Brazen (Brazen #1)(59)

“Zane, back off,” Seth said in a quiet voice.

Jasmine turned to see Seth standing behind her, a strange look on his face. It almost looked like fear.

“It’s her brother,” Seth explained.

Jasmine returned her gaze to the man standing just a few feet away. Her mouth fell open as shock spilled over her. Then she turned back to Seth.

“How could you?” she whispered. “Did you want me gone so badly?” She wrenched away from Zane, who had reached out to take her hand. She ran for the stairs, uncaring of the pain in her ankle.

Seth watched her go in despair. There was no way she’d forgive him for this. If he lived to be a hundred, he’d never forget the look of absolute hurt in her eyes.

“I take it I haven’t come at a good time,” her brother said.

“You weren’t supposed to be here until tomorrow,” Seth said pointedly. “I hadn’t gotten a chance to tell Jasmine about you yet.”

The man sighed. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I couldn’t wait any longer to see her.”

Seth walked forward. “I’m Seth Morgan. This is my brother Zane.”

Her brother reached out to shake his hand. “I’m Cody Quinn, Jasmine’s brother.”

“Where the hell have you been for the last six years?” Zane snarled. “Hell, longer than that. Where were you when she was eking an existence out on the streets, depending on survival from a man determined to sell her body to the first willing customer?”

Cody’s face went ashen.

Seth held up a hand. “Not now, Zane. We need to hear what he has to say before we let him talk to Jasmine.”

Zane pressed his lips together and looked away.

“Let’s go into the living room,” Seth suggested. “I very much want to hear what Cody has to say.”

Cody stood with his back to the two brothers, staring out the window a half hour later, after Seth had related how he and Zane had met Jasmine. “I never knew what had happened to her,” he said.

“When I learned of Mom’s death, I arranged leave and got back as fast as I could. They told me she was in a foster home. I went and talked to my CO and arranged for even more time away. I wanted to try and make a home for her. When I got back, though, she’d run away. I searched for her, did what I could. When I’d exhausted all my resources, I went back to work, but I continued looking. Over the years, it became easier to believe that I’d never see her again and the searches tapered off.”

He turned back around to stare at Seth and Zane. “Until I got your phone call a few days ago, I wasn’t sure if she was alive or dead.”

Seth could see the sincerity in Cody’s eyes. “I’ll be honest. I’m not sure Jasmine will agree to see you.”

Cody nodded. “I can understand. She probably feels as though I deserted her when she needed me most. But I’d like the chance to explain, at least to talk to her.”

“I’ll see what I can do. I can’t make any promises.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

When Seth stepped into her room, he saw Jasmine standing in the window, staring out. He moved closer, and he could see the slight tremble of her body.

He slid his hands over her shoulders and down her arms.

“I’m sorry, Jasmine,” he said simply. “I shouldn’t have sprung this on you. I intended to tell you tonight.”

She turned slowly, her eyes haunted, hurt reflected in her emerald gaze. “Why is he here?” she asked in a small voice. “Why now?”

Seth sighed and pulled her into his arms. “I think you should talk to him, honey. Hear what he has to say. He’s very anxious to see you.”

“You want me to go,” she said dully.

He tightened his grip around her. The idea of her leaving panicked him. But it would be her choice. It wasn’t his to make.

He pulled her away and tipped her chin up until she looked him in the eye. “I want what is best for you. I always have.”

“You’re what’s best for me,” she whispered. “You and Zane. And Carmen. We’re family.”

She slid away from him before he could respond. “Is he…is he still here?”

“He’s downstairs waiting for you,” he replied.

She nodded. “I suppose I should go down.”

She looked toward the door and hesitated.

“Zane and I will be there, Jasmine. You won’t be alone.”

She nodded again and turned wordlessly to walk out. Seth followed her, concerned by the defeated slump of her shoulders. She was quiet on the way down the stairs, and when they reached the living room, she paused as if afraid to go in.

Zane looked up at the same time Cody did. Worry was reflected in both their gazes. Seth put his hand comfortingly on Jasmine’s back.

Jasmine stood there, staring at her brother, her brother, with a mixture of elation, sadness and fear.

Memories of her childhood ran through her mind. Her as a little girl, Cody smiling down at her. Cody and her mother arguing as she got older. That last terrible night when Cody had left and sworn never to return.

He’d left her.

Cody stood and walked cautiously toward her. He stopped a few feet in front of her and slowly raised his arms, holding them out to her.

Swallowing back her fear, she walked into his embrace.