Free Escape: A Stepbrother Romance Novella by Stephanie Brother

upstanding
stepsister.  “I…” I falter, wanting to tell her something so she understands
how much she means to me because I might not get another chance.  “I never
loved anyone the way I love you,” I say, and then, “I’ve got to go, Sammie,
okay?”
    “Don’t,”
she whispers.
    “I
have to…” I hang up before either of us can say anything else.  I hold my phone
against my chest and imagine her settling back down into her bed, hoping that
she’ll get back to sleep and not lie awake thinking too much. After a few
minutes I get up and take a shower, putting my boxers back on after and flopping
into bed myself. 
    Some
days are just too fucked up to fathom.  It wasn’t my day to die but it’s closer
than I’ve ever come before. I remember a quote from a book I read as a
kid…Alice in Wonderland, I think it was.  Alice asks the rabbit ‘how long is forever,’
and he replies, ‘sometimes just a second.’  Tonight, that could have been my
reality and now time seems more precious than it ever did before.  I need to
find a way to make whatever time I have left count but I won’t put Sammie at
risk, no matter how much I might want her.

Chapter 9
    Samantha
     
    I hardly slept
after Brandon cut our call short.  When I did my dreams were surreal and they
left me feeling strange the next day.   I was up and out of my apartment
quickly, wanting to get to the office so I could arrange more surveillance on
Brandon.  There was something very wrong about last night.  He sounded bad. 
He’d been too in need of company or comfort when only hours earlier he’d been
so determined that we weren’t going to be in contact. I wonder what happened to
him to make him break his conviction.  What changed his mind?
    Maybe
it was just a one-time thing.
    I
hope it wasn’t with a fierceness that makes me tremble.
    John,
the P.I., is busy with another case but he has a friend called Dirk who takes
the job.  I arrange three days surveillance with a review at 7pm each day so we
can decide what to do next.  If they can identify Brandon’s known associates I
might be able to cross check their records for criminal convictions and get an
idea of what’s really going on.  I feel better too, knowing someone will have
eyes on Brandon.  It’s like a layer of protection and makes me feel less
helpless about his situation.
    I
have a full workload but by lunchtime I’m feeling lightheaded and in need of a
break.  I take the elevator down to my favorite deli and sit at the counter
sipping an iced tea while I wait for them to prepare my sandwich.  The TV is on
in the corner and something about an earthquake overseas comes on.  I’m
straining to see the details when a man takes a seat on my right. 
    “Terrible
isn’t it,” he says, reaching across to get the packets of sugar that are in
front of me.
    I
look over at him.  He’s in his forties, dressed a little casual for this part
of town, but he smiles widely with friendly eyes that crinkle at the side.
    “Yeah,
where is that?” I ask.
    “Nepal,”
he says.  “Those poor countries always seem to suffer the worst luck.”
    “Yeah,”
I say and reach to stir my drink absentmindedly with the straw.  I go back to
watching the TV, seeing the estimated casualties and sighing at the terrible
loss.  The man at my side orders an espresso and sips it carefully.
    Adriano,
the owner of the deli, hands me my sandwich and I take a bite.  It’s delicious
and I eat it slowly, still feeling light headed from rushing about.  The man at
my side keeps talking, telling me about the places he’s visited in Southeast
Asia and how beautiful they are.  It’s interesting because I’ve never been to
that part of the world and would love to travel more. 
    When
I’m getting to the end of my sandwich I start to feel strange. It’s weird
because I really love the taste of mozzarella and tomato with a basil dressing
but the last few bits seem off, almost metallic.  I place it