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Epilogue--Cade
Huling Na-update:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Jaden hops down from the cabinet and scoops her finger into the cake icing and licks it. I'm immeditely ready to bend her over the sink and have my way with her. She screams when I pick her up and carry her toward our bedroom.
But I stop when someone knocks on the front door. "Someone is looking out for you," I mumble.
She giggles and waits for me to answer the door. Adam is standing on the other side. He looks good, like a different person from the last time I saw him. It's only been a few months, but it feels like years.
"Hey. Can I come in?" he asks.
I open the door wider and let him inside. Jaden comes running out a few minutes later, and stops cold. Her gaze moves from his to mine. I can't read her face.
"Jaden," Adam says. "I wanted to come over and talk to you about ... everything."
She plays with a string on the end of her cutoff jean shorts. "Okay, yeah."
Adam sits down on the edg
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My Brother's Best Friend Chapter One - Jaden
“Are you listening to me, Jaden?” No, not really. I stopped years ago. My father’s BMW grinds to a halt in front of my brother’s apartment building, or should I say my apartment building. God, this is going to suck. My freshman year of college, and I’m being forced to live with my older brother. Dad wants me to be safe. He says Adam can show me the ropes and make sure I’m hanging out with the right group of friends. If only that were the case. The truth is, I have no friends, and Dad wants to make sure I’ll be around other human beings instead of locking myself in my room with no social interaction. I'm sure others make it fine in life without being forced into social situations that make them uncomfortable. He won’t have anyone to watch over me if I stay in a dorm room. What’s he going to do pay my roommate to hang out with me? With my brother being a social butterfly, I’ll be exposed to people my age. What Dad forgets—or decides to ignore—is that I’m going to be surrounded by
My Brother's Best Friend Chapter Two- Cade
“I’m guessing Sadie went home?” Adam asks from the recliner. I tip back my beer, letting the liquor scorch down my throat. Then I take a slice of pizza from the box on the living room table. “Yeah, she showed me a pretty good time, too.” Adam laughs. “I heard she was good. I’m glad she lives up to her reputation.” I nod and inhale my pizza. I’m starving. “Just like I like ‘em.” Adam grabs the remote and turns the game down. “Hey,” he says, turning to rest his elbows on his knees. “What do you think about my sister?” What a loaded question. She wouldn’t even look at me once she walked inside. Basically ran from the room the first shot she got. I saw her looking at me out in the hallway. Just like my eyes had taken off all of those expensive clothes Daddy bought her. She’s hot … in a fresh-out-of-high-school kind of way. Not that I would ever do anything about it. Adam is my friend and that would cause too much drama. I'm not about drama. Plus, she's cute but too innocent for my t
My Brother's Best Friend Chapter Three- Jaden
My stomach feels nauseated and bile rises up my throat. My head presses against the side of the toilet, and I curl up like a snake. The sad thing is that I don’t know if I’m sick because I’m so nervous or if it’s because I vomit regularly from my medication. I’m surprised I didn’t see death on the warning label. She isn’t going to be there, I tell myself. She’s off to college in Florida—a long ways from Utah. Never to be heard from again … hopefully. And yet a huge cloud of despair hangs over me. I shouldn’t let my high-school experience ruin college, but I can’t stop myself from thinking what if? What if someone worse than Selena starts with me? What if my reputation has made it all the way to the university? What if I’m ostracized like before? I wouldn’t be surprised. It seems everyone knows about it. About my … past. My life. My issues. A burning lump travels up my throat, and I dry heave into the toilet. God, how pathetic. I barley slept last night. I laid in bed, staring at th
My Brother's Best Friend Chapter Four- Cade
Jaden shuts the door behind her with a loud thud. She’d been crying, sobbing. What am I supposed to do? Go after her? I turn to go after her, but stop. I don’t know what to say to her. She doesn’t tell me anything when I ask. Growling, I roll my neck and grab my keys. I have to be at the garage in fifteen minutes. I don't have time to babysit some eighteen-year-old spoiled brat. Locking the door, I take the steps two at a time. My pickup is parked at the other end. It looks ridiculous with all of the expensive cars surrounding it. It’s rusted, beat-up, and old. But it's mine and she's been through it all with me. I bought it with my first job mowing grass when I was fifteen, and I worked hard to get her running. Those are the best vehicles, the old ones that purr when you start the engine, and take time to warm up. The ones that you have to fix with your own hands. I race toward her, sliding against the gravel, sling the door open, and burn rubber o
My Brother's Best Friend Chapter Five - Cade
I’m wasted. My vision is blurry, my feet won’t stay still. Am I even moving them? I’m laughing hysterically at something, but I have no idea what it is. I had one too many beers tonight and my body feels numb. A great pain-free numb. It's a relief from the weight I carry around normally. My phone keeps vibrating in my pocket, but I press the ignore button. Or at least I think I do. Whoever it is can wait. My keys drop from my hand, and I stoop down to scoop them up. The bouncer yells something at me, but I wave as I get into my pickup and start the engine. I just need to get back to my apartment and go to sleep. I’m going to feel this tomorrow. I maybe young, but I'm not eighteen fresh out of college young anymore. Plus I can't remember the last time I drank like this. So this is what it feels like to get another year older. I take the back road toward the apartment building and drive ten miles per hour. I don’t have a death wish. I concentr
My Brother's Best Friend Chapter Six- Jaden
“Can I please just switch to another class?” God, I’m groveling like a child. My advisor is glaring at her computer over her coke-bottle glasses. Her mousy hair pulled back with a bright purple ’90s hairband. “Ms. Baker, there isn’t anything I can do. You need Intro to Journalism as an elective, and it is offered at another time but not one that fits your schedule. Unless you want to rearrange your entire schedule. But I advise against that.” She blows her bangs up, placing her interlaced fingers on the desk. I have to get out of that class. It may just be a semester, but I’d do anything to avoid Satan for a semester. I hate myself for even considering it, but I say it anyway. “What if I change my major?” Mrs. Kate’s does little to hide the shock on her face. Shame hits me like a hammer to the chest and I drop my eyes down to my lap. How pathetic am I? I would change my entire life's plan to avoid Selena. The fear she’s created inside of me w
My Brother's Best Friend Chapter Seven - Jaden
“I can’t come get you today. Eric is having surgery on his collarbone. Darn boy went and broke it in football. I wish I had girls,” Nancy sighs. Hearing her voice almost sends me into a fit of tears. “It’s okay, Nancy. I’ll get someone to take me.” “How are things?” “Okay,” I lie. “Did you forget who you were talking to, girlie?” I smile into the phone and sit on the edge of my bed, watching my feet sway over the carpet. I know she knows me better than anyone. I've never been a good liar anyway. “I love my room,” I change the subject. “I knew you would. It took me five stores to find that Paris picture.” I glance above my desk at the huge Eiffel tower. “It’s gorgeous. I can’t wait to go. I’ve almost saved enough from taking out tiny portions from my allowance from Dad. I’m thinking summer in Paris.” Alone. All alone. Alone in Paris. Those words do not fit together, and make me feel even more alone than before. She laugh
My Brother's Best Friend Chapter Eight - Jaden
There are at least fifty people crammed into our apartment. Probably more. Will wraps his arm around my waist, guiding me toward the kitchen. My brother is standing in front of the keg, helping hold a guy upside down. They’re all shouting Chug! Chug! Chug! When Adam drops him, he stumbles against the cabinet and laughs hysterically. It's straight out of some lame college movie. “Hey! There’s my sister! My sister is here!” Adam screams, running toward me and pulling me to his side. “You having fun?” he screams over the music, leaning down to my ear. The smell of alcohol on his breath hits me hard, and I push against his chest. “Get your nasty beer breath off of me.” Will laughs and wraps his arm around my shoulder, pushing Adam out of the way. Adam doesn’t even think twice before jumping back over to the keg. I know he’s drunk if he’s letting Will put his arm around me. But I don’t think about it. My second drink is starting to make
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My Brother's Best Friend Epilogue--Cade
Jaden hops down from the cabinet and scoops her finger into the cake icing and licks it. I'm immeditely ready to bend her over the sink and have my way with her. She screams when I pick her up and carry her toward our bedroom. But I stop when someone knocks on the front door. "Someone is looking out for you," I mumble. She giggles and waits for me to answer the door. Adam is standing on the other side. He looks good, like a different person from the last time I saw him. It's only been a few months, but it feels like years. "Hey. Can I come in?" he asks. I open the door wider and let him inside. Jaden comes running out a few minutes later, and stops cold. Her gaze moves from his to mine. I can't read her face. "Jaden," Adam says. "I wanted to come over and talk to you about ... everything." She plays with a string on the end of her cutoff jean shorts. "Okay, yeah." Adam sits down on the edg
My Brother's Best Friend Chapter Forty-Two--Jaden
Cade has been asleep for over ten hours. He's beaten down and tired. His knuckles are bloody and he looks like a corpse. I had no idea of Cade's plans to catch Dan. But I was glad he came out alive, and it was over. Although, by the look on his face the night before, I wasn't sure it was over. He looked haunted. The tears on his face surprised me. What all had he kept inside of himself for all these years? I cook us breakfast, and bring it to him in bed the next morning. He stirs for a moment before sitting up and rubbing the palm of his hand against his eyes. His dark gaze meets mine and I swallow my anxiety. "Good morning," I say. "I made us breakfast." "Do you need a ride to school?" "I wrote my teachers and told them I was sick. I'll be out this week." He scoots up and brings the tray onto his lap. "You don't have to watch me like I'm a kid, Jaden. I'll be fine." I shrug. "I want to be here w
My Brother's Best Friend Chapter Forty-One--Cade
Johnny shuts his office door and gestures for me to take a seat. It's been one hell of a week to say the least. After everything Jaden dropped on me the day before, I couldn't drag her into this anymore. She's been through enough, so I decided to drop her off at school and talk to Johnny alone. He sits down across from me. "It was a good idea to leave Jaden behind. She's a great girl, but I would hate myself if something happened to her." "Me too. I'm already beating myself up because she was kidnapped by my own dad. She's been through a lot ... and she doesn't need anything else on her." Johnny leans forward. "Are you sure you want to do this, Cade? Dan is going to be cornered and I don't know how he will respond." I run my palm down my face and then pick at a random string on my jeans. "I'm sure. I need to find out why he is doing this." "I had to pull some major strings to get you approved to do this. You're really okay
My Brother's Best Friend Chapter-Forty--Jaden
I don't want to do this, but Cade is on a mission, and I'm beginning to think it's a suicidal one. I've never seen someone so determined to find a person that could kill them. Johnny follows behind us in an undercover SUV, while I'm led blindly into the lion's den. Cade's fingers tighten around the steering wheel, and I trace his tattoos with my gaze. How I would love to just have some alone time with him, without all our problems looming over us. "What are you going to do when we get there, Cade?" I ask, trying to keep my irritation out of my voice. I don't want to be mad at him, because I know it's important, but I want to be finished with this. Cade glances over at me. "I'm going to walk in, ask for Henry, and make him tell me." "Okay," I say. "What about after that? Are you going to chase down some criminal?" He reaches over and runs his fingers against my thigh. "What's the matter, Jaden?" I hold back my emotions and my b
My Brother's Best Friend Chapter Thirty-Nine--Cade
I press my mouth against Jaden's forehead, and close my eyes. And to think, I thought she had drama when we first got together. This has taken us both down a rabbit hole that is slowly sucking the life out of me. I want this to be finished, but it can't until I take down Dan. To think I've been working for my uncle this entire time, and for him to wear a mask every day, and me not ever see him slip? It feels unreal to me. Jaden shoves against my chest with her palms, and looks at me. The crap I've put this girl through makes my stomach sick. My own dad took her for ransom, which tells me that Dan and Dad are into more than just pimping out women, they sell drugs. And I know who I need to talk to—Adam. That's if I can get to him. Someone bangs on the door thirty minutes after we get home. Jaden gets up, and gives me a look over her shoulder when she looks through the peep hole. "It's my dad." I gesture for her to open the door.
My Brother's Best Friend Chapter Thirty-Eight--Jaden
The warehouse is set back from the main road, hidden underneath shrubbery and years of overgrowth. The wind rattles the doors against the side of the building, and it sends chills up my spine. The windows are far gone with ripped plastic swaying from where someone tried to patch them up. It looks like an abandoned packaging plant with rusted equipment and aged boxes littering the concrete floor. Damien forces me into the threshold and ushers me toward a chilled metal chair. I sit down, watching as he makes himself comfortable on top of a conveyor belt, and takes out his cell phone. After several silent minutes, he glances up at me. "I’m calling your Dad. I'll ask for my money, and you'll confirm I have you with me, and if you try anything, I'll not only kill you, but I'll knock off that goofy brother of yours. He should be here, not you, but that's not how it happened." Speaking of brothers. I wanted to choke Adam. He caused all of this. Doing drugs? Going in
My Brother's Best Friend Chapter Thirty-Seven-Cade
I've never felt fear like this. My body feels numb, I don't know what to think—what to do—and my head is spinning. When Johnny rolls up with three other officers, I don't feel relieved, because we have nothing to go on. I've texted her twice, and I do it again when Johnny pulls up. He eyes my cell phone. "Are you texting her?" I nod. He takes my phone and curses while he scrolls through them. "Don't text her again. Whoever has her can intercept the messages, Cade. Now they know we're onto them." I'm so stupid. But I'm not thinking clearly. My Jaden is in trouble. I hate myself for getting her into this mess. Angry tears threaten my eyes, and I turn and hit the side of the building until I see blood smeared against the siding. Johnny grabs my shoulders and turns me around. "Calm down. We traced the signal of her cell phone to the garage, but it went dead. I'm sure they left it. That means whoever it is knows thei
My Brother's Best Friend Chapter Thirty-Six-Jaden
The sound of crickets wake me. It's too loud for it to be from outside, and it shakes me to the bone. A door or window must be open, and I can't imagine why Cade would do that in the middle of the night. I reach over to feel for him, but he isn't there. I swallow my insecurities and sit up on my elbows, giving my eyes time to adjust to the room. Nothing stands out at first, and I feel myself relax. I slide my feet from the covers, and tiptoe toward the light. I flip the switch and walk to the kitchen. "Cade?" I say. No one answers. I swallow my nerves, and walk back to the bedroom to check in the bathroom. He isn't in there either. I walk back into our room, searching for my phone in the covers, and catch a glimpse of movement in the mirror beside our bed. A sound I've never made releases from me, and I turn around in time for something to cover my face. Survival kicks in, and I swing my arms wildly, kicking and screaming, but my voice is muffled.
My Brother's Best Friend Chapter Thirty-Five-Cade
I trace Jaden's perfect form from underneath the thin sheet in our bed. I haven't been able to close my eyes since we crawled under the covers an hour ago. My mind races with scenarios. Is Dan really behind this? Johnny? I don't want to believe he could do something like this. Why? What does he get out of it? He lives in an average house with an average truck. I can't image it being money, unless he stashes it away for a rainy day. I groan, throw the covers off me, and walk to the kitchen. The clock reads eleven pm, and I listen as I sip my water at the thin hand counting down the seconds. The idea of going back to bed fades from my grasp, and I find myself getting dressed and putting on a pair of boots. I leave Jaden asleep in the bed where she needs to be. I feel safe knowing she doesn't have a way to leave the house in case she does wake up, which she probably won't, since she sleeps like the dead. I drive toward Dan's house, drummin
