was never any good at expressing his emotions so I didn’t push him.

I’m okay, I repeated.

Knowing Ian like I did, I assumed he was blaming the whole thing on himself. No doubt he was convinced he should have been following the two of us whilst we’d been shopping.

Want a cuppa then? Ian offered, avoiding the issue as I’d expected.

Yes, please, I nodded, shuffling away from him so that I could sit on Jason’s knee by the island.

Still tired? He asked me cautiously.

It was just after two in the afternoon and I was finally starting to feel awake so I shook my head, ignoring the slight twinge of my headache.

I’m starving though, I complained with a playful smile.

What do you want to eat? Jason smiled back. I suspected he was very glad I was hungry, it always made him happy when I ate.

Anything, I shrugged. I could even eat Jake’s cooking and it would taste good, I teased, grinning over at Jake.

Impossible, Craig beamed, trapping Jake in a headlock and messing up his hair, which was starting to get a little shaggy.

Jake squirmed away and scowled at Craig but didn’t say anything snarky to me and I sighed, annoyed that they were all walking on eggshells around me.

Want me to make you chickpea curry? Ian offered. He knew it was one of my favourite meals.

Yes, please, I nodded enthusiastically.

I felt a million times better with some delicious food in my belly and let my brothers usher me into the lounge to what looked suspiciously like another family meeting.

Once we’d all filed into the room, Ian stared around at us all and spoke. Jelly’s not to leave the house unless one of us goes with her, he said firmly, his tone indicating that he was deadly serious and not to be messed with.

Ian- I started to protest. I was scared. I’d admit I was terrified but I wasn’t about to let that change anything. I didn’t fancy the idea of leaving the house on my own either, but what was I going to do? Never go out again without using one of my brothers as a bodyguard? No, thank you.

Don’t you dare, Jelly, Ian snarled, cutting me off. You don’t get a say in this.

I scowled at him fully prepared to say that he didn’t get to decide that for me but Jason squeezed my hand gently, imploring me not to argue with Ian. I bit back my retort for Jason’s sake.

We don’t know who did this or why and, until we know more, it’s not safe for you to be on your own like that, Ian continued.

He’d hit the nail on the head. We didn’t know anything and that made the whole thing ten times worse. I couldn’t understand why it had happened, or why it had happened to me.

I studied Ian’s face, observing the tension that lined it with a sudden curiosity. I wasn’t entirely sure but I thought there was something he was holding back.

Ian, what is it? I asked him, a hint of fear creeping up my throat once more as I clung to Jason’s hand.

Nothing, Jelly, he sighed. Just… Did you tell the police everything?

Of course, I frowned. Why would I lie?

He shook his head and sat down on the futon in front of me. They didn’t say anything in front of you?

No, I shook my head, confused as to why he was asking.

What you thinking, E? Karl asked, exchanging a look with my eldest brother that made me nervous.

I’ve got something going on at work, Ian grimaced, rubbing his temples. The timing feels too much like a coincidence.

Shit, Karl groaned, cracking the knuckles on his hands by pressing his fists together. You sure?

No, Ian shook his head. I need to check it out. I’m going in later.

Karl nodded, seeming to understand much more than I did, and much more than the rest of my brothers as well judging by the looks on their faces.

For now, you all need to keep your eyes open. At least until I know more, Ian said, looking around at us. If they found Jelly through me then you’re all at risk too.

What the hell do you work with? Jason demanded, gaping at Ian like he was