Free Unchained Hearts (Baxter Family Saga) by Palessa Page B

separate them again. It was time to take care of his kids and try to put Newton Baxter, Cass’ life back together again.
     
    ***

    As his memories slowly returned, he gave Dr. Evigan permission to contact his older brother, Grayson. He was the only one he could talk to. Michael remembered Gray’s mass of black curls and bits and pieces of his brother’s life, but it was still so fuzzy. 
    “Cass,” Grayson said in a tender voice.  
    He turned and saw his brother. The fact that he knew the name, Cass, to be his and the sight of his older brother, made him collapse to his knees sobbing. Grayson ran and hugged him.
    “You’re real,” Michael said. “It was all real.” He held on to Gray and sobbed for what seemed like hours. “I kept seeing your hair and hearing voices...this is the first time it’s all felt real.” He looked up at his brother, his eyes filled with confusion. “Why did she do this, Gray? What did I do to deserve having my life taken away from me?”
    Gray looked at his little brother. “Her mind was twisted into believing that with you gone, our father would turn to me to take over the company. She blamed you for our problems. She never liked your relationship with Virgilia and did her best to destroy both of you...Joan is a sick woman who just had too many demons eating at her. She’s rotten to the core, Cass, and it took us losing you to really get it.”
    They sat there in Kim’s office in silence for a short time and then Grayson chuckled. “You know, when they came to pick her up, she denied everything,” he said. “Even when she was confronted with the mountain of facts and evidence, she still denied everything. Joan was living the lie and wouldn’t give it up. Our father blamed himself for just letting her run free and do what she wanted. He’s beside himself.”
    “Does he know?”
    Grayson nodded. “Everyone knows, except Virgilia.”
    “I remember her more, now. My Lila. I just can’t face her right now. I want to so bad, but, my mind…” he said, pressing his forefinger against his temple. “My mind isn’t right yet.”
    Grayson heard what his brother was saying and he wanted nothing more than to see him and Lila back together. The love they had was unlike anything he’d ever seen or thought possible until he found one like it. “A lot has changed for all of us, especially for Virgilia.” Cass looked at his brother and wondered what exactly he meant. “It took her a long time to handle your disappearance and the aftermath. It took so much out of her, Cass.”
    “Is she okay?”
    “She’s good now, but you two need to talk. We’ve managed to keep the story dark because your disappearance made national news.”
    “But I never saw it. Nothing...at least I don’t remember seeing it.”
    Cass shook his head, as if he was trying to shake the pieces back into place. “I still love her, Gray. I’m remembering loving her. I saw her picture in the paper and her face just got to me.”
    Gray looked at his brother. Cass had always been like an arrow. He knew what he wanted and did what he needed to get it. The man before him was broken, vulnerable, like a lost child and it broke his heart. He would have to learn to live again. Cass was on his way back, but it was going to take time.
    ***

    Over the course of thirteen months, Cass worked together with his brother and Dr. Evigan to get his life back. Finally, the time arrived.
    “Are you sure you’re ready?” Grayson asked his brother. Cass had made remarkable progress, but there was still so much that was missing.
    “I think it’s time,” Cass said, nodding. “I feel like it’s time.”
    Grayson had arranged for their meeting at the small office he just opened. His secretary was playing with the kids in the other room.
    Grayson went to meet his father at the elevator. Julian hugged his eldest son.
    “So, how is he, Gray?”
    “He’s still a little tender, but he says he’s ready.”
    Julian let out a quick