Talat's point of view

My brother is dead.

My whole body shook, but I held on tight to my little composure and step away from dad's embrace. Who would think that I would end up in his arms after all these years? I watched him fight to pull of his suit and then he broke down in his chair. He cried his heart out. The way he cried; I think the building shook. Crying over his beloved son.

I wiped my face and the image of Junior's body flash in my mind. His death made me feel my whole twenty-six years, because I've only known him for five. It took five years for the bastard to snatched my cold heart and made me care, make me want to protect him; a thug I didn't know anything about all my life. I grew up thinking I was the only child.

Then a shoe drop or whatever dad had dropped, his conscience maybe. He hit me with a bomb. A bomb that is now exploded.

A murder and a rapist. A rapist!

Bitterness swirl in my chest as Caroline's face flashes through my mind.

Allah Allah

My heart grew cold in my chest and I wiped my tears. I fix my attire and walked up over to the table. I no longer give a fuck. Junior was the favorite son anyway.

"You think this is it huh? You are wrong, you lost me big time. I quit. As soon as this case is over, I'm gone."

He looked up at me with a messy face.

"Olum-"

"Baba, yavash," I held my hand up to him. He should slow down indeed. He has been covering murders for Junior all these years and its like all of it is going to fall on me. Walter won't give up so easy.

"Walter is back, I won't be the one to tell him that Junior is a part of the family a rapist for a son,"  I filled my voice with sarcasm, and added salt to the wound. If I had vampire hearing, I would have maybe hear his heart crack. His eyes widen and he held his chest.

Yes, the son you protect and love over me is also one of that, a rapist for Christ sake!

Gritting my teeth I walked out of there. I signaled a concern Matthew to check on him. I walked heavily down the stairs.

The whole building probably is wondering why is he crying that loud.
They all knew am his son. They don't need to know his other son just died.

Yes, Junior and I had a few happy memories. Memories. Memories of him and I fighting for a blunt of cigarettes, chasing each other for no good reasons, but mostly me trying to change him, to let him see the brighter side of life. All of that shattered because of what he did. The murders didn't harden my heart, even though Am a cop that shouldn't be tolerating those. What he had done to Caroline did. It shattered those memories.

I knew my face was grim, no-one step to me to ask me anything when I reach the flat.

"Talat," That soft voice said my name. I stood rooted to my spot.

Her soft fingers touched my jacket arm.
I couldn't even look at her.

"Talat?"

"I have to go," I walked off with my hands stuck in my pants pockets.

"Talat, wait," She said beside me at the door. I turned around and looked at her. Her greys so... Why so captivating?   For the first time she was close to me willing and I wanted her far away, yet I knew it took a lot for her to even touch me.

"Is he dead?" She asked. I thought of lying but I couldn't so I nodded my head a yes, with a close up windpipe. Swallowing; I watched her reactions. There was nothing to read. I look deeper in her eyes but I couldn't pick a emotion. What kind of cop am I?

"What are you feeling?"

"One down, he won't rape another one," She said, walking away in the hospital gown. I run behind her and slowly grab her arm to slow her down. She stop in front of the department but didn't push me away.

"Caroline-"

"I need you to get my sister out of there, out of that house, mansion or should I say hell?"

"What? I can't do that, I'm there to take down Pauline for drugs. I saw that you needed help-" She pull her arm from me
and look me dead in the eyes.

"I'm sorry about your car, really. I don't need your help anymore. What I need you to do is get my sister out of that house or I will."

Shit!

Her heart of harden. Cold like ice, she leaked frost from her eyes at me.

"Don't do anything stupid, one kill doesn't make you a murder, it was self defense."

"If I have to kill her, I will, but don't let me," She turned away but not before I see the tears. I crush her to my chest without a thought. The night as fallen, lights were on, people from the department probably were watching but I care zero. I could feel her tensed, but then she slowly relax.

"Shh, I'll help you I promise."

Caroline's point of view

In his arms, I realize I don't know what came over me. It's not that am one hundred and one percent vulnerable. I've been more vulnerable than this. I'm slowly letting my guard down for a man that I've only known for a couple of hours.

I overthink so much to see if am wrong, but nothing in my thoughts say I should be cold towards him. He knows my dad, they seems like long lost friends this morning.He seems like a good detective, the others respect him. He set aside his job to help me. I don't see what is there for me to stay away.

He kissed me on my cheeks not too long ago. Puff! Maybe he is a player

I roll my eyes and step away from him, but then it hit me.

I've never in my life receive genuine affection from a man unless it's from my dad. All the others were assholes; I couldn't allow a boy close to me, much less to touch me due to pauline's damage two years ago.

Pauline had sent a middle age man in my bedroom one night, when dad was out with matilda. He raped me just because she lost a gambling and didn't want to pay up. The memory choked me and I broke down.

I felt Talat's arms around me, pulling me back to his chest and I cried harder than ever, since I haven't shed one tear when the man left. I was raped in anger and pain.

"You are developing asthma or something, you are hp-" I couldn't hear what he was saying as a gas mask covered my nose. The paramedics haven't left.

"She will be okay Detective Morris, just stay put for a couple of minutes."

***

"Are you okay now?" I opened my eyes to see myself in a hospital room. Talat's fingers were in my hair but he quickly pulled his hand away.
I saw dad across the room talking to a doctor. My eyes turned to the corner and - I jump up on the bed.

"Take this out of me!" I touched Talat's knee and tried to pull out the IV. Pauline was there in the corner next to the drip with a devilish smile on her face.

"Caroline?" I froze when I heard Matilda's voice. I slowed my breathing as she rushed towards me. She pushed Talat's knees aside and hug me to her.

"I miss you so much," I said, planting kisses in her hair, on her cheeks and hugging her again. She step back and we wiped each other tears. Her grey eyes stare back into mine. She looks a lot like dad, with a blond hair in a long ponytail. She pushes her thin lips and kissed me on the forehead.

I hugged her tighter.

I was eight years when mom died, Matilda was just two, now her twelve years shows on her. I feel more like a mother than sister if may say so. I knew I had to go through hell with Pauline, so that she doesn't do her what she did me.

"I could do your hair next time, you look like a fish, a cute one, don't worry," She said, smiling. Oh, how I love her, yes my heart could feel love.

Dad came over to me and she introduced her self to Talat meanwhile  dad almost squeezed the life from me.

Pauline moved from the corner but Talat stood up. Thank the Lord.

"She should get some rest," He said, touching dad on his shoulder.

"I have someone I want you to meet Matilda."

"Who is that now sir?"

"Someone as polite as you, come on."

They left and I was shocked to see Matilda so welcoming. She never really allow men close to her either, got me thinking maybe she was raped too. I had asked her about boyfriends, and even though she understood me, she claims shyly that her cherry have never been popped. I sighed.

She is still that innocent girl, so innocent she reminds me of me before mom died.

"I need to get some rest, dad."

"Without hugging me?" Pauline asked.

"Yes, because I need to rest," I turn my back to them.

She have the nerve to ask that, how isn't she in a movie?

"Babe, just let her rest, come on." I turn around and watched them leave.

As soon as they left, Talat came back with Matilda and a little boy.

"You are coming home with me."

"Talat-"

"This is Simon."

"Simon? As in Simon Bell?"

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What are your thoughts?

So Caroline has yet to tell Talat she knows his dad. Damn.

Now she knows Simon last name, she knows somethings but because of her fuzzy mind, covered memories ....

What will her reaction be when she finds out that Talat is Junior's brother?

Stay to find out. If you are new, welcome, follow me or... Whatever...

Somethings will unfold in the next few chapters... The surprises that you came across, I'll focus on those to get it more interesting. In fact Walter will be present.

Remember to VOTE, COMMENT, COMMENT and SHARE.

Shine bright❤💪