Chapter Fourteen

Abe

T he authorities confiscated Jeremy's phone and found voice notes detailing his spiraling obsession with me and his hatred for Lio that resulted in stalking, attempted murder, and kidnapping. Faced with that evidence, Jeremy gave a full confession. He either loved the sound of his voice or knew Lio and I would get our hands on the recording because he spent hours going into detail. He'd admitted everything from squatting in the woods around my cabin to breaking into homes, including mine, to shower, steal food and gasoline, or charge his cell phone. Jeremy had kept his truck hidden on an abandoned logging road nearby and constantly moved his camp to avoid detection. He seemed to get a real thrill out of detailing the sex acts he'd witnessed between us and how he'd decided Emilio Mendoza needed to die. In his sick mind, I would fall for him if Lio was out of the picture. Jeremy overheard Lio's conversation with Alyssa where he mentioned a premonition involving Eads. He figured the dirty detective would take the fall when Lio died.

He laughed when he talked about aiming at the road when he saw Lio approaching in his truck. Jeremy had said the big buck running into the road was a sign he'd made the right decision. Eads ending up at the same general store as Lio had turned out to be a true coincidence, unless you were Jeremy, who'd referred to it as divine intervention. He grew bolder as his rage escalated. Alex's kidnapping had been a botched attempt to kill Lio. Jeremy had knocked Alex out during their struggle, duct-taped his mouth and hands, and carried him to the truck. Alex came to during the ride, and Jeremy subdued him with threats against his parents, which corroborated Alex's statement to the police. Alex also told the detectives that he'd been terrified when walking through the dark woods at knifepoint but felt much better when he recognized the cabin. Jeremy had mumbled constantly, and Alex deciphered enough to realize his captor knew us. He told the cops he was sure his parents would find him.

The truth was, I wouldn't have suspected Jeremy if not for Amber's phone call. I'd already dismissed him after giving him a lukewarm apology because my attention was on pursuing my new relationship with Lio, something Jeremy watched unfold without us knowing. Even if our privacy hadn't been violated, the guilt eating away at my insides had had a stronger impact on my dick than too much whiskey.

The aftermath of Jeremy's reign of terror had really taken its toll on us. None of us wanted Alex out of our sight, and he was scared to be alone but sick of us hovering all the time. We were all developing very unhealthy habits, so Alyssa got a referral for a family therapist. All five of us attended the first session together, and I was impressed with Ronelle. It wasn't that she waved a magic wand and fixed us; she gave us tools and processes to rely on whenever the fear started to win. Ronelle even gave us a homework assignment to complete. Since the cabin was a crucial part of our little family, she wanted us to address any fears we might have about returning. So nine days after the kidnapping, we orchestrated a weekend trip for all of us.

I liked Ronelle's demeanor so much that I asked if she'd consider counseling me individually, and she agreed. As much as I wanted to believe my issues would go away on their own, I wasn't willing to risk my future with Lio. I figured I'd start with the most recent trauma and work my way back to my Billie Jo issues. I still hadn't decided what to do about the contact information Wayne had given me, but that was just one of the many things I needed to unpack someday.

I carried the laundry basket into the bedroom and set it on the floor between the new twin beds we'd picked out. Lio and I had spent yesterday afternoon buying new furniture, bedding, curtains, and opaque shades for the cabin's two bedrooms. Maybe it was overkill, but after hearing the details of Jeremy's confession, it was a miracle we hadn't burned the place to the ground and started over.

Lio turned away from the window with a drill in his hand. He'd measured and remeasured before finally hanging the new pull-down shades. I loved his meticulous nature, but sometimes it took twice as long to finish the simplest tasks. Lio pushed the trigger on the drill to make it whir.

"Wanna drill me?" he asked.

Lio and I hadn't made love since learning that Jeremy had spied on us at the cabin. We'd shared many other types of intimacy until we worked through our feelings of being violated by someone we once trusted. I was ready to get back to the way things were, and his corny joke made me laugh and eased the tension gripping me. "Yes, I do," I replied. "But everyone will be here any minute. Maybe if you help me make these beds now, I'll drill you later once they've all gone to sleep."

"Deal," Lio said.

He set the tool down and searched the basket for the freshly washed fitted sheets. "I hope Alex likes his surprise."

When picking out the new furniture for Alex's room, we decided to go with two twin beds so he could invite Eric to stay with him whenever he wanted. His best friend was like the rest of us and didn't want to let Alex out of his sight. Alyssa and Russ would park their big camper out back, and the boys would bunk with us. We just needed to put the finishing touches on Alex's bedroom. I hoped it wasn't too soon. I'd had a hard enough time entering the cabin for the first time the previous day, and I was a battle-hardened soldier. Alex was a sweet, innocent kid, who'd gotten caught up in the mess I made.

A pillow hit me in the face, jerking me out of my thoughts. I caught it and stared at Lio in disbelief.

"You just going to stand there while I do all the work?" he asked, gesturing to the bed he'd made while I'd been staring into space. "You asked me to help make the beds."

I smiled at him. "Sorry. My thoughts drifted off."

He quirked a brow. "Someplace good I hope."

I wanted to assure Lio I was fine, but he deserved the truth. I shook my head and said, "I wish."

Lio pulled the sheet from my hand and dropped it on the naked bed. He cupped my face and kissed my lips. "This isn't your fault, baby." Lio, Alyssa, Russ, and Alex had been telling me that since the night it all went down, and Ronelle had given me some tough love during our session. I hoped one day I would believe them. "Don't let Jeremy drive a wedge between us. He's taken enough already, Abe. Don't let him win."

I slid my arms around Lio's waist and held him tightly. His warmth seeped into my skin, chasing away the ever-present chill. Lio nipped my neck and slid his hands down to cup my ass. "I love you, Lio. Never doubt it."

He pulled back and stared into my eyes. "I love you too. We're going to get through this—all of us—as a family."

He was right. I didn't just have Lio in my life. I had Alyssa, Russ, and Alex, and they were my family. I captured his lips in a hard kiss as the sound of crunching gravel reached my ears. "I think they're here."

"You finish this while I distract the boys." After a quick kiss, Lio disappeared from the room.

It didn't take me long to make the second bed and stow the laundry basket in the closet.

The boys were out back sniffing around the smoker with Russ while Alyssa and Lio chatted in the kitchen.

"Eads turned state's witness, and based on his testimony, I expect there to be criminal charges brought against Savant," Alyssa said.

"I really thought Eads would recant his unsolicited statement," Lio said. He cocked his head to the side. "I thought most prosecutors have immunity."

"From civil lawsuits," I replied as I stepped into the room. "His corruption can't be ignored. If criminal charges won't stick, there's an excellent chance of getting him disbarred." I slid my arms around Lio's waist and whispered, "What happened to the no-shop-talk policy?"

"Oops."

The boys bounded in through the back door and greeted me enthusiastically. I released Lio to ruffle their hair, then we showed them the revamped room. All of us trained our eyes on Alex, looking for any sign of trauma. He was tense at first until he couldn't recognize a single thing in the room.

"Cool!" Eric yelled. "I get my own bed."

"Yep," Lio said. "We wanted you to be comfy here too."

Alex took in the small flat screen and gaming system we set up. He looked at Abe, then me. "Thank you so much. I love it."

"Thank your mom and Russ too," Lio said. "We all chipped in to make this happen. We want this to be a happy place for all of us."

Alex hugged everyone, and I could see he was on the verge of tears when he wrapped his arms around my waist. For once my tendency to clown away people's sorrow and hurt didn't rise to the forefront. I lowered my head and said, "We'll always have your back."

"I know," came his muffled reply against my shirt. Alex pulled back and wiped his eyes. "Well, I guess it was my turn to make things awkward instead of Dad."

We shared a laugh and rejoined Russ in the backyard near my smoker, where I'd been cooking ribs and brisket for hours.

"My mouth is watering," Russ said. "I can't wait to try Abe's legendary brisket and ribs."

"Prepare to be wrecked," Lio said proudly.

I bit back a chuckle, then leaned closer when no one was looking. "Hey," I whispered, "that's my line."

Lio made a soft whimpering sound that only I heard. I kissed his cheek, then showed Russ my smoking operation. He was impressed before he sampled the food but referred to it as a religious experience after he got his first taste.

"Honey, I really want a smoker," Russ said to Alyssa.

She looked up from the rib bone she'd cleaned off and smiled. "And I want you to have one."

We discussed the finer points and pitfalls of making good barbecue that I'd learned over the years and offered to help him pick out a smoker and set it up.

After we finished eating, Alyssa and I worked to store the leftovers in the refrigerator and tidy up the kitchen.

"I'm so happy you and Lio are officially a couple now," Alyssa said. "I've never seen him this happy."

I looked out the window and watched Lio talking to Russ. "He makes me want to be a better man," I replied.

"You make each other better men," Alyssa said.

We were sharing a hug when Lio walked in to get the Uno cards. "I'm watching you," he warned Alyssa. She rolled her eyes and shooed him away.

Alex had wanted to play Uno in a double-elimination tournament, so Eric excitedly made up brackets in a notebook he'd found in the kitchen. We drew straws, and Lio and Alyssa were chosen for the first match while the rest of us jeered and cheered.

"Abe, can we take out the drone first thing in the morning?" Alex asked me.

"Never heard of sleeping in on the weekends, huh?" I teased.

"I want to capture the fog rising from the lake."

"I hope you packed some warm clothes," I replied. Alex assured me he had, and I suggested other spots he might like and the best times to capture the images based on sun exposure.

The tournament went on much longer than I'd anticipated, but I took my turn getting trounced, which meant I had too much time on my hands. Eric was in a similar boat, so the two of us wandered inside to get stuff to make s'mores.

"I want to be strong like you someday," Eric said.

"Real strength is here and here," I replied, pointing to my heart and head. "People will remember the strength of your character over brawny arms. Deciding to do what's right, even when others don't. Standing by your people when the chips are down. Those are the traits that count most."

Eric's face fell, and he stared at his feet for a few moments before meeting my gaze. "I messed up and wasn't the friend Alex deserved. Guess I should work on my character first, then worry about the ripped body."

His chin wobbled, and I put my arm around him. "We all mess up. You realized your mistake and made things right. You're lightyears ahead of other people."

Cheering erupted from outside. I looked out the window in time to catch Alex's victory dance. Poor kid had moves like his dad. I handed Eric the plate of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate squares. Russ had boasted about his s'mores-making skills, and I was eager to put him to the test.

Lio held the door open for Eric, then entered the kitchen with an impish smile. "Finally, I get you to myself," he said, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Everyone flocks to my man." He nuzzled his nose against my shirt and sighed. "I can't blame them. You've got this magnetic energy that makes you irresistible."

I carded my fingers through his hair. "It sure took you long enough." Lio looked up at me, and his eyes were soft and warm. I pressed my fingertips against his scalp, and he practically purred beneath my touch. "I know, I know. Timing is everything, and I had some growing to do."

" We had some growing to do," Lio countered.

I pressed a quick kiss against his lips. "I'm always going to be that abandoned boy, but you've taught me that the reward of love outweighs the risk."

"I'm always going to be the private control freak, but you've taught me to let others in to know the real me."

"The real you is beautiful." Love for Lio bloomed in my chest and spread through me, settling heavily in my groin. It seemed my traumatized libido was making a comeback. I nuzzled my nose under his ear, then bit the lobe. "We have blackout curtains, fancy sheets, and a bed that can support the drilling you requested."

"Think the boys brought their noise-canceling headphones with them?" Lio asked.

"To play against each other in the same room? I doubt it." I leaned over and opened a drawer next to the stove. I pulled out my grandmother's old turkey baster and removed the silicone bulb from the end. "We can drill a hole in the other side and feed something through it for a makeshift ball gag."

"Christ, Abe," Lio whispered huskily.

The back door flew open, and Alex walked in just as Lio started to inch his hand lower. He looked at the turkey baster and rolled his eyes. "I don't even want to know. Russ sent me in for the skewers so he can roast marshmallows, but I can whittle down some sticks."

"Not necessary." I pointed to the metal skewers on the counter right beside him.

Alex picked them up, huffed a deep sigh, and backed out the door. A few seconds later, we heard him say, "Eric, we better sleep in the camper tonight."

"God, I love that kid," I said as I took Lio's hand and led him toward the bedroom.