ALWAYS (A Wolfe Brothers Novel) Read online

  Outside, a door slammed. Cam brushed the blue drapes aside and peered out the bay window. Jags waved as he circled his truck and approached the door.

  Fuck!

  Without knocking, Jags strode through. He crouched beside the recliner and rubbed Gramps’ balding head.

  Gramps rubbed his eyes and stretched. He frowned. “Cam?”

  “Try again.”

  “Ajay?”

  “Nope.”

  Gasping, Gramps covered his mouth. “Jags!” He opened his arms and they embraced.

  Cam entered the kitchen. Jags followed.

  Cam leaned against the counter and crossed his ankles and arms. “Why are you back?”

  Jags opened the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. He set the bottle on the table and straddled a chair backwards.

  Cam downed his beer. “So it’s six. What’re you doing here?”

  Jags lifted his bottle and nodded. “Cheers.” He sipped his beer.

  A quiet knock resounded.

  The chair scraped on the tile floor as Jags jumped to his feet. He jogged through the dimly-lit living room and opened the front door. “Tilly.”

  “Hello.” She slid a folder from under her arm. “I brought references.”

  Jags waved the folder away. He swept his arm across his chest, stepped aside and bowed. “Come in.”

  “Thank you.”

  Jags guided her into the kitchen. “Cam. I believe you know Tilly. She’s a nurse.” Jags sported a wide grin.

  Cam narrowed his eyes at Jags.

  Tilly sat on one of the rusted metal chairs surrounding the card table. She flipped open the folder. “I have references.” She fanned the sheets across the table.

  Cam didn’t much like all that voodoo crap, but on the rare occasion, it did have its advantages. Jags’ empathic abilities trumped any reference she could produce. If Jags trusted her, so would he.

  Tilly said, “From what Jags told me about Gramps I think he and I will get along quite well. I just happen to love Chances Are.”

  Jags said, “She’ll come every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.”

  Cam grimaced. “On whose dime?”

  “Mine” Jags said. “She’s going to sit with him, make sure he doesn’t burn down the house and anything else you need. You just have to let her know. She’ll be here from six to eight. And what do you know? Today’s Wednesday.” He looked at his watch. “And it’s 5:57.”

  Cam jumped from his chair. He grabbed Jags by the scruff of his shirt and held him against the wall. “Swear to me you can afford this.”

  Jags brushed his hand away and clapped Cam on the shoulder. “I swear. Now let’s go get drunk.” Jags gripped Tilly’s hand. “Where’s my manners? Nice to see you again.”

  When she tugged from his grasp and failed, Cam bopped Jags on the head. “Do you have to do that to everybody?”

  Jags let go of her hand and stepped backwards. Tears streamed down his cheeks. Curling his fingers in front of his lips, he bit into his knuckle. “Please God, no.”

  Tilly frowned. “What did you see?”

  Jags shook his head. More tears fell. “I’m so sorry.”

  Tilly tucked a lock of her short blond hair behind her ear. “I can handle it. Tell me.”

  Jags shook his head.

  She grimaced. “Does something terrible happen to me or Nate?”

  Jags shook his head. Red, swollen eyes narrowed on her.

  “The triplets?”

  “Who're the triplets?” Cam asked.

  “Nate’s younger brothers.” Tilly said without taking her eyes off Jags. “Does something happen to the triplets?”

  Jags shook his head.

  “Nate’s sister?”

  Jags shook his head.

  “My sister, my parents, Nate’s parents.” With a frustrated groan she gripped his arms and shook him. “Tell me, dammit!”

  “I won’t.”

  Tilly took a deep breath. When she glanced toward Cam he offered her a small smile. He felt for her but Cam was used to Jags’ stubbornness. Jags rarely revealed what he saw in his visions and nobody knew why; just the way he’d always been.

  “We’ll go have a beer,” Cam said.

  Nodding, Jags lifted his T-shirt and wiped his tears.

  Cam tilted his head toward the living room. “Have a seat, Tilly. Got some things to go over with you.”

  With a forced smile she followed Cam and sat on the faded blue sofa. From the end table, he picked up the notebook where he’d jotted down Gramps’ quirks and how to deal with them. He also listed Gramps’ medications, when and how much to administer and possible side effects.

  Halfway through the notes, Cam noticed Jags peering through the curtain of the living room window then glance at his watch. He’d grown impatient but Cam didn’t give a shit.

  Jags probably thought he was overprotective when it came to Gramps and maybe he was but he had no plans on changing.

  Two steps down the walkway, Jags turned and went back to the house. He cracked the door. “The vision had nothing to do with any of your or Nate’s living relatives. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more but does knowing that much make you feel better?”

  She gave him a small smile. “I suppose so.”

  “The future cannot be changed. Worrying about it will only waste energy and time.”

  “I understand but it’ll be hard not to think about it.”

  “Can you at least promise you’ll try?”

  She grimaced. “Sure thing.”

  Chapter Five

  Two nights ago, Maggie had woken from a nightmare, a gory visual of a bullet exploding through Cam’s head. She had sat up and wrapped her arms round her waist, desperate to rid her body of a tortuous chill. Her body, slick with sweat, had shivered from the cold consuming her. Even her teeth chattered.

  Fourteen years ago, her uncle had killed himself and her father still mourned the loss. She didn’t know Jags or Cam well, but if she could spare another family the grief her family still suffered, she’d do almost anything.

  After her vivid nightmare, Maggie talked to Tilly and found out she could help Cam in two ways. For the first, she’d need her father’s help. The second required seduction, an art she’d mastered long ago.

  Maggie entered the spacious home office. A rectangular maroon rug covered most of the walnut laminate flooring. On the wall behind the desk hung a portrait of their family dog, Jimmy, the sweetest cocker spaniel ever born on this planet. He died last year of old age. His custom-made dog house remained by the back door under the overhang.

  “Daddy?” She circled the mahogany desk, her fingertips gliding along the dark wood.

  “Uh oh.” He pushed from his desk and swiveled toward her. “You only call me Daddy when you need something or you’re in trouble. Which is it?”

  She walked behind the distinguished gray-haired man and dropped into an oversized leather seat opposite her father. “Busted.”

  He rolled his chair back to the desk. “Spit it out.”

  “You know the old Copper Creek place?”

  “The abandoned restaurant off Highway 105?”

  “I need it rezoned.”

  “Why?” he asked.

  “The person who bought it can’t get the permits needed for repairs because it’s zoned as a historical building.”

  He palmed his forehead. “I miss the days when all you asked for was money.”

  Maggie rolled her eyes. “Can you do it or not?”

  He clasped his hands on top of the desk, a silver thick ring on each hand, one high school, one college. “Tell me about this friend.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “For starters, his name.”

  She frowned. “Why do you assume my friend’s a man?”

  He gave her a sidelong look.

  “Fine.” Maggie sighed. “It’s a man.”

  “Now that we’ve established the gender of said person, how about a name?” He slid a narrow drawer open and retrie
ved a black marbled notebook and matching pen. He fanned the pages and tore out a clean sheet. Pen in hand, he said, “Name.”

  She gasped. “Shit.”

  He scribbled ‘Shit’ and peered at her. “Does Shit have a last name?”

  “That’s the problem.” She groaned. “I forgot to ask Jags what his last name was.”

  Rocking back in the executive chair, he dropped the pen. “Not exactly what a father likes to hear from his daughter.”

  She didn’t have the best reputation in town, and until now, hadn’t realized her father knew it too.

  “And what the heck is a Jags?” he asked

  “He’s Cam’s stepbrother, the one who needs Copper Creek rezoned.”

  “And this Cam is?” He arched his brows.

  “A friend.”

  His brows furrowed. “Is he gay?”

  “No.” She clucked her tongue. “I barely know him. He’s a friend of a friend.”

  “Let me get this straight. You want me to rezone said property for a man who is a friend of a friend?”

  “Can you help or not?”

  “Under one condition.” Pointing a finger, he said, “Get a job.”

  “Not this again.”

  “You can’t live off me the rest of your life. You’re twenty-four. It’s time to grow up. Do we have a deal or not?”

  Glancing down, she noticed the leather band on one of her green sandals had a tear. She’d have to go to the mall today and get a new pair. Hopefully, they still carried this style.

  “Yeah, deal,” she said, her focus still on her sandal.

  “I want proof that you’ve sent your resume out. That means if you get a letter from a company regarding your resume, good or bad, I want to see it.”

  “Okay.” She looked up and absorbed the disappointment painted in her father’s eyes. “So you’ll help Cam.”

  He swiveled toward his monitor. “Only because the place is an eyesore and I’d like to see it restored.”

  Maggie skipped around the desk and from behind hugged him. “Thank you, Daddy. Thank you.”

  “I’m not making any promises.” His words blurred against her arm.

  “One more thing.”

  He swiveled toward her. “How much?”

  “A thousand should do it.”

  He turned back to his keyboard. “I’ll have it wired this afternoon.”

  She kissed him on the cheek and quietly stepped toward the hallway. Pausing in the threshold, she said, “You’re the best.”

  He waved her on. “Yeah. Yeah. Don’t get all mushy on me.”

  She hid a smile. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

  # # #

  From the portable dispenser, Rane poured himself a cup of water and sat in the same seat as yesterday. The same people filled the room. Jewel wasn’t late but was still one of the last to arrive.

  Her red short-sleeve sweater cut low across her chest. Her black skirt stopped just above her knees and hugged her round ass.

  Brisket that had probably been boiled in grease, mushy potato salad, wilted coleslaw, and stringy green beans were brought in for lunch. Decadent chocolate cake smothered in whipped chocolate frosting was offered for dessert.

  Rane waited for everyone to pass through the line before he approached the long table.

  At the end of the day he rushed to his car. Gripping the wheel, his knuckles white, he waited. When Jewel exited the building, he started the engine. As she drove from the parking lot, he shifted to drive.

  My sweet, let’s go home.

  # # #

  Cam stood in the corner of the dark living room, hiding in the shadows.

  Jags burst through the front door. “Hey Gramps.” His almond carpenter pants hung loose.

  Damn! Cam silently vowed to put some weight on that boy.

  On the front of Jags’ shirt a large eye winked and above was written I’m not wearing any undies. A silver loop earring dangled in one ear and a silver stud in the other.

  Jags kissed Gramps on the top of his head. “Where’s Cam?”

  “Who’s Cam?” Strings of gray resembling guitar strings crossed over Gramps’ head.

  “The miserable SOB who makes you the to-die-for smoothies.”

  “Oh, Cam.” Gramps frowned. “Who are you?”

  He kissed the top of Gramps head again. “Someone who loves you.”

  “Jags!”

  “Gramps!” They hugged.

  “Did you bring me any cigarettes?” Gramps asked.

  “You don’t smoke.”

  “I don’t?”

  “No. But you’ve been smoking, haven’t you?”

  Gramps sighed. “What gave me away?”

  “I can smell it an ocean away. Who’s getting them for you?”

  “I don’t remember.”

  Cam stepped from the shadows and walked toward the kitchen.

  “I need to talk to you,” Jags said.

  Cam groaned.

  “I know,” Jags said. “I used the four-letter word you hate so much.”

  Cam leaned against the counter, a bottle of beer in his hand. “It’s only 12:15 so you’re not here to go out drinking. You must’ve had another vision. I’m not interested. I don’t care if you saw the President of United States being eaten alive by giant beetles.” He took an angry swig of his beer.

  “The first time I touched Maggie I had a vision of you and her at Critters. You had a man pinned to the wall. And you were pissed as hell.”

  “You hardly ever tell me about your visions. Why now?”

  “I also saw Maggie hiking with a little girl. They get hurt real bad. I want you to take her hiking and teach her the basics.”

  Cam took another swig. “What for? The future can’t be changed. You said so yourself.”

  “There’s more to this than you know. Just trust me.”

  “Why don’t you take her hiking?”

  “Because I don’t think Lori would appreciate it,” Jags said.

  “You’ve been dating for a week. Give me a break.”

  His brother dated a lot of women but never got serious with any of them, as to why, Cam had no clue. Jags was sensitive and kind and Cam was sure he’d make some woman very happy. Why hadn’t Jags let himself get close to any of the many women he dated? At least he wasn’t like his other brother Ajay, who would donate a kidney if it meant he’d get laid.

  “This screams setup,” Cam said.

  “She did help you.”

  “Help me?”

  A slow smile formed on Jags’ face. “Any news on the rezoning quest?”

  “My lawyer called yesterday. My petition finally went through.” Cam smirked. “But something tells me you already knew that.”

  Jags opened the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. He plunked down at the table, popped the cap and sipped his beer. “Maggie’s father is Mayor Stewart. I told her about my vision and that if she’d talk to her father on your behalf, you’d teach her to hike.”

  A burst of heat swept over Cam’s body. Sweat bubbled on his forehead. His hands trembled. He forced back the rage and growled, “Why did you do that when you know I can’t leave Gramps alone?”

  Jags popped from his chair and leaned against the counter beside Cam. Shoving an elbow into Cam’s side, he said, “Take Maggie hiking. A couple of days doing something you love to do anyway. What’s the worst that can happen?”

  “Do I really have to answer that? What about my waking nightmares?”

  “Separate tents,” Jags said.

  Gramps, Ajay, Dad and he were pawns Jags used to contort life to his musings. Cam would die for Jags without a second’s pause, but his tireless pursuit to mold Cam’s life was positively fucking frustrating.

  “Listen,” Jags said. “Write down everything I need to know about Gramps. I promise I’ll follow your instructions to the letter. If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll ask Dad to help out.”

  Cam couldn’t remember the last time he hadn’t succumbed to Jags’ whims. For w
hatever reason, he just couldn’t say no to him, but he took comfort in knowing most people had the same affliction when confronted with his unwavering tactics.

  “I don’t want you bothering Dad.” Cam’s knuckles curved under his chin. “I’ll think about it.”

  “Okay.”

  “That’s code for I’ll come back to haunt you if you don’t do it.”

  “Save us both the time and just do it.” Jags opened a drawer, fished out a pen and wrote on Cam’s forearm. “That’s her cell number.”

  Cam turned. With his hands braced on either side of the stainless steel sink, he hung his head. “I hate you.” He spoke the words even and slow.

  “I love you.” Jags clapped Cam on the back. “Brothers.”

  Cam groaned. “Fuck off.”

  # # #

  Cam emptied the dryer, folded the clothes and put them away. After playing poker all afternoon with Gramps, he made a peanut butter and banana sandwich and set it on the tray.

  His cell phone rang. “Yup.”

  “Cam?”

  “Yup. Who’s this?”

  “Maggie. We met last weekend. You remember? The day you tried to shoot your head off.”

  He scowled at the phone and brought it back to his ear. “How the hell did you get this number?”

  “Jags,” Maggie said. “He said he had a vision of me getting hurt and I should learn to hike and that you would teach me.”

  Cam rolled his head and cracked his neck. His stomach churned. Heat coursed through his body. Pain drummed behind his eyes, giving him the mother of all migraines.” Jags was mistaken.” Cam grabbed a bottle of beer from the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. “Hello?”

  “I could have those permits revoked.”

  His hands, damp with perspiration, shook as he popped the cap. “You bi—”

  “Don’t say it.”

  Cam chugged his beer as he crossed the room and sank onto the sofa. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate what you did. I don’t know what Jags told you but I’m not an expert hiker. You should hire somebody who is. And I can’t leave my grandfather alone.”

  “You had no problem leaving him alone last weekend. And that’s not the only reason I want you to take me hiking. I thought maybe we could be friends.”

  For the first time in a long while, Cam considered the possibility death might not be the only option. Running his restaurant would be distracting and a good avenue to vent some of his unwarranted and unreasonable anger.