Part 22 (2/2)
”I feel like s.h.i.+t. But that's pretty much par for the course these days. It's been a crazy few weeks.”
Tucker sipped his whiskey. His brother was a photo-journalist, one usually found in the most dangerous parts of the world. Be it war in the Middle East, famine in Africa or organized crime in Mexico...he was there. He was one of the best at what he did and highly sought after, but from what Tucker could see, it was starting to show on him.
Teague's eyes looked...haunted.
”Do Mom and Dad know you're back?”
The family had been disappointed that Teague had been unable to make it home for Christmas and in fact, Tucker had caught his mother sniffling over some old family photos more than once.
Their son's dangerous escapades were starting to wear on them as well, and he knew that his mom wanted Teague home on American soil. She wanted Teague settled with a wife and a pack of kids, but that wasn't likely to happen. Teague Simon was like a lone wolf. He just did better on his own.
”Nah.” Teague shook his head. ”I'm only in New York for a few hours and no time to head to Florida. Waiting for a flight out to Egypt.”
”Egypt?”
He shook his head. ”Yeah.”
”Dangerous s.h.i.+t going on in that part of the world.”
”Someone's got to go, Tuck. Someone needs to tell the stories. The real stories.”
Tucker didn't say anything. He'd never really understood his brother's need to live life on the edge. To be in places where life and death were separated by chance and luck.
Nope. Tucker didn't understand it, but he sure as h.e.l.l respected it. As far as he was concerned, his brother Teague was one of the most fearless men he knew.
”How did you know I was here?”
Teague slipped off his jacket, smiling at a woman a few seats down and then stretched out his long arms. ”Your secretary. Told me you had a meeting here and that I'd find you in the bar.” Teague winked. ”She knows you well and she's d.a.m.n cute.”
Tucker's eyebrows rose. ”She's too young. Christ, she's barely out of college.”
”Yeah,” Teague said with a grin. ”But still. She's pretty d.a.m.n cute although...” his grin widened. ”...she's not as hot as the woman in the picture on your desk. I take it that's your Abby?”
Tucker nodded. Busted.
”That's her.”
The brothers sat in silence for a few moments and then Teague spoke gruffly. ”I'm happy for you. After Marley...well, I just didn't think you were ever going to climb out of that pit.” He shrugged. ”At least not all the way.”
The bartender brought them another round, pointing to the woman whose hungry gaze was still on Teague. The brothers accepted the drinks and while Tucker nursed the gla.s.s, Teague slammed his back.
”Do you love her?” Teague asked.
Tucker glanced at his brother and then nodded. ”Yeah. I do.”
”That's good.” Teague paused and shot him a sideways glance. ”Have you told her yet?”
Christ, his brother knew him well.
”No.” He thought of his big plans and smiled. ”But that's all gonna change tonight.”
Just then his cell buzzed and he whipped it out, the smile still in place. It had to be Abby. But his smile faded when he saw Kate Danvers name again. Marley's mother. An odd sensation washed over him. A weird sort of de je vu.
”That your girl?” Teague asked.
”No.” He glanced up to his brother. ”I'm going to have to take this. When's your flight? Do you still have some time?”
”Go,” Teague glanced toward the blond who'd bought them a round. ”I'll be here when you get back.” He shoved away from the bar and chuckled. ”Besides, I need to meet this Abby woman. See if she's as hot in real life as she is in that picture on your desk.”
”Don't be getting any ideas about her,” Tucker warned.
”It's not me you have to worry about. Has Cooper met her?”
”Yeah.”
”And how did that go?”
”How do you think?”
Teague's grin was contagious. ”As f.u.c.ked up as this world is, I love that some things never change.”
Tucker hit return call on his cell and moved to the lobby of the hotel, where the reception was better and the noise was minimal. Outside it was snowing, big old snowflakes falling down in soft gusts, bathed in the streetlights that lit up the night.
He didn't think the phone rang. Didn't remember hearing a ring and yet all of a sudden there was his mother-in-law's panicked voice in his ear.
”Tucker Simon, I have been calling you for hours. Why haven't you answered me?”
”I...” s.h.i.+t. What the h.e.l.l was going on? ”I'm sorry, Kate. I was in a meeting and my brother just flew into New York for a few hours. We were catching-”
”I don't care about that. Tucker haven't you seen the news?”
A shrill undertone colored her words and that p.r.i.c.kly sensation was back. Big time.
”No. I...”
He had a bad feeling about this.
”Like I said, Kate. I was in a meeting and only saw you called now.”
”Tucker,” she wailed in his ear. ”They've found her.”
For a moment, Tucker felt as if he was sitting in a cold, sterile room at the end of a very long hallway. There were echoes, not sounds really, just hard noises banging in his head. All the colors of the world bled into one, a dull, grey palette, that was sickly and awful.
<script>