Hardwired (The Brotherhood Series) Read online

  “Yes, you were. You stood by my side and even held my leg up while I pushed,” Jen said with a giggle.

  “I hope I remember it one day. I hope I remember it all.”

  “You will.”

  “Tell me something else.”

  “The day you told me you were going to try for SEAL training, I cried. I was so proud of you, but so scared. Even civilians had heard stories about what it takes to be a SEAL and the missions they go on. As a military wife, I knew more, and I was so terrified. You were so excited, though. The water was like a second home to you, so it just made sense.”

  “I always liked the water?” He interrupted.

  “As long as I have known you, you have been part fish.”

  “I wondered that the most. I like the water now, but I just wondered if I liked it as a child. It’s so weird to not know anything about my childhood or my parents.”

  “Your mom used to tell me stories of you when you were a child. You were quite the hell raiser. They took you to the beach every summer, and she always said she would have to drag you out of the water and back to the house at the end of every day. They were so proud of you. You were their whole world.”

  Jen could feel Luke’s emotional turmoil. Her heart bled for him, wishing there was something she could do that would take away his amnesia and give him back his memories.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Luke

  He heard the alarm on his burner phone going off, but he couldn’t seem to convince his eyes to open. It was a foreign feeling for him, the exhaustion. His chips usually always allowed him to go for days when he was out in the field. Whatever chip Dean had put in him, must have been similar to his civilian chip. Jen reached over and turned the alarm off, slumping back down on his chest.

  Bella, on the other hand, bounded over to their bed with a vengeance.

  “I’m so hungry! Do you think they have waffles here?” She chirped.

  “Good morning, Bella,” Jen said groggily.

  “Wake up, Mamma!”

  “I am up.”

  “No, you’re not; you’re still in bed.”

  “My eyes are open.”

  “It doesn’t count. You, too, Daddy. Wake up!”

  Luke adjusted his shoulders, as if that would make his chip work differently. He finally managed to fight through the haze and sit up. The room spun, but he fought through it. He pinched his nose with his forefinger and thumb, trying to gather himself.

  “Luke, are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I think so. I’m just tired. I need to make a phone call, and then we’ll go find those waffles,” he said, forcing a smile for Bella.

  He could feel Jen’s eyes on his back as he went to the bathroom. Luke dialed Dean’s number.

  “Morning,” Dean greeted him.

  “There’s something wrong with this chip.”

  “What’s happening?”

  “I’m tired, so tired I couldn’t get my eyes open this morning. Once I sat up I got dizzy, and now I’m feeling a little nauseous.”

  “How many hours of sleep did you get last night?”

  “What are you, my fucking mother? This chip is no good. I need my service one; can you fix it from your end?”

  “Is there any way you could grab a few more hours before you leave? I could send Kip after you.”

  “I once went one hundred and twenty hours without sleep or food during Hell Week without any type of hard drive. What’s happening?”

  “Give me an hour, and I’ll fix it. Until then I suggest you stay put.”

  “There’s no time for that.”

  Luke slammed the phone down. He felt stupid for trusting the man. Luke gripped the bathroom counter, as another wave of dizziness overtook him. He splashed water on his face, hoping he could snap himself out of it. A knock on the door came, but he just grunted his response. Jen took that as a welcome and came in.

  “Luke, what’s going on?” She whispered.

  “Nothing,” he lied. “Let’s get something to eat.”

  Jen looked at him; her eyes told him she knew he was lying. They packed up in silence, except for Bella. She chattered on about how she liked her waffles topped, asking Luke all about how he normally ate his waffles. Luke liked that she wanted them to like the same things. Eventually, he just started repeating whatever she said she liked, just to see her smile. By the time they loaded the car he was feeling better.

  They stopped by a Waffle House, ate, and then hit the road. Luke still hadn’t heard back from Dean, but since he was feeling better, he decided to give him more time. He had an uneasy feeling about something, but he wasn’t sure what. Jen was quiet as well. Bella played with toys in the back seat. Luke was impressed with how well behaved she was. He hadn’t spent a lot of time with kids, but he knew most five year olds wouldn’t be so well behaved about sitting in a car for hours at a time.

  “We better stop,” Jen said, breaking the silence.

  “Okay.”

  A few miles later, he saw a big truck stop and pulled in. A déjà vu feeling hit him hard when he parked. He waved to Jen to go ahead with Bella, even though she looked reluctant. Luke took deep breaths trying to combat the nausea that was taking over. He fumbled for his cell phone and managed to dial Dean with his blurred vision. When Dean didn’t answer, Luke threw the phone across the vehicle.

  He growled in frustration. Just when he thought it couldn’t get any worse, his mind assaulted him with what he could only assume were memories. Visions of Jen: in a white dress, her laughing, and of her pregnant. Other people were there, too; he couldn’t seem to find a name for them, but they flashed through his mind over and over again. He shoved against his car door trying to escape. It felt like the walls were closing in on him.

  His cell phone rang, helping clear some of the confusion from his mind. Luke shuffled around to find it on the floor board.

  “Where are you?” He barked.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Like shit! What’s going on?”

  “Luke, the chip I put in has no settings. It’s a blank. Your mind has the ability to finally try to think for itself. I believe what you’re experiencing could be the battle between your mind and the hard drive.”

  “That’s impossible. I can’t function without a working hard drive.”

  “Five years ago, you couldn’t. That doesn’t mean you can’t now.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me this?

  “I didn’t know if it would work or not. It was just a hunch I had when you first told me about Jen. I knew who she was as soon as you told me there was a woman.”

  “AAAAHHHH!” Luke yelled, as another pain ripped through his mind.

  “Luke, stay calm. They’re coming for you, and you need to get to your rendezvous point and quick.”

  “Can you get Jen’s parents out?” Luke asked, through gritted teeth.

  “I can’t do that. We can’t risk that now. You’re too close.”

  “I’m no where near being close. I still have an entire day’s drive with no stops, which won’t happen. I’m also dangerously close to losing my shit. Jen and Bella need to be somewhere safe. Get her parents to me. Do you trust your cousin to protect them?”

  “Luke,” Dean started, but Luke interrupted him.

  “I am still your superior, this is an order.”

  “Okay, are you staying put, or are you going to drive more today?”

  “I’m going to keep driving. Can you track me?”

  “Only when I’m offsite. Once I have extracted her parents, I’ll be in touch. Luke, I suggest you wait until we have a handle on this before you get behind the wheel.”

  Luke snorted then disconnected the call. He rolled himself out of the car just as Bella and Jen were coming back from the bathroom. Jen ushered Bella in the back seat and then walked around the car to him.

  “Luke, cut the shit and tell me what’s going on.”

  “My memories are trying to come out. It’s like I’m at war with
myself.”

  “Give me the keys,” she ordered.

  “I’ll drive. I just need some air.”

  “If you think for one minute that I’m letting you drive my child while you’re in this condition, you’re crazy.”

  Raged soared through him at her choice of words. He knew it wasn’t fair for him to get mad, though. She had referred to Bella as hers for five years.

  “You’re tired, you only had a couple hours of sleep. You are in no better shape to drive than I am.”

  “Excuse me, but I’m a mom. We can conquer worlds on a couple hours of sleep.”

  “Just for a bit. Once I get a handle on this, I’m taking the wheel back.”

  “Yeah, yeah. You’re the man, hear you roar.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Jen

  Jen glanced over at Luke every so often. She was worried about him, but there wasn’t much she could do about it, other than drive. The sooner they got to their destination, she hoped the sooner Luke could get help. There were periods of time he would seem fine, but then he’d start massaging his temples. Soon after that he would end up with his head between his knees, taking deep breaths.

  His phone rang four hours down the road.

  “Find a place to pull over,” he grunted.

  She wondered why she had to pull over, especially when he didn’t take the call. Whatever plan he was putting together, he didn’t want her to know about it. Jen was angry, but she also wasn’t some badass secret mission person either. If Luke had a plan, then all she could do was go along with it. Twenty miles up the road she finally found a rest area.

  “Mamma, can we walk on that nature trail?” Bella begged once they parked.

  Jen looked at Luke before she answered. His eyes darted over the fairly deserted rest area ,and he nodded his approval.

  “Sure, baby. Let’s go.”

  Luke got out of the vehicle with them, but when they took off down the small trail, he fell behind them.

  “Mamma, are we always going to be in the car this much now that Daddy’s back?”

  “No, baby. This is just, um, just what has to be done for now. Daddy’s working on getting us somewhere we can settle in.”

  “What about Mam and Pap?”

  “I’m not sure yet, baby. It’s very complicated, and once I know more I promise I’ll explain it better to you.”

  “Okay, but I really miss Mam and Pap. Does Daddy not like them?”

  “Daddy loves Mam and Pap, he just doesn’t remember any of us; not yet at least.”

  “I don’t remember him, either.”

  “You were just a baby, though,” Jen laughed.

  “Oh, yeah,” Bella giggled.

  Jen turned around to check that Luke was behind them. He was on the phone, and he didn’t look the least bit pleased. Bella and Jen walked on, pointing out flowers and chasing butterflies until the path looped back around to the far end of the rest area.

  “Excuse me ma’am, are you from around here?” A man asked as he approached her and Bella.

  “No, I’m sorry I’m not,” Jen said, not bothering to stop.

  “Wait, please. Do you happen to have a phone I could use?” He insisted, keeping pace with Jen.

  “Sir, I’m sorry I can’t be of any help to you.”

  Jen pulled Bella closer to her. Something about the man unsettled Jen.

  “I just need some help. I don’t know why that’s so much trouble,” the man pouted.

  Before Jen could respond, Luke’s arm wrapped around the man’s neck, jerking him backwards. Bella screamed. Jen pulled Bella against her, shielding her eyes from the scene.

  “Luke, let him go.” Jen demanded.

  “She said she can’t help you,” Luke growled in the man’s ear.

  “Look man, I’m not after any trouble. I’m sorry,” the man stuttered.

  “No you’ll be sorry that I came along.”

  “Luke,” Jen repeated herself, sternly.

  Luke’s eyes met hers, and she didn’t recognize the man looking back at her at all for the first time. There was a rage burning there that was terrifying even for her.

  “Luke, please.” Jen pleaded with him.

  “Daddy!” Bella yelled, her voice strained with emotion.

  Luke looked down at her, and slowly the fog lifted. He released the man and took a step back. He grabbed the sides of his head and bent over. The man ran away as Jen ran to Luke. Bella was right there with her. Bella wrapped her arms around Luke’s leg. Jen placed an arm on his back hoping to help center him.

  “What can I do?” She asked.

  Luke shook his head. He handed her his cell phone and then pointed at it. Jen turned it over, flipping it open. A quick look at the call log showed only a couple of numbers called. Jen clicked the first one and let it ring.

  “Dammit, Luke, we’re on our way,” a man’s voice answered.

  “Hi, this is Jen.”

  “What’s wrong with Luke?”

  “He just had an episode of some kind where he threatened a man. Now he’s hunched over holding his head. He hasn’t felt good all day. What’s happening?”

  “Jen, I have your coordinates, but I’m two hours out. If you guys can stay put I can help him when I get there.”

  Jen opened her mouth to respond, but everything started happening too fast. Luke hit the ground, his body going completely limp. Two black SUV’s hit their brakes jerking onto the long exit ramp leading to the rest stop. Something about the timing of Luke going down and the vehicles set Jen in motion. She tried to lift Luke, but he was too big. Jen wanted to give into the tears that were threatening to fall when Bella tried to tug on Luke’s pant leg to make him move. Instead she swallowed it down and tried again.

  “Dammit,” she yelled.

  Determined, she crouched down and dug deep; she knew she was fighting for Luke’s life, for their future. It all depended on her getting him to their car. She slid her arms under his armpits and lifted with all her might. Bella squealed with delight when Jen managed to lift him up, all except his feet.

  The SUVs were pulling to a stop, and Jen had a way to make it to their vehicle. Jen dragged him with all her might as fast as she could. A man jumped out of the car and started shouting at her, but she never stopped.

  “Bella, get in the car!” She yelled, when they got closer.

  The men were hot on her heels, but she pushed through. Jen felt like she was having an out of body experience. Bella crawled into the car and shut her door. Jen put Luke down long enough to open the passenger side door. The first mistake she made was in setting him down. The adrenaline was there, but she couldn’t seem to lift him again.

  A memory of her own recalled that Luke normally always carried a gun on him. She hadn’t seen him strap on his shoulder holster, so she checked his ankle and sure enough there was one.

  It was also luck that it was the same piece he had taught her to shoot with. Jen took the safety off, so she would be ready to shoot if she had to. She turned to fire a shot off, but shots rang out from behind her. The agent’s attention diverted to whoever was behind her. Jen didn’t bother looking; she went back to trying to lift Luke.

  A man came from around the vehicle and helped her. Jen didn’t bother thanking him, she just slammed the door. He opened up the backseat door for her. She hesitated briefly, unsure of whether to trust the man or not.

  “Get in, or he’s going to die,” the man said urgently.

  Jen slid into the car, dragging Bella against her, and buckling them both in. Seconds later, the car roared to life, and the tires squealed as the man drove them to safety.

  “Are you Dean?” Jen asked after a few minutes of silence.

  “I’m Kip; Dean’s cousin.”

  “Thank you, Kip.”

  “You’re welcome, ma’am.”

  “Is Daddy okay, Mamma?”

  “I think so, baby.”

  Jen had always prided herself in not lying to her daughter, but there was a first time
for everything.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Jen

  Kip looked too young to be their savior, but that he was. They hadn’t been on the road for long when Kip pulled off alongside the highway and took a chip out of Luke’s hard drive and threw it into the weeds. Then he got back behind the wheel and drove for two more hours, his eyes continually checking the rearview mirror. Jen assumed he was making sure they weren’t being tailed. She figured the men must have found a way to track them from Luke’s hard drive chip, and that’s why he threw it out.

  “Mamma?” Bella whispered, tugging on her arm.

  “I think we’re stopping, okay?” Jen replied, figuring Bella was hungry and needed to use the potty.

  Bella nodded, her little eyes weary and scared. Jen squeezed her tight and kissed her on the forehead.

  “I’m so sorry, baby. I know this is scary.”

  Jen looked up at Luke. As much as she loved that man, she couldn’t help but wonder where she would draw the line. How far could she go as a mother?

  The car rolled to a stop in front of another house out in the middle of nowhere, but this time there was another car there. She clutched Bella, until she saw a familiar face rushing out the front door.

  “Dad?” She cried, with relief.

  “Pap’s here!” Bella cheered, throwing the door wide and jumping out of the car and into Jen’s father’s arms.

  Jen was right behind her. Her father took them both in his arms and hugged and kissed them. Her mother joined them.

  “I’m so glad you guys are here, but how?” Jen asked, when they finally pulled apart.

  “Let’s finish the conversation inside,” Kip commanded from behind her.

  He was blocking the front seat, so her parents hadn’t seen Luke yet. Jen nodded and then ushered everyone in the house, so that Kip could get Luke out of the car himself. Another man greeted her once they were in the house.

  “You must be Jen,” he said, his southern accent thick.

  “Dean?” She asked.

  He nodded.