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Jace steps toward me, as if about to argue. “I don’t want any of you to stay,” I clarify, and the finality in my tone leaves room for no argument.
Cole’s shoulders droop and his jaw tightens, and just when I think he’s going to put up a fight, the man with the woman steps forward. “Give them space to talk,” he suggests firmly.
Jace sighs heavily, then scoops Harper up and heads toward her bedroom.
Harper peeks over his shoulder, and she gifts me with a little smile. The same soft smile the woman in my kitchen has on her face as she looks toward Harper with tears in her eyes.
Cole throws Lucas a venomous glare, grabs his car keys from the counter, and storms out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him.
Lucas steps from behind me, and my body jolts at his proximity. I’m standing here with his cum between my legs, and still, he held secrets from me. Betrayal swims heavily in my stomach, pulling me down. Drowning me in our darkness.
Deceit, anger, hurt, they all swirl inside me, threatening to combust.
I spin to face him. “You knew!” I spit out. “You fucking knew!” I fly toward him, my fists hammer against his chest, andhe stands there and takes it. A sob catches in my throat. “You knew and I trusted you.”
“I wanted to protect you,” he whispers. “We all did.”
I shake my head, refusing to listen. They knew I had relatives out there and kept it from me, and I know in the pit of my stomach that Lucas is behind it all.
When I’ve always done everything in my power to protect him, when I make excuses and treat him with more tenderness than the others, when we had our darkness, our trauma, a connection. That connection.
He knew everything, and not once did he consider what I might want.
“I wanted to protect you,” he repeats when my fists stop and my chest heaves.
I step back, and he attempts to step forward, but I shake my head. “I’m done.” I lift my chin and stare at him, the flash of pain in his eyes makes my heart skip a beat. “I’m done, Lucas. I don’t want you anywhere near me.”
“Please...” He steps forward again, and I step back.
“No. I’m done making excuses for your actions. You hurt me, here...” I hold my hand over my heart. “More than them. I thought we’d always protect one another. This isn’t protecting me, Lucas. It’s protecting you.”
His lip wobbles, then he pulls it into his mouth, unshed tears swim in his eyes, and I long to draw him against me, to offer him the comfort I know he craves.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers. Then he takes a deep breath and heads toward Harper’s room.
When it’s just me, the woman, and the guy left behind, I fidget with the hem of my T-shirt, unsure of what to say, then swipe my tears away.
The guy clears his throat. “I’ll go wait outside.” She nods toward him, then casts her attention back on me.
“Is it okay if I sit down?” Her hand finds her stomach, drawing my eyes to the tender action I recognize well. She’s pregnant.
The thought makes me spring into action, and I clear my throat. “Of course. I’m sorry,” I blurt. “Can I get you a drink or something?”
She sits on the edge of the couch with her hands wringing in the lap of her blue sundress; something I’d never wear but seems to suit her well. “No. I’m good, thank you, Tia.” Her sweet tone is just how I’d imagine someone like her to speak.
Sitting on the couch opposite her, I grab a pillow to clutch, my stare never leaving hers.
It’s weird how similar we are, yet not alike at all.
“Who are you?” My voice comes out shaky, full of uncertainty, exactly how I feel.
“My name’s Sky, and I’m your sister.”
It’s obvious that’s who she is, she’s far too young to be my mother. But still, hearing her say the words has my pulse racing.
“I only just found out about you,” she’s quick to add.
I nod in understanding, yet confusion floods every cell of my body.
