The Predator (13 page)

“Take all the time you want. I’ll look after Sam until you get back. She’s second on the right from the top of the stairs.”

* * *

Alex knocked softly on the closed door that announced it was Cassie’s room in bold, bright letters carved from wooden blocks. The knock was answered by a husky voice. Alex pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The room was painted a soft pink and was gently illuminated by a bedside lamp. A matching pink-and-white floral bedspread covered most of the bed. The walls were decorated with posters of Katy Perry and One Direction, but there were also a few older ones of the young Harry Potter crew, and, what really impressed her, an old Dire Straits picture.

She smiled and cocked an eyebrow at the girl that lay in the bed. “Dire Straits? Wow, I’m impressed.”

Cassie’s face lit up with a smile. “Aunty Alex! You came! Mom said you were downstairs. She didn’t tell me you were coming up to see me.”

Alex perched on the side of the bed and leaned over to kiss her niece on the cheek. “Cassie Munro, of course I was coming up to see you. It’s been like
forever
. You didn’t think I’d come by and not drop in and say hello, did you?”

Cassie lifted a shoulder in a shrug and stared down at her hands that were resting on top of the quilt. “I don’t know. After you and Uncle Brandon split up, we didn’t see you again. I didn’t know if you’d even remember me.”

Alex’s heart clenched. “Oh, honey. I’m sorry I haven’t stopped by. It’s not that I didn’t want to. I just… Things just got a little…complicated. You know what I mean?”

Cassie looked up at her shyly and nodded. “Yeah, I think so. That’s what Mom said. Things were
complicated
.”

Alex forced a smile. “Hey, look at you? You’re so grown up! I love what you’ve done to your hair. It looks so glamorous, so Hollywood, styled like that.”

Smiling, Cassie blushed and twirled a long, blond strand around her finger. “I’ve been growing it since I turned ten. It’s way longer than all the other girls in my class.”

“It’s gorgeous, sweetheart. I bet you’ve caught the attention of every boy in your year.”

Cassie’s blush deepened and Alex smiled. To be almost thirteen again. So full of hope and promise. So full of expectancy that life was going to be wonderful. Before broken hearts and broken promises dashed the hope to pieces.

She forced the dark thoughts aside and picked up Cassie’s hands. “Your mom says you’ve been sick? That’s no good.”

Cassie nodded. “Yeah, some bug I picked up from school. Penny Jones had it last week. Hopefully, I’ll be right by tomorrow. It would be a shame to spend the
whole
weekend in bed.”

Alex nodded toward the laptop that sat on the desk nearby. “At least you have your computer. I suppose you’re on Facebook and Twitter and all those other things?”

She shook her head. “No, Mom and Dad won’t let me open up those accounts. They say it’s too dangerous. I think they’re being way too over protective, but what can I do? They’d take my laptop away if I broke the rules.”

“Your mom and dad are right, sweetheart. I know you think those sites are just a way to stay in contact with your friends, and they’re great for that, but there are people out there who use them for much more scary reasons. You’re best to stay off them if you can.”

Cassie groaned. “You sound like Mom and Dad.”

Alex laughed softly. “I’m sorry, honey. I don’t mean to come across all doom and gloom, but there are some people out there who are up to no good. Your Uncle Brandon and I are working to stop some of them right now.”

Cassie’s eyes widened. “You mean some of those people live in Australia?”

“Yes, sweetheart. Some of them might even be in Sydney. They could be anywhere. You never know. That’s why it pays to be careful and not talk to strangers. The same rule applies whether it’s someone online or down the street. You wouldn’t give your personal details to someone you’d just met at the bus stop, would you?”

“No.”

“The same thing applies in the cyber world. I know it seems safer, in the security of your bedroom, but believe me, these people have a way of finding you.”

Cassie shivered and Alex pulled back, suddenly aware she was probably scaring the girl. Which was probably a good thing, except it wasn’t her place to lecture her. She was only her aunt and a largely absent one at that. Besides, from what Cassie had said, her parents had things firmly under control.

“So,” Alex teased in an effort to lighten the mood, “do you have a boyfriend?”

The telltale blush spoke volumes. Cassie looked down at her hands and fiddled with the tassels on the end of the bedspread. She gave Alex a shy grin.

“Maybe,” she murmured.

Alex smiled. “That’s lovely, sweetheart. What’s his name?”

Cassie blushed again and bit her lip. Alex’s eyes widened in sudden comprehension.

“You haven’t told your mom, yet. Is that it?”

A nod was followed by a peek from underneath golden-tipped lashes.

“It’s okay, honey. You don’t have to tell me. Is he cute?”

She giggled. “Oh, yes, even cuter than Nick Jonas.”

“Wow, that is seriously cute. How old is he?”

“He’s fifteen. I know it’s a bit older than me, but we have so much in common. We talk for hours and hours.”

Alex’s eyebrow lifted in surprise. “Fifteen? Wow. But then, boys quite often go out with girls who are a bit younger than them. Girls tend to mature quicker than boys.”

Cassie’s eyes shone with happiness. “Exactly. Oh, Aunty Alex, I’m so glad you understand.” She leaned forward and threw her arms around Alex’s shoulders, hugging her tightly.

Alex returned the embrace, her eyes prickling with unshed tears. She’d missed so many moments like this with her self-imposed separation from the rest of Brandon’s family. Despite what happened in the future, she vowed to remain a part of their lives.

Cassie’s voice was muffled against Alex’s blouse. “It’s so good to see you again, Aunty Alex. Does this mean you and Uncle Brandon are getting back together?”

Alex tensed, unsure how to respond. She slowly pulled away.

“I don’t think so, sweetheart. Like your mom said, it’s complicated. But it doesn’t mean you and I can’t still visit each other.”

The girl’s face brightened. “Really? That would be so cool. I’d really like that.”

Alex leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the top of Cassie’s forehead. “I’d really like that too, sweetheart. Now, I’d better get going. Sam’s probably torn half of your mom’s kitchen apart by now.”

“Mom said you had a little boy. Sam. Is that his name?”

“It’s Samuel, actually but I usually call him Sam.”

Cassie grinned. “I’d love to meet him.”

“And you will. Just as soon as you’re better. Right now, you’d better get some rest. I’ll see you soon.”

“Bye, Aunty Alex.”

“Bye, sweetheart.”

Alex walked over to the door and pulled it open. With a final wave to Cassie, she stepped through the doorway, pulled the door gently closed behind her and headed down the stairs.

* * *

 “Is she gone?”

Lily looked up from the dessert she had prepared and nodded as Brandon stepped into the kitchen, sliding the French doors closed behind him.

“She left a few moments ago. She said Sam was tired and needed to go home.”

Brandon shook his head in disgust. “She didn’t even say good-bye.”

Lily shot him a questioning look, but he ignored it. He should have known better than to expect that she’d stay quiet.

“What’s going on with you two? Alex walks in here after disappearing without a trace for more than four years and the first thing she tells me is that you aren’t getting back together. Less than an hour later, I find the two of you locked in what could be loosely described as a rather amorous embrace in the middle of my garden. Fast forward another hour and she’s beating a hasty retreat out my front door, mouthing some lame excuse about her son needing his bed.”

She flung her arms up in the air. “Call me stupid, Brandon, but something seems way too weird right about now. Would you care to explain?”

Brandon grimaced, regretting his impulse to enquire about Alex’s whereabouts. It was obvious Tom hadn’t said anything to his wife. He was grateful his brother had kept his confidence, but it would have gone a little way to making it easier to explain to Lily if Tom had already clued her in. Now he was caught, and knowing his sister-in-law, there was no way she was going to accept a brush-off. Not this time.

Pulling out one of the leather-topped, stainless-steel barstools, he lowered himself onto it and rested his elbows on the black granite counter top.

He sighed heavily. “The truth is, Lil,
I
don’t even know what’s going on. She’s hot and cold and everything in between. One minute we’re having a relatively decent conversation and the next, she’s blowing me off.” He shook his head. “It’s confusing the hell out of me.”

“So, why not walk away?” Lily asked simply. “She’s been out of your life for four years. Why go and complicate things with this…this attempt at a reunion—if that’s what it is?”

“I wish I knew, on both counts.”

“Knew what?” Tom came up beside him and pulled out another barstool.

Brandon groaned.

“We were talking about Alex,” Lily supplied.

Tom glanced at his wife and then looked at Brandon. “I haven’t told her.”

Brandon grimaced and then sighed. “Yeah, I figured as much.”

Lily rounded on them, her face clouded with suspicion. “Told me what?”

Brandon drew in a deep breath, bracing himself for what was to come. “I’ve never told you about why Alex and I split up.”

Lily stared at him, her eyes wary. “I thought she called it quits? You were completely devastated. I just assumed it had been her decision.”

Brandon shook his head. “When you asked, I told you I didn’t want to talk about it, that it was none of your business and that it didn’t matter, it wasn’t going to change things. Alex had gone. Our marriage was over. All of those things were true.” He ran his fingers through his hair. The silence was strained.

“Why did your marriage end, Brandon?” Lily’s voice was tempered steel.

Brandon lifted his head and met her gaze without flinching. “It ended because I came home one night and told her it was over. Alex ranted and raved and demanded an explanation, but I refused to give her one. I packed my bags and left. And that was it.”

“What? I don’t understand. Why would you do something like that?”

Brandon threw a look toward his brother, hoping he’d intervene. Tom cleared his throat.

“It’s complicated, Lil. The gist of it is, Brandon was suffering from undiagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He’d been subject to some horrible things in Jakarta and he couldn’t take it anymore. Alex bore the brunt of it and by the time he was treated and recovered, it was too late for Brandon to do anything about it.”

“Why didn’t you seek professional help earlier, Brandon?” Lily asked, shaking her head in confusion. “Alex meant the world to you. I can’t believe you threw away everything you had together without a fight.”

Brandon closed his eyes against the memories. When he opened them again, he looked straight at Lily. “You’re right. I was in love with her from the moment I saw her. I still am. Now that I’ve had time to heal, I can’t believe how badly I handled it. I should have given Alex the chance to help me, to help us.”

At Lily’s questioning look, he explained. “We were having problems well before I left for Jakarta. Alex wanted a baby.” He shook his head. “And I didn’t.”

Surprise filled Lily’s face. “Wow,” she murmured, “I had no idea.”

Tom turned toward him. “I take it you guys didn’t have this conversation before the wedding? Whether you wanted kids or not?”

“No, mate. That would have been way too sensible. We were young. We were in love. We were invincible. Nothing was ever going to come between us.” He included Lily in his look. “You two remember how it was.”

Lily looked chagrined. “Well, it was a bit different for us. I was already pregnant before we’d even decided whether we had what it took to make a couple. Remember? The conversation was kind of taken out of our hands.”

A faint blush stained Tom’s cheeks. “Yeah, well. It worked out okay.”

Lily punched him lightly on the arm. “Only okay?”

Tom grinned. “All right, all right. More than okay. Much more.” He leaned across the counter top and placed a kiss on his wife’s lips. “Better?”

“
Mm
, much better.” She smiled.

Brandon’s belly clenched and he looked away from the love that radiated from both of them. He missed having that special someone. Someone who knew him as well as he knew himself. Someone who loved him for who he was, imperfections and all.

He’d had that with Alex. And he’d lost it.

Lily shook her head. “Poor Alex. All these years I’ve thought she ditched us like she ditched you.”

“No,” Brandon implored. “It wasn’t Alex’s fault. I should have told you the truth when it happened, but I wasn’t in a fit state of mind to talk to anyone. After what happened in Jakarta, I didn’t think I had a choice.” His voice cracked with emotion. “Being single seemed like the only option.” He shook his head, and covered his face with his hands, a familiar despair settling heavily on his shoulders.

A strong hand gripped his arm. He turned and took comfort in his brother’s embrace. Pain he’d thought long gone seized him, tightening his chest. His breath caught on a sob.

“It’s all right, mate. Let it out.”

It was all the invitation he needed. Powerful emotions gripped him, shredding his control. He shuddered. Memories battered him from all sides. There was no escape.

He sucked in oxygen, his chest heaving with the effort. He’d done all his crying years ago. He was supposed to have moved on from the night more than four years ago when he’d destroyed the only good thing in his life.

Regaining a semblance of control, he lifted his head and offered a shaky smile to the people who cared about him most.

“I’m okay. Really. It happened so long ago. I don’t know why it still gets to me like that. I guess seeing Alex again has stirred up all the old memories, especially the painful ones.”