Echo (Bleeding Hearts #1)(45)

A dark look passed over Ryland’s face, and it made my blood boil. I no longer cared what his issues were.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I walked up and shoved my hands against his chest. “He’s my brother. You told me he was your friend. And if you don’t stop looking at me like that, I swear I will slap that expression right off your face!”

He pinned my arms to the side to subdue me and crushed me against his chest.

“I know he’s your brother,” he whispered in my ear. “I wish he wasn’t, but I know he is.”

I pulled away from him and swiped at the angry tears that spilled from my eyes as I shook my head in disbelief. It broke my heart that anyone could hate Brayden so much.

“How can you talk like that?” I demanded. “He’s a good person. He didn’t even do anything to deserve this!”

“Didn’t he?” he asked in a hollow voice. “If that’s the case, then why did he plead guilty, Brighton? Have you ever stopped to consider that? Why he let the person who committed the crime walk away scot-free?”

I clamped my mouth shut as I processed his bitter words. He had a point. It was a question I’d asked myself a thousand times. But now that I knew Brayden wasn’t guilty, nothing else mattered. I knew his character. I knew what was in his heart, and he would never intentionally hurt anybody.

“What does any of that have to do with you?” I hissed. “Why do you care what Brayden did or didn’t do?”

His phone chimed, interrupting our conversation.

“Ted’s here to take you to the airport.”

He reached into his pocket and retrieved something before sliding it onto my wrist. A new GPS bracelet.

His fingers feathered over the metal while I scowled at him.

“Brighton?”

“What?” I snapped.

“Be careful.”

He released me with a pained expression. I hesitated only a moment before making my way into the house. I couldn’t think about Ryland right now. I couldn’t feel bad for him. But I did, and I didn’t even know why. But f*ck him. Fuck him for always making me feel this way. Brayden was my main concern right now, and I wasn’t going to apologize for that.

I decided to bring the clothing I had with me so I didn’t have to stop by my apartment. Ted was waiting in the parlor, taking the items off my hands as he ushered me to the car. I was thankful he understood my impatience in this situation, and that he moved as fast as he was able.

The drive back to San Francisco was beautiful, or so Ted said. But I didn’t see any of it. Only when we pulled up to the airport did I begin to relax.

Ted came around and opened my door, and when I stepped out of the car, there was a private jet awaiting our arrival.

“That’s not…”

I tripped over the words as Ted guided me up the steps and onto the plane.

“Mr. Bennett insisted you be taken to Illinois without delay,” he said. “And that I accompany you, should you need anything.”

I stared up at him blankly and wanted to tell him that wasn’t necessary. But the more I thought about it, the more I was grateful for his presence. If only to know I wasn’t alone.





Chapter Nineteen



I tried to ignore the armed guard watching us interact and the silver glint of handcuffs every time Brayden moved his arm.

“It’s not so bad.” He managed a pained smile as I sniffled in the chair beside his bed. “You should see the other guy.”

I wasn’t in the mood for his sense of humor, and I let him know it too. He’d been beaten to a pulp, and he was lucky to be alive.

“I have to fix this,” I said, more to myself than to Brayden. “There has to be something…”

“Stop.”

Brayden’s tone brooked no argument. And when I looked into the depth of his brown eyes, I was shocked again by how much they’d hardened over the years. “There’s nothing you can do for me Brighton, except sit here and enjoy the time we have together right now. Is that too much to ask?”

I nodded, embarrassed I’d even mentioned it in front of him. It was against my agreement with Ryland to say anything in the first place, and this conversation could have come dangerously close with the mood I was in.

But Brayden was right. I was only allowed this one visit with him, something the guard informed me was normally against the rules in these circumstances. I suspected he’d been paid off, and there was only one guess as to who would have done that.

“They kicked mom out, you know,” Brayden offered up a change of subject.

“I know,” I groaned. “I saw her lurking in the parking lot on my way in. She was in a real lovely mood.”

“You shouldn’t be so hard on her,” he said, staring out the window as his eyes glazed over.

“Really?” I bit back. “Have you seen her, Brayden? She looks like shit. She’s knocking on death’s door. She’s as thin as a lamp post and half of her teeth are rotted out of her damn head.”

“I know,” he replied. “But that’s why she needs you. I can’t be there for her anymore, and I’m not asking you to move back or anything… but would it kill you to call her every once in a while?”

“Why should I?” I sniped. “When was she ever there for us?”