Lost In The Dark (‘Lost’ #1)

CHAPTER 4

ADDY

I was dozing in and out of sleep, laid across the two uncomfortable chairs again, a while later, when the door to the room was thrown open violently. It smashed hard against the wall and I leapt to my feet with a squeak of fear.

Both Asher and Eli were instantly on their feet, placing themselves in front of me, between whoever was coming into the room and me.

“I’m detective Rankin,” A deep voice announced, and instantly my legs felt weak as my hands began to shake once again. I had only just got them to stop – or Asher had when he held me in his lap for a while and made me feel safe for long enough that I’d managed to calm some. I hadn’t wanted him to put me down, but I knew it had to feel weird, me sat in his lap clinging to him, when he barely knew me.

But I recognized that voice. He was the detective who had screamed and yelled at me for hours in the interview room already.

“Quite a show you made of your entrance there, detective,” Asher commented dryly.

“I need to take Miss Brooks for questioning,” The detective rumbled, ignoring Asher.

“Her attorney needed to step out to make some calls. You’re not questioning her until he comes back,” Asher said firmly. He crossed his arms over his chest and he cut quite an imposing figure.

“She still needs to come to the interview room. She can wait there.”

“No.” Asher said flatly.

“No? Listen, I don’t know who you think you are, but you shouldn’t even be in here right now. You can’t just…”

“Actually I can,” Asher cut him off, sounding almost bored. “You see, I’m very good friends with the police commissioner in New York, and I called him on our way here. He arranged with your chief of police that my brother and I would be granted access, and allowed to stay with our sister until this whole mess is cleared up. Make your own calls if you need to confirm anything, but in the meantime, Addy goes nowhere without her attorney.”

Tears slipped down my cheeks as emotion overwhelmed me, but I refused to make a sound, not wanting to show the detective any more weakness. He had seen enough from me.

I was just so overwhelmed that Eli and Asher had put themselves in the line of fire for me, and that Asher had stood up for me. Had anyone ever done that? Had anyone ever stepped in and protected me? The answer was a definite ‘no’ to that. I had always had no choice but to stand on my own two feet and fight my own battles. Not that I was ever any good at that. I was too meek and I knew it, but it was the way my mother had made me with her temper and violence. I lacked confidence in myself and I always had. When trouble came I had always taken the easy route to spare myself the confrontation, and had backed down in the end.

The detective cursed under his breath as he turned and walked from the room, slamming the door closed violently behind him, making me jump once again. A sob slipped free as soon as I knew he was gone and I collapsed back into the chair, my exhausted body losing the fight to hold me up.

“Addy!” Eli gasped as he turned to me, then dropped to his knees before me. “Are you okay? What can I do?”

“I…I’m alright,” I whispered tearfully. “I just….you…you stood up for me,” I squeaked as I looked from Eli, up to where Asher stood at his side.

“Of course we did, shortcake,” Eli said gently.

“We’ll always stand up for you. You’re our sister,” Asher added.

“You d-don’t even know me,” I sniffled.

“We will know you, Addy, in time. But that doesn’t matter right now. You’re our flesh and blood and we already feel so protective of you, especially after everything you’ve been through,” Eli told me as he took my shaking hand in his.

“He’s right. Maybe it’s an instinct thing, but ever since we met, I feel this overwhelming need to protect you, and we will, Addy. I promise you we will always do everything we can to take care of you and keep you safe,” Asher added.

I understood what he meant, because I felt something towards the both of them too. It was like a part of me knew they were family, and I trusted them more than I probably should, but my instincts were pretty much all I had to my name and I had opted to trust them. It wasn’t like things could get any worse anyway. What did I have to lose?

“Th-that means more than you can know,” I replied tearfully. “Thank you f-for being here with me.”

“We’re not going anywhere,” Eli promised.

“I need to call Max and get him back here. Are you doing alright?” Asher asked as he looked to me with concern.

“I’m good,” I nodded. He gave me a half smile, then left the room with his cell in hand.

“He can be a bit gruff, but he’s a good guy. He would do anything for the people he cares about,” Eli told me as he looked after Asher once he had left the room.

“I can see that,” I agreed. I had already realized Asher’s tough exterior hid a kind and caring guy inside. He had been so gentle with me, but then, when he needed to – when he was protecting me – he put up this hard, business like front that I was pretty sure no one would dare to mess with. He had an amazing ability to look and be terrifying, but I hadn’t once felt scared of him.

“He was different before the military. Whatever he saw over there, it changed him. Made him harder, but the Asher I always knew – the one who protected and cared for me my whole life is still in there. That’s the Asher you’ll come to know.”

“He was in the military?” I asked. He certainly looked the part, but I was shocked that someone who came from what was obviously a wealthy family would choose the military.

“Yeah. He was a SEAL. Served almost ten years.”

“Did you…?”

“Serve? Me? No way. That was definitely not the life for me,” he chuckled a little. “I’m not tough or strong like Asher. I’d have never survived basic training.” He was smiling as he told me, but I heard something in his voice, like shame, or embarrassment. I didn’t believe his words. He seemed just as strong and tough as his brother, maybe not physically, but mentally.

“What do you do?”

“Ash and I both work for the family business now. I guess those roles will get even bigger now dad’s gone,” he shrugged.

“You don’t like working there?” It was a question, but the answer was written all over his face.

“It’s okay,” he shrugged. “I like being at Asher’s side when he needs me, and things will be easier now dad isn’t there to dictate our every choice and move.”

“Your dad…our dad, I guess…he wasn’t a good man?”

“No sweetie, he wasn’t. He was a controlling bastard, and he made our lives a misery, especially after our mom died. I know I shouldn’t say it, but I’m glad he’s gone. It was a relief. God, that makes me sound bad, doesn’t it?” He looked to me with worry.

“No.” I shook my head. “I get it. My mom…she wasn’t a good person either. I cared for her for years, but I…I was relieved when she went too,” I admitted.

“Was she abusive?” he asked softly.

“She could be,” I nodded. “She was sick, and in a lot of pain most of the time. I was the only person she had to take that out on.”

“I’m so sorry, Addy,” he sighed.

“It was a long time ago,” I shrugged. “I moved on.”

Just then Asher walked back into the room, putting his cell into the pocket of his jeans as he looked to us both.

“Is Max coming?” I asked shakily. I was dreading being taken back into that interview room, but I’d feel safer if Max were with me.

“He is, but you’re not being interviewed again. Max just spoke with the assistant district attorney. They’re dropping the charges against you.”

“What? Why? Did they find something?” I asked with a mix of excitement I would soon be out of there, but terror at what had been found in that house.

Asher sighed and ran a hand through his hair anxiously, messing up his neat style.

“It’s okay,” I whispered. “Just tell me.”

“They found tapes, Addy. A lot of tapes. The senator recorded everything he did to you, and the tapes go back eighteen months so far.” Asher told me reluctantly. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

“Eighteen months?” I whispered as it sank in. That monster had held me against my will and done who knew what to me for eighteen months! How could I have no memory of that? “C-can I watch them?”

“Addy, I don’t think that’s wise, sweetie. You don’t need to put yourself through that,” Eli said gently as his hand squeezed mine.

“I…I need to remember,” I gasped as I looked to Asher, hoping he’d understand. “I have to know what he did…what happened t-to me. I…I need to know.”

“Maybe it’s better you don’t remember?” Asher suggested, and I got what he was saying, but that wasn’t an option for me. I had to know! I couldn’t live the rest of my life not knowing what had happened for two whole years. I had to know why my back was covered in scars, or I’d wonder every time I caught sight of them in the mirror.

“I have to know, Asher. I know it will be horrifying, but I h-have to know,” I sniffled.

“Let’s just wait for Max, okay? I don’t even know if you’d be allowed to view the tapes. They’re evidence now,” he placated me, and I nodded, but I wasn’t giving up. If my memories didn’t return, those tapes may be my only chance to know what happened to me during the time I had lost.

“So the police will let me go now?” I asked shakily.

“Yes. The evidence they have is proof enough that you were within your rights to defend yourself to escape. The charges will be dropped and you’ll be let go, but they may want you to give evidence if anything they find leads to other suspects and a trial,” Asher explained.

“But I d-don’t remember!” I cried.

“Easy, Addy. It’s okay. Just take a breath. Let’s just take one issue at a time, starting with getting you the hell out of here,” Eli soothed, and I did as he said and took in a deep breath.

“Where will we go?”

“I’ve booked a suite at a hotel on the strip for now. It’s not ideal, but hopefully it will just be for one night. I want to get home as soon as possible,” Asher explained.

Of course he wanted to get home. He had a business to run, and a life of his own to live. They both did. I felt terrible for dragging them away from all of that, and yet, I couldn’t let them go. I needed them there with me. They were the only thing making me keep myself together at that time.

“I’m sorry you have to be here,” I told them both guiltily.

“We wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Eli told me with a smile.

“Eli’s right. Nothing is more important to either of us than you right now. I only want to get home so we can get you far away from this mess and where I know you’ll be safe,” Asher added, and once again I was tearing up. These guys were killing me. I hadn’t been this tearful or emotional for years.

“I think as brothers go, you guys might b-be too good to be true,” I told them.

“Wait until you get to know us, Addy. You’ll find we’re far from perfect,” Eli told me, and Asher nodded in agreement. But no matter what flaws they may have, or what I found out in the future, I would never forget how much they had been there for me through that nightmare. I would never forget their kindness or how safe they had made me feel. They were good men and nothing would convince me otherwise. Call me naive, but I just felt it deep inside. I could trust them.

***

“Thank fuck we’re out of there,” Eli sighed as we stepped out of the police station, and into the warm evening air, a couple of hours later. Max had done as he promised and had the charges against me dropped. I had been free to leave, but then the detective who had been an ass to me had insisted he needed to interview me about everything they had found in the senator’s house. Thankfully, Max had managed to hold him off, arranging for the interview to be done the next day, with Max at my side. After a ton of paperwork, I was finally free.

“I need to go. I’ll call you about the interview tomorrow,” Max said as he turned to us. Asher and Eli each had an arm wrapped around my back, holding me up between them. I’d liked to have said it was overkill, but it wasn’t. I was completely exhausted, my body feeling weak and so damned shaky. My legs would barely hold me up. I knew it was because I was so thin, not to mention the Hell I’d been through over the last days, with very little sleep or food. I was just grateful they were there to help me.

“They w-won’t arrest me again, will they?” I asked with fear as I looked to Max. “I…I don’t think I can g-go through that again.”

“No. You’re being interviewed as a witness now, Addy. No one will be arresting you, and I’ll be with you every step of the way,” Max assured me as he placed a hand gently on my forearm. I tensed, not as comfortable with his touch as I was with Asher and Eli, but I refrained from shaking him away.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“No problem. Get some rest, okay? I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thanks for everything, Max,” Eli added. Asher just gave a stiff nod, then Max hurried off down the street towards a parking lot.

“What do you want to do, Addy?” Asher asked as he bent down enough to meet my eyes. “I planned to take you to the hotel with us, but now I’ve seen how shaky and pale you look, I wonder if the hospital might be better?”

“No!” I cried as my heart started to thud hard in my chest. “Please…I want to come with you…please. I c-can’t go back there. I’m okay, really.”

“Sshh,” Eli soothed as he took one of my hands in his and squeezed it. “We’re not going to make you do anything. You choose what you want, okay?”

“I w-want to stay with both of you,” I hurried to reply. I knew it was stupid. I hardly knew them, but they made me feel safe and they were all that I had. I didn’t want to leave them, and I definitely did not want to go back to the hospital where I’d been cuffed to the bed for days while police came in and interrogated me constantly.

“Then let’s get to the hotel so you can rest,” Asher said as we started down the stone steps again. A car was parked at the foot of them, a big shiny, black Escalade that looked very fancy. As we approached a man got out of the driver’s side and opened the back door, looking to Asher with a nod.

“Th-this is your car?” I gasped.

“No. I just hired it while we’re here. We have our own driver’s at home,” Asher replied.

“Driver’s?”

“We’re kind of rich, if you hadn’t realized, sweetie,” Eli chuckled. I looked to him, shocked. I knew they were wealthy. It was obvious in the way they carried themselves and the clothes they wore. They were connected too, it seemed, but I didn’t imagine they were ‘having a hired driver’ rich. They seemed too down to earth for that.

“Sir, we should get moving,” A deep voice spoke from behind us, and I turned with a start, then pushed even closer against Eli and Asher when I found two hulking guys right behind us. They were dressed in dark colors and had in ear pieces. Were they cops?

“It’s okay, Addy. They’re just some security I hired to keep us all safe while we’re here. We have our own security back home,” Asher explained.

“What? S-security?” I stuttered. “Are w-we in danger? Am I?” Were the sex traffickers going to come for me again? My breaths got shorter as the familiar tingling started in my fingers and toes. I started to drop to the ground, desperate to curl into myself – something I used to do as a kid when I started to freak out – but Eli stopped me, grabbing me under my legs and scooping me up into his arms.

“Jesus, breathe for us, Addy. You’re not in danger. You’re safe, I promise you,” Asher panicked as he stood over me with worry.

“We’re never going to let anything happen to you. We’re safe,” Eli added as he pressed me closer to his front, then climbed into the car.

“But th-the security? Is that normal?” I sniffled as I tried to move from his lap and into the seat beside him. He held me tighter and I didn’t even fight. Fear had a grip on me and the fact Eli was holding me was the only thing stopping me from completely freaking out.

“Unfortunately, yes,” Asher answered as he slid into the car too and closed the door. “We have security with us at all times, even at home. Our family is very wealthy, and last year some scum bags tried to kidnap Eli for ransom to get their piece of that wealth.”

“Oh my God!” I gasped as I looked to Eli with concern. “Were you okay?”

“I was lucky. Asher had forgotten to tell me something and came running into the parking lot after me. He managed to fight them off long enough for us to get in my car and drive off,” Eli explained.

“It’s an unfortunate necessity, but one you’ll need to get used to now you’re one of us. Even if you choose not to stay in New York, you will always need security with you. You’ll be at risk once people know who you are,” Asher added.

“How will anyone know who I am?”

“The press follow our family closely. They’re going to discover your real identity pretty quickly once they see you with us.”

“Please don’t let this change your mind though, Addy. We want you to come home with us, and we can keep you safe. We have the best security at home. I want the chance to get to know you,” Eli all but pleaded.

My heart was racing as I considered what I would be entering into by going home with them. I’d need security to prevent me being kidnapped for ransom. The press would be digging into my life, and that seemed like a whole new hell considering I didn’t even know what they would find about the last two years. It was terrifying and a huge part of me was saying I should just go back home, and continue being a nobody. But I couldn’t do that, because I didn’t want to be alone anymore. I had family now, and I wanted that. I had no idea what would happen if my memories of the last two years returned to me, and that petrified me. I didn’t want to be alone if or when that happened. I wanted to be with Asher and Eli, who I knew could make me feel safe.

“I’m not changing my mind,” I told Eli. “All I have ever wanted is some family who care…and that I could care for too, Now I…I have that, I’m n-not letting it go,” I added emotionally.

“Good, because we’re not going anywhere either,” Asher promised.