The Long Road Home

Chapter Fifteen

Gus wasn’t sure how he got through the rest of the brunch. Rubble and Caine watched him closely even when he stood and played tee-ball with Jake and set up the small basketball hoop. Caine got into the fun with Emily, playing two-on-two until the adults were too exhausted. But it was all a distraction.

The tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife. Even Fin had to notice it. There was no way his brother could be too dense to feel it.

After Caine, Eleanor and Rubble left, Nailah insisted Fin stayed for dinner. There was no way to escape though Gus did his best to ignore the specter that followed and watched him with his son. Any time Gus’s gaze happened to fall on Fin, he saw his brother’s expression was one of longing and envy. Well, that was too bad Fin was feeling butt hurt. Gus was not about to sacrifice his time with his son to make his brother feel better. Let Fin stew in his self-pity.

Eventually, Fin excused himself to return to his hotel. Gus relaxed after he left. He certainly wasn’t going to invite his brother to stay the night. Nailah seemed disappointed, but Gus wasn’t willing to sacrifice his peace for Fin’s sake. He already knew Nailah was going to want to talk to him later and Gus wanted to push it off for as long as possible. He was going to enjoy his weekend. Fin was a Monday problem.

* * *

Fin pulled up to the Club gate where the guard was standing next to a bike. The guard looked at him with a frown before opening the gate and waved him through. The previous night he spent in the hotel nursing a drink as he thought about Gus and the family he had made. Fin hadn’t expected a nephew. Hell, he hadn’t expected Gus to get married, let alone to a younger woman. He wasn’t sure what was more surprising: a wife or the motorcycle club.

His contact had finally gotten back to him. In researching the Club, they found several links to different organizations to help orphans, runaways and abused spouses. There was even a contact page, allowing people to make requests for the Club’s assistance. People could apply for aid from the Club’s emergency funds if they had been laid off, needed help with childcare or assistance with fleeing from abusive relationships. Fin was surprised the Club offered moving services, relocation and protection for battered women and their children, among others.

Was all that true?

Fin had never heard of such a thing before. And how did the Club pay for it? But then, if Gus was in charge, perhaps he shouldn’t be surprised. Growing a business was his brother’s strength, after all. But still…

He pulled up to the main building as Gus had instructed. Fin walked up to the front door, mentally prepared himself and stepped in. On his first visit, it was crowded and loud with a party atmosphere, but when he entered now, he found it surprisingly quiet.

There were a couple of Club members watching a game on the large television. Another group was idly playing pool while another was eating lunch at the bar. The bartender looked up as Fin entered and gestured to the stairs.

“The Duke is waiting for you.”

Fin nodded. He headed upstairs, not sure what exactly was waiting for him. As he passed one of the doors, he saw it was open and could see the office beyond. It was cozy with several toys scattered around the floor near the couch, but that wasn’t what got his attention.

Caine sat on the sofa like a king with Eleanor cradled in his lap. Little Emily sat on the floor playing with a toy that had been in her Happy Meal. The Rottweiler lounged beside her, watching for any scrap of her chicken nuggets or fries she happened to drop. Eleanor laughed as Caine leaned close to kiss her neck while she ate her own fries. She pecked a kiss on his lips before feeding him one.

Fin looked away and walked on before he was noticed. It hurt him to see such a happy couple when his own life was such a mess. He would give anything to have a relationship like that. Did they have to flaunt it in his face?

Reaching the last door, he knocked before entering and froze. Gus sat at the computer with Jacob on his lap. The pair was tapping at the keyboard, playing some sort of game. Gus looked up at the door and frowned.

“Hey buddy, why don’t you go down the hall and sit with Uncle Dog and Auntie Elle for a while,” Gus said.

“Okay!” Jake smiled. “Don’t lose the game, daddy.”

“I won’t,” Gus chuckled, kissing his temple.

“Come on, Diesel,” Jake said, hopping down.

The golden retriever that was curled up in its bed stood and accompanied the boy to the door.

“Bye, Uncle Fin!” Jake waved.

“Close the door, Fin,” Gus said. “Have a seat.”

Fin did as he was told and settled across from his brother. He glanced at the screen to see a pixelated image of an ox-driven wagon. Was his brother really playing Oregon Trail?

“How much?” Gus suddenly asked.

“What?” Fin blinked.

“How much will it take to get you to leave town and never return?” Gus asked. “Name it.”

“What are you talking about? Are you really trying to buy me out like some sort of bribe?”

Gus shrugged.

“I didn’t come here for that,” Fin said. “I came here to find you. I mean, yeah, I need help, but I’m not looking for money. I just want my brother back.”

Gus sighed, rubbing his temple in a gesture Fin knew all too well. After a moment, he finally said, “There really is no way to make you disappear, is there?”

“Ah, no?” Fin said.

“Damn,” Gus sighed. “I guess I really don’t have a choice. If I do this, you’ll leave me alone, right?”

Fin frowned. Was his brother really so averse to having him in his life? After all these years, was he not willing to forgive him? It was a long moment before Fin spoke again, “If that’s what you really want.”

“Don’t you think it’s for the best?” Gus asked. “I don’t want Jake to get attached to someone who will let him down.”

“I would never do that.”

Gus glared at him.

“I mean it. Damn it, Gus. Why don’t you believe that?”

“Experience.”

“People change,” Fin insisted. “I’ve changed. It took years, but I did. Why don’t you believe that?”

“Could be because you came here looking for me to clean up your mess, again,” Gus reminded.

“Look, I didn’t realize you had started a family,” Fin said. “I had no idea you would set yourself up with this kind of life. Frankly, I still think I’m dreaming. I don’t want to disturb your family. I just want a chance to be a part of it. I have changed. I guess, I’m still s**t at business, but I really have changed. What can I do to convince you?”

“Good question,” Gus muttered mostly to himself. “All right, here’s what is going to happen. You are going to go back home. Mom and dad are going to start looking for you if you don’t. I’ll follow you once I make arrangements around here.”

“You’re coming to New York?”

“Fixing your mess is best done on site, but I have conditions.”

Fin held his breath, waiting for him to continue.

“One, you will not tell mom and dad I’m coming. I don’t want to see them. As soon as I fix your mess, I’m leaving, and I won’t be back. As for proving you’ve changed…we’ll see.”

Fin nodded. He was disappointed, but he supposed he should be grateful for that much.