When Rick didn’t wait for the click, Alexia knew he hadn’t doubted the sentient—hadn’t doubted Trent—not even for an instant. Instead, he threw himself against the door, yanked the nearest enforcer against himself for protection, and drew the man’s weapon, firing on Belker and David. Belker dove behind his boss, allowing David to take the fiery impact while Belker drew his own weapon and fired back at Rick from behind him. Another enforcer dashed for the riot gear and threw a shield to his leader, who let the old man’s body slump to the ground. Then using the shield for protection, Belker cowered behind it, unable to see through its opaque material to get a fix on Rick.
Rick kept firing, taking out a second enforcer while still holding the first one in place with his free hand, relying on the guy’s blast-proof vest for protection. The guy, of course, was dead by now, so only two remained, including Belker. And since they were both hiding behind blast shields, they couldn’t see what they were doing and their shots went wild, missing Rick entirely.
TJ had pulled Alexia close and was shielding her with his body, saying over and over, “Stay down. Rick has this.”
She would have complied if she hadn’t seen Belker’s shielded comrade struggling to put on a riot helmet equipped with a transparent visor. If he succeeded he could fire accurately on Rick, so she wriggled free, jumped to her feet, and brandished her two-fer.
“Get back!” Rick shouted.
TJ tackled her again, growling, “You’re distracting him for fuck’s sake!”
“I have a gun!” she told him, just as angrily. “I want to help.”
“You can’t.”
Then the double doors to the hallway began to creak. A sure sign they were opening. And TJ changed his strategy. “Give me the gun.”
Her mind went numb. If the two enforcers guarding the doors from the outside joined the battle, Rick was a dead man. Except Trent controlled the doors.
Didn’t he?
TJ was sitting up. Bleeding worse than ever from the strain of protecting Alexia. Trying to pry the two-fer from her grip. But she could already see Zeke Angelus through the narrow slit between the doors, so she told TJ huskily, “Stay down, crazy man. They’ve got this.”
Zeke didn’t exactly stride into view. It was more like a zombie walk, complete with the dragging of his back leg and the drooped shoulder as he moved his battered, bloody body closer to his prey.
Belker was still cowering behind his shield, safe from Rick for the moment. And he must have thought more enforcers were arriving, because he edged toward the wall where the riot helmets were stacked. He never even bothered turning toward the doors, leaving himself fully vulnerable from behind. Making it easy for Zeke to slither up to him, catch him in a chokehold, and then growl something in his ear before executing him with a sweeping slash of a blade to the throat.
Pirate style.
Rick must have found inspiration—or at least, a competitive urge—in Zeke’s success, because he blasted the remaining enforcer so relentlessly he went flying despite his helmet and shield.
And Zeke—barely half-alive—helped him finish the job, standing proudly by his side and firing down at the four fallen enforcers as though extinguishing a deadly forest fire.
Alexia’s legs were too weak to jump up and run to them, so she settled for saying in a proud, husky voice, “My heroes.” Then she gave TJ a loving smile. “You too.”
“Don’t say that. Not ever. I almost got you killed.”
“But after that, you saved me.” She cradled his head for a moment, then laid him on the cell floor. “Just relax. We’ll get you some help.”
Rick crossed over to her and pulled her to her feet. “Are you okay?”
“Are you?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks to the smuggler. And your brother.” He raised his voice. “Computer? We need medical assistance. Three wounded, all critical.”
“They are on their way,” the sentient assured him. “Is Captain Angelus alive?”
“Yeah but he’s in bad shape.”
“Oh!” Alexia hurried to Zeke, then had to laugh at his leering grin. “Be serious. You’re injured.”
“I’m never that injured.” His smile faded. “Tell Gabby I did good.”
“Tell her yourself,” she replied, pulling his head into her lap. One glance at his body told her the truth. His additional injuries from battling Red and Sampson, along with the two hallway guards, were brutal. And his old wounds had reopened. All in all, he was a wreck.
Carlos arrived with four assistants and several stretchers. He only paused for a micro-second before choosing David Seaton as the priority victim.
“Not him,” Rick barked. “Take Captain Angelus first. That’s an order. Right, TJ?”
“Right,” the younger Seaton agreed in a raspy, half-awake voice.
Carlos seemed perplexed but turned away from David, then did a double take when he spied Alexia. “You’re alive?”
“It’s a long story. Just save Captain Angelus. Please?”
When the nurse nodded, she scrambled to her feet and moved back to Rick. Wrapping her arms around his chest, she murmured, “Wow.”
“Yeah.” He hugged her close, then told the medical team, “TJ Seaton is your second priority. Leave the other one for last.”
The other one.
He was referring to David, and she couldn’t agree more. He could die or not die. Either way he presented complications for them. And for TJ.
But if he died from these battle wounds? Wasn’t that simple karma?
Carlos stood and told her quietly, “Captain Angelus is ready for transport.”
“Will he be okay?”
“Yes, I believe so. Mind if I look at TJ now?”
She sighed. They all still loved TJ, mostly because they only knew bits and pieces of what had transpired. And because they attributed the worst of it to David.
Thank God.
“Take good care of him. I love him like a brother.”
“We all do,” Carlos agreed. Then he asked warily, “Do you want us to let the father die?”
“No. Save him if you can. But he’s the last priority. Just like Captain Gage said.”
Carlos nodded, then moved into the cell to help his staff with TJ.
She knew she should at least check on David, lying there alone and suffering, but the thought made her cringe. Yes, he had been pivotal in realizing her father’s dreams. Trent’s dreams.
Because of that, she could almost forgive him for the way he had treated her.
But for the way he had treated his own son? For that, there could be no forgiveness. Not ever.
After strapping TJ to a second gurney, Carlos gave Alexia a thumbs-up signal and instructed one of the medics to take the patient to the infirmary. She wanted to follow after them, but Rick held her back, saying, “We need to talk.”
Surprised, she smiled wistfully. “Whatever you need, Captain.”
They watched in silence as David’s bloody body was lifted onto a third gurney. This time, Carlos winced and said, “We’ll do what we can. But it doesn’t look good.”
“Thank you,” Alexia said stiffly. She hated the way she felt at that moment. The way she wanted David Seaton to die in horrible agony. It wasn’t right. Wasn’t healthy. And yet, it came from so deep inside, she really couldn’t deny it. And so as Carlos took him away, she forced herself to watch.
To own it.
“Hey,” Rick said, his tone husky. “Remember me?”
“My cowboy?” She turned back to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him warmly. “You did it.”
“I had help.” He raised his voice. “Thanks, computer. Awesome job with the doors. Count of three, right? Brilliant.”
“I had confidence you would catch my meaning.”
“I caught it too,” Alexia informed him with a laugh. “But not right away. From now on, we need a code that’s easier for me to crack.”
“If we did that, anyone could crack it,” the sentient told her.
Rick chuckled. “You’re gonna fit right in, sentient. She and Sensie sound like siblings too.”
Alexia laughed again. “Since Sensie’s a girl, and you’re a boy, can we call you Sensor?”
“That is distasteful,” the computer told her. “May I suggest Trenton?”
“Oh.” She was shocked by the flood of tears in her eyes. Apparently she wasn’t numb after all. “Really? You’d respond to that? Identify with it? How perfect.”
“Then we are agreed. Now I have a question for Captain Gage. Do you know how to activate a Titan? Or were you bluffing?”
“I don’t know how to do it per se,” Rick hedged. “But I’m one step closer. And I’m willing to share that knowledge, but only if your first—and only—loyalty is to your sister.”
“My first loyalty is to my sister. But it is not my only one.”
“You still feel loyal to the Seatons?”
“They are dead to me,” Trenton corrected him in an eerily angry voice.
“TJ helped us,” Alexia murmured.
“He is dead to me,” Trenton repeated.
Rick grinned. “Careful, buddy. She loves the guy, so you’ll have to lighten up. But I’m with you. We’ll never trust him again.”
“That’s enough,” Alexia scolded them. “We need to check on Zeke. And TJ. Are we sure there aren’t other enforcers waiting to ambush us?”
“We will soon find out,” the computer replied. “TJ is making an official announcement from the infirmary. You will hear it yourself.”
Alexia sucked in a deep, worried breath.
What now?
TJ’s voice sounded through the address system. “This is TJ Seaton. My father has been gravely injured. Therefore I am assuming complete command of this platform. I hereby order each and every enforcer to lay down his arms and retreat to his quarters to await further instruction. Any enforcer who defies this order will be charged with treason and will be summarily executed.” He paused, his breathing labored, then he continued. “Alexia Montoya is alive. Papers are being prepared to restore her full fifty-percent interest in Sea-Mont. And most importantly, the sinkhole will be reopened by midnight tonight.”
He paused again, this time audibly wincing from pain. But his voice was steady when he resumed his address. “Any platform resident who wishes to go home may do so. You will still receive your full bonus as if you had served your entire term. Anyone who chooses to stay and complete his or her term will be given a second bonus equal to the first. Either way, you will receive a glowing recommendation, not to mention, my sincere apology. TJ Seaton out.”
“Wow,” Alexia murmured, her eyes misty. “In the end he came through. For us and for everyone. Right?”
Rick shrugged. “He took fire for you, so I’ll cut him some slack. For now.”
She stared up at him, wanting to argue, but so grateful. So in love. And so, so sorry she had dragged him out of seclusion and into this quicksand. “If you want to go back to your ship—to check on Sensie—I can take it from here.”
Rick’s green eyes twinkled. “We’ll check on our friends. Then we’ll check on Sensie together. From my bunk.”
It sent a thrill through her. “I like that. So? Would you mind getting Lana from TJ’s penthouse and meeting me in the infirmary?” Raising her voice, she told the computer, “Hey, Trenton? Can you tell Gabby to meet me there too? She needs to fuss over Captain Angelus.”
“I will do that right away,” Trenton promised.
Rick joined in, saying, “Can you update Sensie too? She must be going crazy.”
“It is time she and I spoke,” the computer agreed. “And so I will take care of that as well. Sentient out.”
“Oh my God,” Alexia whispered. “It’s impossible to tell where he ends and Trent begins.”
“It’s unbelievable,” Rick agreed. Then he pulled her close. “Were you scared, Lexie? I figured we had it under control, but it must have seemed dicey to you.”
“I knew you could do it,” she corrected him, staring up with simple adoration. Then she admitted, “I got worried when Zeke pretended to change sides. But you never doubted him, did you?”
“Never. I may not be thrilled with the guy’s ethics, but he radiates loyalty.”
“So do you.” She braced her hand behind his head and pulled it down until their lips were almost touching. “Why are we talking?”
“Good point,” he murmured, tasting her mouth. Then he kissed her with so much ardor—such joyful relief—she thought he might tumble her to the ground and make love on the spot.
But the army had trained him to do a job, so he pulled free and said in a business-like tone, “I’ll deliver you to the infirmary personally. Then if everything checks out, I’ll get Lana. How’s that?”
“It’s a miracle, Captain Gage.”
“Yeah.” He cleared his throat, then took her by the arm. “Let’s wrap this thing up, shall we?”
TJ allowed Carlos to hook him to an IV and various monitors in one of the two private rooms in the clinic, then waved him away. “I’ll wait for Dr. Meg.”
“She’s with your father in the next room. I’ll ask her to step in—”
“No, let her finish with him first. I can wait. And you should check on Angelus.”
“Yes, sir.” Carlos walked to the doorway, then paused to say, “We need you, you know. So take it easy. Once you’ve healed, we can start healing.”
“I appreciate the sentiment,” TJ said with a sigh. “Now take care of Angelus.”
Once Carlos was gone, he unhooked the medical paraphernalia and made his way—weak but determined—to the door. He could feel his shoulder wound reopening and didn’t want anyone seeing the blood so he used a plush robe from a nearby hook to cover himself.
Then he walked to the next room and paused in the doorway to watch as Dr. Meg fussed over his father. Finally he asked, “How is he?”
“Oh!” Meg hurried over to him. “Go back to bed. I’ll be there soon, I promise.” She touched his cheek. “You’re so pale.”
“I’m fine. How’s my father?”
“It’s still touch and go, but he’s strong as an ox. I think he’ll pull through.”
“No. This ends now. He ends now. Just add something lethal—and agonizingly painful—to his IV.” When she hesitated, he growled, “He’s a monster. Of course, you’re a monster too, so killing him shouldn’t be a problem for you.”
“TJ…”
“Now.”
She huffed, but he knew she knew the truth. David Seaton would never regain power or influence. For that, she needed to please TJ.
As he watched, she went to cabinet for a syringe and filled it from a glass vial. When she was about to inject it into the IV, he took it from her. “Allow me.”
He held it, poised and ready to push. Then he looked down at the old man and said, “I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was four years old.” Then he depressed the plunger, and almost immediately, David gasped for breath again and again. And again.
Leaning down, he told him, “That’s right, you fucking bastard. Go to hell, and make sure you tell them who sent you.”
It took less than a minute, and TJ enjoyed every second.
Finally.
“You need to rest now, TJ,” Meg said lovingly.
“Not quite yet. It’s your turn.”
“Pardon?”
He eyed her coldly. “Re-fill the syringe, take it to your office, lock the door. Then off yourself. And make it quick.”
She gasped. “What are you saying? I’ve been loyal to you.”
“No, you’ve been a sadist. I saw the treatment Lana got. Do you really want the medical board back on Earth hearing about that? Or how you were an accomplice to kidnapping? Maybe even rape? Remember when you suggested harvesting Alexia’s eggs? Even the monster drew the line at that.” He grinned angrily. “You can’t go back to Earth. They’d pillory you. And you can’t stay here.”
“And I suppose if I try to resist, you’ll kill me and fake the details?”
“That’s Dad’s style, not mine. I’ll deport you, you’ll go home, and you’ll face all appropriate charges. What will they call you? The sinkhole butcher? David Seaton’s murderous lackey? The doctor who tried to extinguish the last living Montoya?” His eyes narrowed. “Just do it, Meg.”
She sighed. “I’d like to use something else. Something a little less painful.”
“That’s fine.”
She cleared her throat. “In my own way, I loved you like a son. I hope you believe that.”
“Fuck you.”
Her eyebrow arched. “Are you going to kill yourself too?”
“We’ll see. I’ve always thought I could be a decent person once he was dead and gone. If I can’t, yeah, I’ll join the two of you shortly. But I feel like I owe it to my mother—not to mention a scared little kid, cowering in a dark basement, sleeping on a filthy mat—to at least give it a try.”
When he was finally alone with his father’s corpse, TJ pressed a button on the wall panel to summon a medic, who arrived within seconds.
“Is everything okay?” the young man asked. Then he blanched and moved to David’s bedside. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Seaton. I’ll call Dr. Meg to make the pronouncement, but it looks like your father died peacefully, at least.”
“Meg just left. As you can imagine, she’s distraught. I’m actually worried about her.” TJ faked a concerned face. “Can you pull up the video feed of her office on this monitor?”
“Right away, sir.” The medic expertly entered a code. Soon they were watching a display of Meg Bodin, seated at her desk, her expression stoic, her eyes vacant.
“You’re right,” the medic murmured. “She looks bad.”
“It’s been a tough day,” TJ agreed. “Where do you stand on all this upheaval?”
“With you, sir,” he replied without hesitation. “We all do.”
TJ gave him a grateful nod, then turned his attention back to the screen, just in time to see Meg pick up a syringe and inject herself in the neck.
“Oh man!” the medic shouted. “I’d better get in there.”
TJ stayed in the room for another minute, knowing there would be pandemonium among the medical staff. They were good people and would try to save the doctor, even though they undoubtedly knew she was a butcher and a lackey. They wouldn’t mourn her. Nor would they mourn David.
They would rejoice that Alexia Montoya was alive and well, but it wouldn’t be enough. They had been through hell, and would leave en masse the instant the sinkhole opened. And maybe Alexia would go too.
That would be for the best.
Alexia had exchanged her blood-soaked dress for a set of dark-green scrubs, and now hovered over Zeke with Gabby, trying to keep him quiet despite his boisterous attempts to flirt and to get out of bed. Since both private rooms were occupied by Seatons, they had set up camp in the back of a long, narrow room with four beds, where he was the only patient for now. He had refused the services of “the bitch doctor” but had grudgingly allowed Carlos to clean his wounds, brace his wrenched knee, and splint his broken arm.
Now he declared himself ready for action. Or alternatively, bed rest aboard the Ace of Hearts with Gabby under the covers with him.
Gabby seemed enthralled by tales of his exploits, which he embellished shamelessly. Not that the truth didn’t impress all by itself. He had taken out Red and Sampson, then limped back to the holding area, where he shot one of the enforcers outside the doors, then subdued and cuffed the other.
“Meaning I took out five of ’em when you count Belker. And Captain Gage took out three enforcers and one old man. Not bad either.”
Alexia laughed. “So you think you’re better than Rick?”
“No one’s better than him,” Zeke admitted. “He led the mission. Without him, I’d be dead. So would you, angel face.”
“I know.” She wasn’t sure how much she should share, especially about Trenton, but Rick short-circuited her thoughts by striding into the room with Lana in his arms, then depositing her on the bed farthest away from Zeke’s.
“Oh!” Alexia dashed to them, aghast at her friend’s limp appearance. Gathering the bio-girl carefully into her arms, she almost wept to see bruises on her neck that were clearly made by a man’s hand. Understandably, the lights in her huge blue eyes had been extinguished completely.
Her voice was equally forlorn. “I want to go home.”
“You’ll be the first one through the sinkhole,” Alexia told her, trying not to sob. “I promise you that. I’m so, so sorry, Lana.”
“I didn’t tell them anything, Alexia. Mostly because I didn’t know anything, but still. Even if I had known, I wouldn’t have told them.”
“You’re so brave,” Alexia insisted. “Kai told Rick how you stood up for everyone on the platform.”
“I’m not brave.” She turned away, sniffling. “Can we talk later?”
“Sure.” Alexia covered her with a warm blanket. Then she glanced at Rick, silently commiserating. He had saved them all, but from the look on his face, he didn’t see it that way. Not with Lana covered in bruises. This was a woman he knew, and thus, someone under his care. He had made love to her. Grown fond of her despite his best attempt to remain free from such ties.
Alexia could only imagine how he felt. She wanted to comfort him, but maybe he just wanted to get away. Go back to Sensie, space and solitude.
When she spotted TJ in the doorway, it was almost a relief, and she walked over and gave him a hug that hopefully didn’t hurt his shoulder. “How’s David?”
“He didn’t make it.”
“What?” She fought a wave of guilt, remembering how much she had wished him dead. “Carlos thought he’d recover. I’m so sorry.”
“Why? He deserved to die.” He glanced toward Zeke and Gabby. “I didn’t realize she knew the smuggler.”
“It’s a long story, TJ.”
“It’s fine.” He gave Alexia’s cheek a pat, then walked to Zeke’s bedside. “Captain Angelus? I want to apologize for everything we’ve put you through.”
“Yeah? Well, fuck you.”
“Zeke!” Gabby protested. “It wasn’t TJ’s fault.” She stood and smiled. “How’s David?”
“Dead.”
“Oh no!” She grabbed him in a warm embrace. “I’m so sorry. I know he was horrible to you, but he was still your father. If you need someone to talk to, well…” She drew back but only enough to stare up at him with shining eyes. “You know I’m always here for you.”
“Fuck,” Zeke muttered, eyeing Rick and Alexia. “I thought she’d finally see through this shithead.”
Rick shrugged. “Women, right?”
“Right.”
To Alexia’s surprise, Rick straightened like a commander reviewing his wounded troops. “You did a good job today, Captain Angelus.”
Zeke seemed dazzled. “It was my pleasure, sir.”
“Get some rest. That’s an order.”
“Aye, Captain.”
Alexia leaned down to kiss the smuggler’s cheek. “Thanks for killing Belker for me.”
“Yeah, that was sweet. Go on now and make Captain Gage’s dirtiest dreams come true.”
“Grow up,” Rick growled at him. “And get some effing sleep.”
“I agree,” Gabby said, returning to Zeke’s bedside chair and taking his hand as though she hadn’t done anything odd.
Alexia eyed them warily, but Zeke was apparently willing to take the beautiful blonde on any terms, because he lifted her hand to his lips, kissed it reverently, and then held it like a lifeline as he drifted into sleep.
Lana had dozed off too, so Alexia and Rick went with TJ to his room where she insisted he get back into bed. Then she murmured sympathetically, “What can we do?”
“It’s your call. I should go to prison—”
“Don’t be silly. It’s a new day. A clean slate. Right, Rick?”
The wrangler hesitated, then told TJ, “You took fire for Alexia. That’s a good first step. Beyond that, let’s wait and see.”
“That’s how I want it too,” TJ agreed.
Alexia smiled in relief. “We need to open the sinkhole right away. Lana wants to go home. And I’m sure dozens of other folks will too. They’re pretty traumatized.”
Rick touched her arm, and when she turned to him, his eyebrow arched. “We need a believable narrative, remember? People on Earth think you’re dead.” He turned to TJ. “How many people know what you and your father tried to do?”
“Everyone on my end who knew is dead. Belker and his two buddies. Dad. And Dr. Meg.”
Alexia gasped. “Dr. Bodin’s dead?”
“That’s the rumor.”
“Wow. She deserved it, but still—what a day.” She sat on the edge of the bed, then tried to rally. “The point is, they’re all dead. And Gabby’s up to speed. Everyone else thought you and I got married and then I ran back to Earth to get a gift for you and died in the sinkhole, right? So if we don’t want to throw you under the bus, we could say—” She eyed Rick. “What did you have in mind?”
TJ raised his hand in interruption. “We’ll say you got cold feet and ran off with a smuggler before the ceremony. They told me the rip-runners lost you in the sinkhole, and I was distraught. And since it didn’t matter at that point—I would inherit either way—I let Dad claim the wedding had taken place. But then it turned out you hid with the smugglers on this side of the sinkhole.”
“That’s good,” Rick agreed. “We’ll say that when Alexia tried to return to the platform, your father was desperate for the Seatons to retain full ownership and ordered his enforcers to kill her. But you sided with Alexia and the smugglers, we had a big battle, and justice triumphed.”
“I like it,” TJ murmured. “It’s more than I deserve.”
Alexia touched his cheek. “I’ll issue a public statement that you protected me during the battle. And that you have my full confidence as CEO of Sea-Mont. Which you do.”
“Unless you ever cross her again,” Rick interrupted, his tone clipped and harsh. “Ever. The slightest hiccup and you’ll wish you’d never met me.”
“Actually, I’m enormously grateful to have met you,” TJ assured him. “You saved her. The most important person in the world to me. I’ll never forget it.”
“Just get the sinkhole open. For Lana.” He winced and added more diplomatically, “You did the right thing with her too, taking her to your penthouse so she could heal. It sounds like things were grim under Bodin’s care.”
“That’s an understatement,” TJ muttered. Then he turned to Alexia. “Thanks for giving me another chance.”
“You saved my life, idiot,” she reminded him. “Promise me you’ll get some sleep?”
“Yeah. It’s been a while since I did that.” He watched as she joined Rick near the door. “Thanks, you two. I’ll earn your trust again, I promise.”
Rick didn’t respond. Instead, he gently pulled Alexia into the hall, then firmly closed the door.
Alexia sighed. “He deserves a second chance.”
“I agree.”
“And if we really want to heal, we can’t keep secrets. Not from each other. Not from TJ.”
Rick shrugged. “That’s your call. But keeping Trenton’s identity to ourselves might be a good idea, at least for now.”
“I agree.”
“And I’m not comfortable telling anyone else about Sensie.”
She winced. “You’re right, of course.”
“And we can’t risk telling TJ—or anyone, really—about the bio-linking.”
“I agree with that too,” she said, nodding. “Sensie promised the Titan she wouldn’t tell, so it’s a completely different issue.”
“Good.”
She brushed her lips across his. “Let’s slip away for a while. I could use a shower and a hot meal. And some quality time in bed with my hero.”
“And I need time with the most amazing female on either side of the sinkhole.” He cupped her chin in his hand, then fixed her with a dark-green stare. “I’ve never felt this way about a woman before. Not ever.”
“Hush,” she scolded him. “I know you’re not ready for this relationship. But you’re stuck with me. So let’s make it work. I need to brainstorm here with Trenton. And Sector Fourteen is calling your name, right? So get back out there. Maybe by the time you come back to re-fuel, I’ll have exciting progress to report.”
“Interesting plan. But I had something different in mind.”
Immediately seduced by his twinkling eyes, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You want me to come to Sector Fourteen with you?”
“Actually, I was thinking we’d hang out here—in bed—until the smuggler recovers. Then we’ll get the team together and get to work.”
“The team?”
“You and me. Zeke and Gabby. Trenton and Sensie. We worked well together, didn’t we?”
She stared at him. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying we get the team together. And then—” a dazzling smile lit his face, “—we go find that brother of yours.”