Page 100 of The Tomorrows After You
No one I spoke to had any idea what I was talking about and I began to doubt that I was even awake.
Had I dreamed all of it? A wisp of hope drifted past my chest at the thought. This was all a bad dream. Brennan was home, holed up in his little adult tree house like usual. Nicolette was never assigned to do a story on me and she was here because she loved me and I loved her. My probation would get cut short, and we’d travel together. Her finding stories. Me selling art. Together forever.
But the chilling silence of the entire propertysnappedme back to life. And the overwhelming vacancy in my lanaiborea hole in me so big IthoughtI might fall into it forever.
That was the onlyforeverallowed to me now.
It had been a full twenty-four hours since the agent took my brother away and I was starting to panic. Spinning like a top, I’d never felt so helpless.
As the day waned into night, I almost pulled a bottle of bourbon out so that I might get some sleep. But I needed to be sharp. In case they came back. In case he came home. The agonizing hope remained wrapped around my brain until sleep finally claimed me.
When Monday morning rolled around, I couldn’t go to work. I called in sick and even though Rodger gave me attitude and said he’d have to report it to my parole officer, I didn’t care. I was most likely going back to prison for perjury according to the internet.
My lawyerwasstill out of town and Ibeggedthe receptionist for anyone to talk to.
“Please. My brother… he’s not well. He’s not good… at talking to people. I told him I’d send a lawyer.”
“Where is he being held?”
Iclosedmy eyes.“I don’t know. I need help to figure that out.”
The line was quiet. “I’m really not sure what to tell you, Riot. Unless we get more information regarding his whereabouts, there’s nothing we can do.”
I slammed the receiver down and ripped the phone off the wall.
I woke up with the sun the next day. Called in sick again. Nothing seemed to matter. Not without my brother. Not withouther. I laid in bed all day and waited for the sheets to swallow me whole. Her scent was beginning to fade along with the fire and the hope that had kept me going the last few days.
So, I gave in and laid down on the bed that was once hers, her scent stronger than ever. Where it once filled my heart, it now stung my eyes. I could lay here forever, wrapped in the only piece of Nicolette I’d ever have.
I couldn’t let myself think about her anymore. I got out of her bed and stalked into the living room where I slammed the sliding door shut, locking it behind me and vowing not to go back in there until the captivating smell of her skin and hair had faded.
When night began to fall, I had promised myself that I would get some sleep tonight. I was losing my mind with exhaustion and I was starting to see dinosaur shadows everywhere I went.
I had just pulled a reserved bottle of bourbon from underneath the bar when my cell phone rang. Sluggishly I pulled it out of my pocket and my eyes opened a bit more when I saw it was the lawyer’s office.
“Riot,” Allan Catalano barked into thephone.
“Allan, thank you so much for calling back. Did anyone find Brennan or at least find out why he’s being held?” I stopped breathing, holding my breath.
“Not sure about that, but Iranthat name Agent Sam Billings by a couple of my contacts. I can’t reckon what they want with your brother but that agentisassignedto a very specific division of cyber intelligence. Now, as far his release goes…”
But his words were lost when I saw headlights turn down my road. My heart lifted when the black sedan pulled into my driveway. Suddenly alert, I darted to the front door, slamming it open with a bang, idly aware I had dropped my cellphone.
Brennan emerged from the backseat, looking stricken but not terribly much more than usual. I moved faster than I thought my feet could go and my body slammed into his chest, wrapping my arms around his shoulders.
He didn’t hug me back, juststiffenedin the normal way Brennan did when peopletouchedhim. My heartfloodedwith relief.
I stepped back but kept my hands on his shoulders, afraid he might disappear if I broke contact with him.
“Are you alright? What happened?” I looked him over. “What did they do, Brennan? What did they say? Where have you been?”
Brennanleanedin.“Which question would you like me to answer first?”
A long sighescapedmy lips and at that moment his answers didn’t matter. Ipulledhim into the house.
“Can I make you anything?Areyou hungry? Did they feed you?”
Brennan blinked at me and repeated, “Which question would you like me to answer first?” It was one of those times his quirky mannerisms were frustrating. I took a deep breath, trying to remain patient.
