Aarne: Brothers, #5

By Hayden West

Special Forces Operator Aarne LeVesque hasn't been the same since he lost his lover. Dumping all his attention to his work, he accepts as many assignments as he can, trying to outrun the past. His latest mission is sending him right back to that same jungle where his life was upended.

Jakeb Wynn dreams about a dark skinned man that he had only viewed while sighting down the barrel of his rifle, to kill the man next to him. As a solider, he'd done his job and had regretted it ever since. No longer a solider, he is a man who works for the highest bidder and this latest assignment, brings him face to face with that man once more.

But this time it's different, they are supposed to be on the same side, however, when their past comes back how will this all end up?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hayden West
• Release date: May 12, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224096091

Book preview

Prologue

For being in the supposed great state of Texas, it was only fitting that the one day they could really use the nice weather, it was an ugly, cold and blistery day. Aarne LeVesque lifted his chin, refusing to let any of the emotions soaring through him to show. He wore his dress uniform, not a thing out of place and that included his heavy wool coat.

Casting his gaze over the gleaming black casket holding his brother, Todd, to meet the stoic gaze of Brix Mangleson, another brother, he swallowed back the large lump forming in his throat. Moving on from him, he pivoted to see the other four siblings, all strategically positioned along the casket. Three per side to carry it as soon as it was removed from the hearse.

It wasn’t a job they would ever entrust to someone else. Guilt gnawed at him because he hadn’t been there to stop the attack. He didn’t believe the detective looking into this that it wasn’t able to be solved.

He agreed that it was a vicious attack and that it was related to the fact Todd had been a gay man. Aarne didn’t agree the slightest that there were no leads. To him, this was nothing more than how it had been growing up around here.

They’d been housed at a place called Trinity House and despite its name, it was a horrible place that did unspeakable things to the boys who had been sent there. A place solely to reform gay boys and teach them the sin of their ways as they learned how to be proper and upstanding members of society.

He shoved those memories back and faced forward once more. There weren’t more than a handful of people there and he wondered if the murderer wasn’t in attendance. Another shared glance with Brix and they reached for the handles at the same time. He didn’t have to glance behind him once more to know his siblings had done it as well.

They all lifted together and walked from the car to the hole in the ground that had the device to lower it in the ground. The wind whipped harder the closer they got, stinging his eyes. He blinked away the biting grit, still refusing the tears the freedom to fall.

Once they were in position, he took a deep breath and forced himself to release the silver handle. It took him a few tries to get his gloved fingers to unlock, he didn’t want to. Letting go, meant, letting go.

Grinding his jaw, he fell into step with his remaining brothers and moved to the cold metal chairs waiting for them. They didn’t speak to one another. As a unified front, they paused before their seats and sat as one.

The minister cleared his throat, fingered his bible and stepped up to the rickety pulpit that was there, on the grass. Once it was placed there, he gave a pointed look to all of the brothers. With a deep breath, he began.

Chapter

One

"C ontact rear! Contact rear!" Aarne hollered as he engaged the enemy. Sweat ran down his face, stinging his eyes as he defended their rear.

How do I get myself in these kind of positions? In countries I no longer want to visit even on down time.

He thought about all those who had served before and how uncomfortable they had to be back then. He shook his head and wiped away more sweat. Ejecting the spent magazine, he shoved another in and ensured these following them kept down.

Move it Thumper. He hauled the man up beside him without looking at him. No time to dawdle, this ain’t a fucking vacation.

Fucking stop calling me that.

No can do. Aarne made sure Thumper was mobile, and he was but it wouldn’t be fast. You came to us with the moniker. You’re keeping it.

The man stumbled and Aarne supported him with one hand, the action purely an instinct. Around them the jungle fell silent. Aarne grabbed Thumper, turned and dragged him down.

Whisky Tango Foxtrot."

Quiet. His order was low and growly. But then kind wasn’t now and had not ever been part of his vocabulary.

I just got up on my feet and you fucking yank me down.

Crouching, Aarne swept the area. The bastard was out there. He