Page 2 of Keeping Kyler
Brad stalks toward me, anger reflected in his eyes. “And how the fuck was I supposed to stop him?” His boot nudges the tip of my shoe.
“You could’ve come and told us straightaway. Given us a chance to stop him!”
“Why, Faye? Why would you try and stop him when you know as well as I do what this type of revelation is doing to him?”
“And that’s exactly why he shouldn’t be alone right now!” I yell.
Brad shakes his head. “This is what he does, Faye. He retreats into his shell and hides away to lick his wounds. This is no different. You’ve got to let him fix this shit on his own.”
“No.” My voice booms around the room. “He’s been left to deal with too much on his own in the past. It’s up to the people who love him to show him there’s a different way.I love him, and I’m going to be there for him. I’m going to put my arms around him and hold him while he’s processing everything, and when he’s ready to talk I’ll be right beside him prepared to listen.”
Kal rests his chin on my shoulder. “And that is why you are so perfect for him.”
Brad’s face has fallen, and he looks away. “Fine,” he says a couple of seconds later in a quiet voice. “Let’s split up and see if we can locate him. He hasn’t had too much of a head start.”
“Did you speak to Keven?” I twist around to face Kal. My eldest cousins had only left a couple of hours ago to return to Harvard.
“Yes, but it won’t help. It looks like Ky’s ditched his cell.”
“Aw, dammit!” I was hoping Keven could use the tracking device on his phone to pinpoint his exact location. The only other option we have right now is to drive around in the hope that we might find him somewhere. He can’t have gone too far this time of night, and my best guess is that he’s found a hotel to crash in. “Did he contact him or Kaden?”
“Nope.” Kal effortlessly lifts my bag as well as his own. “But Keven said he’d call us the second he does.”
“Okay. Let’s do this.” I stride toward the door with the boys trailing behind me. We tiptoe along the corridor, trying to minimize noise so we can sneak past the mezzanine stairs to the kitchen and out to the garage. I doubt Alex and James would approve of our plan, and I don’t intend to let anyone stand in our way. The longer Ky is out there alone, the less likely we are to find him. Time is of the essence.
We are just creeping across the lobby when James’s deep voice bellows out. “And where do you think you’re going?”
I bite out a curse as I slowly turn around, prepared to put up the mother of all fights. “We’re going out to look for him, and don’t try to stop us because there’s nothing you can say that’ll keep us here.”
“I know where he is.”
My mouth is already open in protest before his words register in my brain. “Wait. What? What do you know? Tell me.” I race up the stairs, meeting him on the small landing outside his study.
James looks at Kalvin and then back at me. His mouth pulls into a grim line. “You told him?”
“I had to. I needed his help.” I look my uncle square in the eye, refusing to apologize for something I don’t regret.
“I specifically asked you not to tell anyone. I’m not happy about this, Faye.”
“Dad,” Kal pipes up from the foot of the stairs. His tone is uncharacteristically soft. “You can’t expect to keep something like this quiet. We have a right to know—this impacts everyone.”
James exhales, and raw emotion is etched across his face. He’s hurting too badly to even attempt to disguise it. “I know that, son, but I was hoping to speak to Kyler first.”
Kal comes up the stairs, stopping alongside me. His hand moves to my lower back. “He’ll be okay, Dad. He’s strong, and he’s not stupid. It’s obviously a massive shock. He’ll come back.”
James gulps, and his tormented expression doesn’t waver. “I’ve just spoken with Kaden. He’s in Harvard with them.”
My eyes narrow suspiciously as I turn around and eyeball Kal. One of my cousins is lying but I’m not sure which one. Kal’s eyes dart wide in genuine surprise, and I have my answer. “I’m going over there.” I have only taken one step when James tugs on my elbow.
“Not tonight, sweetheart.”
“I need to see him.”
He kisses the top of my head. “It’s late. You can see him in the morning. I think he needs to talk to his brothers.”
I know I’m being irrational, that it’s completely natural for Ky to want to speak to Kaden and Keven, but I can’t help feeling dejected because he hasn’t sought to confide in me.Isthat why Keven lied to Kal just now? Because Ky asked him to?“Okay,” I answer meekly, shucking out of his hold. “I’m going to head to bed.”
I take my bag from Kal and walk toward my bedroom. “Are you okay?” Brad asks, as my fingers curl around the door handle.
