Dane

After a night on the computers that finally answered some of the questions he'd been asking for too long, Dane called Chris in early. He had to get moving before the nine o'clock meeting with Harry. Figuring it had to be about Lila, Chris didn't even grumble. Just rolled out of bed and took a car to the office.

​​

Dane waited for him at his desk, but he was turned to watch the sun rise over the city.

When Chris walked in, he slumped into the seat across the desk. Dane didn't turn.

"What's up?" Chris asked carefully.

"I have a job for you," Dane said. He had to manage this conversation on a razor-wire. Chris couldn't suspect. Couldn't even have a passing thought. "You're the only one I know I can trust. That's what you want right? To be trusted?"

"Yes. Of course. That's what I've always wanted, big brother," Chris said, his voice rough from lack of use.

"Good. Well, strap in, little brother, because things are about to get hairy." He turned his chair around and Chris was sat forward, elbows on his knees, in a pose Dane knew he himself often used when he was tense and felt like he needed to be ready to respond. "I'm working with the Police," Dane said. Chris nodded. This wasn't new information. "I'm meeting with Harry Quinn at nine o'clock."

Chris whistled. "He's the guy who worked Talia's case, right?"

"One of them," Dane said. "The thing is, for me to work with Harry, I need to be gone for a couple days. Maybe as many as five."

Chris blinked. "For real?"

"So, I need you to take care of things here until it's all back under control."

"What are you going to be doing?"

"I don't know all the details. But I agreed to be available—not just ready, but there with them. I think… I think they have an undercover. In Dad's team."

Chris's eyes went wide. "Seriously?"

"I'm not sure. He hasn't said it directly. But everything they're talking about adds up to it."

"So, what do you think he's going to do? What does he need you for?"

"I think he can get me in."

"Why the fuck would you want to do that?"

Dane frowned. "To get Lila!"

"But if they have someone in there—"

"They need to keep that person undercover in case it all goes to shit. I'm the one who can go in without them knowing the Police are involved. Then Dad just thinks I worked it out."

Chris was on his feet, his face genuinely alarmed. "Dane, you can't. He'll kill you!"

"It's the only chance I have of getting her back, Chris," he said, and let the emotional toll of everything that had been happening show on his face. "I can't just sit here… I can't just wait. I have to try."

"Let us send a team with you—I can have four men within an hour—"

"No. I'm not putting more people on his radar. Besides, I don't have the contact. I don't know how they're getting in."

"But—"

"Chris, I'm not going to do that. This whole situation has shown me, he's never going to stop. None of this—nothing in my life—will ever be normal until he's gone. Or I am. I have to face this head on. Do or die."

"Don't say that," Chris snarled between his teeth.

"I should have done it years ago. Before Lila. Maybe if I had… maybe we'd be happy…" He trailed off.

Chris paced the floor behind the chair, raking his hand through his hair. "You can't just disappear into Dad's dungeon without us doing something—we could bug you. Put a tracker in your clothes—"

"You know he'd find those in minutes. His technology is as good, if not better, than ours. I have to go in, and I have to go in blind. My only hope is that whoever they've got in there can help us get back out. Or at least get her." Dane sank his face into his hands. "She should never have been brought into this."

Chris hesitated, and Dane prayed he'd judged it right. Then he heard Chris swallow and say, "What do you want me to do?"

Dane sucked in a huge breath of relief, but hoped it sounded like pure emotion. He raised his head, his eyes red from being pressed into his hands. "I want you here, running everything while I'm gone. So I know that at least that side of things is safe. And if… if Lila comes back and I don't… I want you to help her."

"Of course! But, Dane—"

"I'm not unrealistic about this, Chris. It's possible I'll get through it. And get Lila back. I hope so. Damn, I hope so. But… everything is in place. Legally, strategically. If something happens to me, all the papers are in the safe. The lawyers are up to date. My will is valid. I need you to handle things."

Chris blinked at him twice before, he closed his open mouth and swallowed. "Dane…"

"Everything I want taken care of is in the papers. Make sure Lila has whatever she needs, this will hit her harder than anyone else. She really was… optimistic."

"Of course, but…"

"I wouldn't have gotten through the past eight years without you. For real. You know that, right? I know it hasn't been easy—I know I've been a basketcase. But I've been thinking a lot the past few days while I've been getting everything in place. I think I understand the last few years better now that I ever did. And I'm so mad at myself for not seeing it all sooner. So… I'm sorry that I made it so hard. Thank you for not stealing Lila when she showed up. And you can be confident, everything's in the papers. You're all taken care of."

He tried to smile, but it was impossible.

Chris just frowned at him. "I can't believe you're talking like this."

Dane shrugged. "I'm just being practical. I've had a couple days to think it through. I didn't want anything to be unsaid, or unclear if I didn't come back." He leaned forward and took a deep breath. "I understand what you've been to me for the past eight years, Chris. I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner. Now, promise me, if it goes wrong, you'll follow the papers to the letter."

"Of course, I will, but—"

"No, don't dismiss it, Chris. There's some stuff in there I'm sure you won't want to do. But do it. For me. And for Lila. I want her taken care of if I'm not here to do it. And I know you're the man who needs to be there when it all goes down."

Chris swallowed and nodded. "I will. I'll do whatever you say."

"Thank you."

Chris's eyes were wide and he kept swallowing. Dane didn't want to get emotional, didn't want to touch him, but he knew it was needed, for the moment. So he stood up and walked to his brother and pulled him into a hug.

They stood that way for a full minute until Dane pulled away and said goodbye without looking Chris in the eyes.

And Chris left.