Chapter Seventy Seven

Chapter Seventy Seven
Lincoln

I knew Elliot wasn’t happy. I get it. I was being a little excessive with the guards but the overprotectiveness in me was only growing the more threats and danger were being aimed at my family that I couldn’t help but become paranoid.
He ended up coming home early than going out with the others as he normally does twice a week. And even though he doesn’t state that it bothers him, that he understood why things are the way they are right now, it doesn’t erase the fact that I felt like I was imprisoning him and making him feel like he was restricted to going anywhere he wanted to go.
I hated it. I didn’t want to be this way. Didn’t want to be the kind of person that controlled every aspect of his life, like Han had did with all of us. But what else was I supposed to do?
Pulling up into the rounded driveway I frown seeing Axel standing there with his hands in his pant pockets on the steps waiting for me. I couldn’t read his expression as he watched me step out of the car, Jonesy hopping in to drive it to the back where all the other cars go. Taking one step at a time I say,
“Hey, you and Tristan staying another night?”
Since the last threat Tristan didn’t want to stay home, especially alone. Even with the extra bodyguards Axel couldn’t convince him to stay at the house. Apparently he wanted to be surrounded by his family, and they’ve been staying with us ever since.
“We’re practically moved in until this whole ordeal is dealt with. Tristan is too close to giving birth. I don’t want to stress him more than he already is and cause him to go into early labor.”
That was understandable. And I was glad they both felt that way. It made me sleep easier knowing they were here where there was more protection.
“Lincoln, we need to talk.”
His tone has me stalling a little bit. My frown grows deeper. “Everything alright?” I ask carefully, noticing his demeanor has changed.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
He gives me a look, staring right into my eyes. “On whether you’re going to tell me the truth or not.”
My defenses immediately slam up. I stop on the last step just below where he was standing. “The truth about what?” I demand, wondering where this conversation was going.
His gaze not wavering he bluntly states, “About Simon.”
My entire body seizes at the mention of that Omega’s name. He hasn’t been brought up for years, so why now all the sudden. “What about him?” I ask carefully.
He looks behind him to the front door. It was closed so I wasn’t sure what he was looking for. Maybe hoping no one was eavesdropping on us. Turning back to me he states,
“Let’s go take a walk. It’s nice out and it’s been a while since I’ve walked the grounds.”
I don’t argue as I follow my older brother to the path where dozens of Birch trees were splayed out providing plenty of shade along the way. One summer when I was little and sneaked out I overheard our birth father saying how much he loved the trees and wished there had been more of them. The year Han was imprisoned I immediately made sure more were planted and in a way that allowed a path for him to walk through. I’ll never forget the look of pure happiness on his face when he saw them.
It was one of the first times he truly gave me a smile that was only meant for me. Because of something I did that had been just for him. He didn’t question on how I knew he loved them. I think by that point he now understood that I knew more about them then they did about me.
We don’t speak for a few moments as we walk. Looking up through the branches and leaves, the sun hit just right making the scenery seem golden.
“Let’s sit over there.” He points out to the decorative wooden bench that I made sure was polished and stained for our birth father. It was one of his favorite places to sit, especially when he wanted to be alone and have a moment to himself.
As soon as we sit down Axel doesn’t hesitate. “What really happened with Simon, Lincoln.”
Again my shoulders tense. I knew I’ve been wanting to tell him the truth of it, but it’s been so long that I felt like at this point it was just some lame excuse that he wouldn’t even believe. “What do you mean? You were there; you saw what happened. Why are you bringing this up now, Axel? It was ten years ago. Thought you were happy with Tristan, so why does he matter all the sudden?”
He watches me for a moment, seeing how uncomfortable I was. “I am happy with Tristan. More than happy. He’s my soulmate Lincoln. I didn’t bring up Simon because I still have some lingering feelings. Honestly, I don’t really think I ever did. I was fascinated by him because he made me feel seen at the time.”
“Then why-”
“Because I want to know the truth. After all these years of getting to know you, the real you, when I think back on it, it’s hard for me to believe that the man sitting here next to me really did something as force himself on a man that he wanted nothing to do with in the first place. For a while I believed you did it because you hated me and wanted to throw it in my face that you could get anything you wanted. That you could steal anything that belonged to me. But you’re not like that at all Lincoln.”
He looks down at his hands. “It took time, but I learned that everything you did that seemed heartless to me and our birth father was only done to protect us. Especially from Han. From time to time I've always wondered how you grew up to be the man you are today. Looking back you made us believe you were the monster Han sculpted you to be. So, tell me Lincoln what was going through your mind all these years?”
I didn’t think this was going to be the day that we finally talked about this. Maybe I thought we never would. I wasn’t expecting to be emotional when it happened, but all I could feel in this moment was vulnerability. And not the kind that I feel with Elli but something I haven’t felt since I was a little boy.
This time there was no way of avoiding it. Looking right at Axel, I’ve decided that this was the moment that the full truth of everything needed to come out.