Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
He softened a bit, their shared childhood sitting between them. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you behind. Like I said, I needed to figure a few things out. I drifted for a while.”
“You played around for a couple of years and then the best job in the world dropped in your bloody lap. You moved to London, found a new best friend, and didn’t call again until you needed old Alfi to help you out, check in on a girl.”
“So this was payback.” He could believe that of Alfi. If he thought he’d been betrayed, he would look for revenge.
“No. It was desperation. It was… I’m not a good man, but I wanted to be around her. I liked her. I liked how selfless she was. She cared about the people around her. She gave them everything she had. And she could use me,” he pointed out. “She needed security, especially when she leaves the clinic and goes out into rural areas. She needs someone looking out for her, making sure she don’t get hurt. I didn’t see why that couldn’t be me.”
“Because she loves me. Alfi, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you alone like that. I got caught up in a new life and London was far away. I think I needed it at the time.” Was he going to be happy leaving London? Could he live the rest of his life running around Africa? Never having a real home? How would they raise Nate? Would they be able to have other kids?
If he had his way, he would raise them in Chelsea. Close to his friends, who’d somehow become his family. He would buy a townhouse, one close to his work and a park. He would take his kids to museums and historical sites. He would take them with him sometimes when he traveled so they could see the world.
He would take them home to visit his mum and stepdad.
He wanted roots. He craved them, but he would give it all up if she would say yes. He would find a way to make it work.
“Well, she didn’t want me. Never did. I tried everything I could, but none of it worked. Like I said, she wanted you.”
Did she still? Oh, he knew she wanted him in bed, and that was what he had to build on. “You had no right to keep Nate from me. I would never have done that to you. Not for anything.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not the perfect one, am I?” The kettle started to squeal and he turned again, pouring out the boiling water. “If the shoe had been on the other foot, I’m sure you would be married to the lady by now.”
“Why did you come here? You seemed to be having fun the other night when we talked.”
Alfi shook his head. “I wasn’t. I was in Berlin. I was a bit pissed that night. I’m afraid I indulged in wine, women, and song after my meeting with those bastards. You know when you think of big, bad mercenaries, you don’t think of bloody Belgians. Shouldn’t they have been picking tulips or some shit?”
“You knew who they were? Where they’re from? You didn’t bother to tell me?”
Alfi set a mug in front of him, shaking his head. “Like I said, I was a bit on the drunk side, and I still couldn’t believe it had happened. One minute I was talking to Steph, the next I had a gun at my head and they were going to shoot her. Why couldn’t she have told the arseholes that the doc was out of town? Why couldn’t she play dumb? We might have gotten out of it.”
“She would never do that. She certainly wouldn’t do it if she thought for a second someone’s life was on the line. That’s not who she is.”
Alfi popped two tea bags in the hot water and placed one in front of Brody. This was the civility they’d been taught. Tea cured all ills. “She has to think of the boy now. She has to have a sense of self-preservation. I damn near had a heart attack when she stepped up, pretty as you please, and said ‘I’m the doctor.’”
A bit of unwelcome sympathy reared its head. He could see Alfi falling for her, maybe should have expected it. He’d also thought that their friendship would let Alfi know Steph was off limits, but then Alfi didn’t believe in things like rules. Perhaps his chaotic childhood had taught him something different. “I can see that. I watched her run into the middle of a skirmish between government and rebel forces once. I was sure she was going to die. She doesn’t value her own life.”
“Because of what happened when she was a kid?” Alfi asked.
Brody nodded and hated the way his spine was easing. It felt good to be with Alfi. They’d known each other so long that it felt right to be sitting here with him and discussing Steph.