Page 37 of Risky Taste
I just hope that we will be.
Chapter twenty-six
LOGAN
I realize how fucking twisted everything is when Noah curls a little tighter into my side and the sopping stench of alcohol begins to seep into my clothes. Fucking piece of shit, Kurt is. And if this makes Noah relapse, I’ll be next in line after Declan to kill the man we used to think of as family.
I slip off the bed and gesture to Sebastian for help, both of us slowly undressing him as we try not to jostle the IV Carl set up. That requires cutting Sebastian’s shirt off the one arm but it’s a minor inconvenience before I start wiping him down, really trying hard not to crack as I do. This is worse than anything we dealt with over there, mostly because Kurt fudged with the system. Still, watching Noah slowly fall apart since we came back tears at my heart.
“He’ll be okay,” Sebastian whispers as he gestures for my jacket and then wraps it around Noah’s shoulders before we lay him back down on the bed. Carl mentioned that he’d wake up onhis own time but I am still freaking the fuck out that something else is wrong with him. It’s nice to know that Noah wasn’t cut by any of the glass, though the burn mark just over his ear is worrisome.
There’s only one thing I know that makes marks like that but I’m sure Kurt wasn’t that stupid, right? I choose not to focus on it until Noah gives us the full story. Sebastian jostles my shoulder as I pull the thin sheet up over Noah’s chest. “You find anything in all of your endless scrolling? Don’t look at me like that. I can see that you found something by the way you’re trying to avoid looking me in the eye. Spill it, Logan."
I grit my teeth before settling back onto the bed and pulling Noah into my side. “I did some research about Kurt’s real parents since we think it might all be connected. And now I have no fucking clue why we didn’t make the connection. Remember that big case nearly twenty years ago? The one with the same family name as Kurt’s?”
Sebastian frowns. “How the fuck is that even possible? How did we not know?”
“Not sure. I only ever knew Kurt and Noah as blood brothers. I’m sure it was covered up but the articles I found and reaching out to a few people…” I trail off, not wanting to think about the shit that I am pulling up. If it’s true and I hope not, it means that Kurt’s crimes start long before we ever met him. Sebastian’s growl brings me back and I let out a deep breath, relaxing into the uncomfortable hospital pillows. “I think Kurt’s not just knee-deep in this shit. I have no idea where Heath really fits in all of this but I think Kurt’s been doing this stuff much longer than any of us are aware of.”
“Do you know why?”
I shake my head. “No clue. That family didn’t always live here but unless we physically visit where Kurt’s parents grew up, I’m not sure we’ll find anything the investigation didn’t already pickup. If this is connected in any way to his parents, this isn’t just going to be a few reports and shocked faces. It might be just as big as what they got his parents for.” I list off a few of the Strong family’s crimes—not Noah’s—but his aunt and uncle, crimes that any self-respecting citizen let alone a soldier would never commit.
We both know how detrimental this case will be and how many people will fall under investigation. It’s the only reason I can think of to explain why people have possibly been sitting on information and not investigating immediately.
Noah wriggles against me before shooting straight up, eyes wide and racing around the room. It isn’t until I wrap him in a bear hug that he calms down, his entire body sagging against my chest. “Where’s Kurt? Where am I?”
“Gone. We brought you to the hospital and-”
He cuts me off, trying to push away from me. “I didn’t do it. I didn’t drink anything. I-” He begins rambling, lightly patting his ear as he shakes his head, his eyes still frantically searching for something that isn’t there. Sebastian moves closer to the bed, swallowing Noah’s form between us. Noah finally takes a deep breath, waiting for our judgment or at the very least, disapproval.
“We know, Bunny. We know that you didn’t do it. However, we have no idea what happened in that room. Are you up to telling us?” I hold off on calling Carl because I don’t want to drag him into our shit. I run my hand down Noah’s cheek, leaning in to kiss him softly, Noah responding sweetly as his hands fall to my chest.
He sighs against my lips before explaining. “He wanted me to stay away and he told me about his parents, how he was just trying to avenge them but it’s something else. I… he and Heath threatened me and I-” Noah bites his bottom lip, eyes unfocusing as he replays the nightmares. “My ear and-” Hiswords are erratic and split, the memory of whatever happened in that room taking over.
He keeps mentioning his ear and then the word ‘gun’ falls from his lips, the only explanation that I need. That fucker used Noah’s trauma against him—loud sounds, holding him down, and alcohol. Kurt is reckless and angry at the hand life dealt him but to do all that to his family–his brother? Knowing that they’re only cousins in reality doesn’t make it any easier to digest.
Yeah, he’s dead. I was going to kill him but now I’m going to make him suffer.
Tucking Noah farther into my chest, I let him know that he doesn’t have to explain any further. “We’ll figure it out. For now, all I want you to do is rest, alright? Beast and I need to have a quick discussion and then I’ll be right back.” I slip from the bed, Noah’s gaze following the both of us. I know we can’t leave the room because I don’t trust anyone at this point. I need my eyes on Noah to make sure he’s alright, to know that he’s not suffering alone.
It also doesn’t help that I can see the fear lingering in his expression mixing with the anger and pure rage. “Carl checked you out when we got here. We’ll call him in a few minutes to make sure you’re okay and then get you checked out from there.”
Noah hesitates and then nods. I move with Sebastian into the corner, the man looking at me with an amused expression. “Do you have a plan already?”
“Yes,” I hiss. “We can’t fucking stay here. As much as I want to start an investigation on our own, our best bet is to leave it behind. For now anyway.” Sebastian raises an eyebrow as I continue. “I’m serious. I’m pretty sure we can get approval to step out of the way and…”
Sebastian snorts, biting his lip to keep from laughing. “Oh, this is precious. You want us to hang out in Handelbrook, don’t you?”I don’t deny it. “Your mom always begs us for a visit; she’ll have a fucking heart attack if we actually show up,” he says.
“And it’s the safest fucking place. Noah will be able to destress and we’ll be far enough away from Kurt and his crazy shit until it all blows over.” It’s a wild idea and getting approval amidst all of this mess will be difficult but not impossible. Especially since they’ll all know where we are. Besides, we all have enough connections that it might just work. And it’s the one place Kurt won’t show up.
Mostly because the one time I took the guys out there, Kurt pissed off my mom so bad that she chased him off the property with a pitch fork. Something about his haughty attitude. She still won’t tell me what he did but I’m hoping it’s enough.
Sebastian glances over at Noah, his shoulders falling in resignation. “And if we don’t get the approval? We both know my hotel room won’t do shit to keep Kurt away.”
“Then we figure it out. I’ve waited too long to hold him to let him go now.”
“Good answer. Now, figure out how you’re going to tell Noah that you’re taking him to meet your mother because it sure as shit ain’t gonna be me.”
