Recluse (Wolfes of Manhattan 2)

“Hazing?” Reid asked.

Rock only nodded. “I won’t go into the gory detail. Luckily I escaped most of it because I was big enough at fourteen. But three years later, I was expected to do the same to others.”

I gulped. “Did you?”

“I’m not proud of the monster I became, but my abuse was only verbal and physical. I refused to…” He shook his head.

“Wow,” Reid said. “I’m sorry, Rock. I used to blame you.”

“For what?” Rock bellowed.

“You already know. When you left, Dad needed a new punching bag. Roy was a recluse, hardly ever around. So it was me.”

“I got my fair share,” I added.

“You did. I’m not taking away from that, but I got the brunt of it.”

I couldn’t deny it. Reid was correct. “You mouthed off a lot more,” I said.

That got a smile out of Rock. “Really? Hard to imagine.”

“I learned from you,” Reid said to Rock.

“I’m sorry, little brother,” Rock said. “My only excuse is that I was fourteen and I didn’t consider the consequences.”

“Not blaming you,” Reid said. “Not anymore. I was a kid. But not now, and especially now that we know what really happened.”

A knock on the door interrupted us.

“Yeah?” Rock said. “Come in.”

Lacey walked in.

“Hey, babe.” Rock raised his eyebrows.

“Sorry to interrupt.”

“It’s okay. We’re all done here. What do you need?”

“Charlie just called. She had lunch with a former partner of mine, and he gave her some information she thinks might help us with the situation with your father. She didn’t want to discuss it over the phone, but she’s on her way back. She wants to see all of us.”

All of us? I didn’t actually work here, like the others. I wasn’t sure I could handle myself around Charlie.

I hadn’t fought her when she didn’t want to sleep with me last night.

And now?

God, I was fucked up.

“When will she be here?”

Then another knock.

Lacey opened the door. “Looks like she’s here now.”Her voice was like an angel’s. Her body sculpted by gods. Her hair like waves of grain blowing in the breeze.

I could hardly focus on Charlie’s words.

Something about a confidential settlement.

A woman with an unusual name.

Derek Wolfe…and someone else.

“Wow,” Lacey said, interrupting my thoughts. “I remember that.”

“Blaine seemed sure you’d remember the woman’s name.”

“I was a brand new associate,” Lacey said, “and a senior partner told me to basically forget I’d ever seen it.”

“You can do it, baby,” Rock said.

“Did he give you any other information?” she asked Charlie.

Charlie shook her head. “Just that he couldn’t say any more because the other client in the settlement is still alive.”

Lacey widened her eyes. “Usually my memory is a curse. Now, when I need it, I can’t bring it to the surface.”

“Maybe try some guided hypnosis,” Reid said.

Rock scoffed. “What kind of crap are you talking about?”

“It’s not crap. It’s a type of therapy.”

“You ever tried it?”

“No, but I’ve read about it.”

“You read about therapy techniques?”

“For God’s sake, Rock,” Reid said, “there’s more to me than a business head. Sometimes I actually read something else.”

“Psychology Today?”

My brothers continued to bat their metaphorical ball back and forth.

I concentrated on Charlie. She looked more beautiful than ever, even in her starchy blue suit. She was a little more casual today, pants instead of a skirt. A shame to cover those legs, though.

Those milky legs that had wrapped around me…

“Roy!”

I jerked in surprise. “What?”

“Are you even listening?” Reid asked.

“Yeah. Woman with a strange name. Guided hypnosis.”

“Do you know anything about it?” Rock asked.

“About what? Guided hypnosis?”

“Uh…yeah. That’s what we’re talking about. That’s what I asked you.”

“Why would I know anything?”

“I guess that’s a no,” Reid said.

“Why would I know anything about it?” I asked again.

“Just a question, Roy,” Rock said. “Chill out.”

Did my brothers really think I’d been in therapy? Did Charlie think I had?

I wanted a hole to open up in the ground so it could swallow me up.

What made them think…?

Did they know something?

Know something was hidden deep within me?

Shit. I was making things up.

Guided hypnosis, though…

Those blurred images that I couldn’t bring to the surface…

Could guided hypnosis help?

Because there was something locked away in my mind, something hidden so deep I couldn’t access it. Couldn’t…

Or didn’t want to…

But it was there, and it was important. Important to what we were trying to accomplish.

God, I didn’t want to go there.

But it was time.

I had to.

Perhaps it would be a relief from the constant mindfuck.

I needed to know more about this guided hypnosis.

“I’ll keep thinking on it,” Lacey said. “Maybe I’ll try the hypnosis thing. Do you know anyone who’s any good, Reid?”

My brother shook his head. “Just read an article.”

She turned to Charlie. “Find me a therapist in the area. Let’s get this figured out.”

“Will do.” Charlie stood. “Anything else?”

“Not that I can think of,” Lacey said. “Guys?”

Reid and Rock shook their heads. Charlie looked to me.