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My brother Trace.I didn’t like how the words landed.
“That makes you my brother too,” I told him.
“Not so much. We’re, what? Step-brothers? If anything at all.”
“Well it’s family, right?” I’d never call this guy family, but I wondered if that’s what his end game was: a biological connection. If that was all he wanted, I might be able to rest easy. No, scratch that: there was no resting easy for me. There was only resting slightly less anxious. “Your bio dad is my father too. We’re linked.”
He sniffed, his gaze sweeping back across my office. “I’m mostly interested in getting to know Trace. Where’s he at, anyway? I’m not opposed to meeting him there.”
“Out of the country.”
“You could send me there.” The nonchalant way he delivered the words sent up a red flag. “I got time if you got the plane.”
“I don’t think so. Besides, you said duty was calling you back to Louisville,” I said. “Nice try, though. What do you really want, Ian?”
“I told you.”
“We are very invested in a low-drama lifestyle,” I said, lowering my chin. “When you start getting to know Trace, he’ll tell you the same. If you hope to maintain any type of relationship with your blood brother, you should be prepared for what ‘low-drama’ means."
Ian scoffed. “What, you think I’m here to stir up some shit?”
“I don’t know what to think. I don’t have enough information either way,” I told him, keeping my voice low and measured.
“Seems like you were able to find some information already,” he muttered.
“I don’t like to go in blind. I let the data tell the story.” That was the truest thing about my life. I let data tell the story. Which was how I’d arrived here, twenty stories up. Analyzing cold, hard data. Even when it led to less-than-savory conclusions.
“Well, here’s some data for you,” Ian said. “I want to see Trace one last time before I head back to Kentucky. Brother to brother.”
“You might have to wait for him to visit Kentucky,” I told him. “He goes there frequently. I’m sure you two can meet up soon enough.”
Ian’s gaze grew dark in the same way Trace’s did whenever he found a brick wall. Maybe that stubbornnesswasinherited.
“Maybe I won’t be going back to Kentucky after all,” Ian said with a sigh. “I like it here in New York. It’s busy. Lots of opportunities. I might take an interview before I go, just to see what happens. They’re looking for mail runners at this company nearby, Rossberg Aerospace. You heard of it?”
I schooled my reaction, making sure nothing leaked out. The mention of that name in my presence was one thing, and I thanked the Lord above that Axel wasn’t here.
If Axel had heard that name uttered inside this building, in this context, with this stranger claiming family connection, Ian would never be allowed back in. Actually, he might never make it out.
Thankfully, I was the calmer type.
“You’ll have to let me know how that goes.” I tipped my head, watching him intensely for any reaction. “I’ve heard the Fairchild name isn’t too welcome in those parts, so you might have a bit of a hard time rising up the ranks. Now, I have an appointment in a few minutes. It’s time for you to go.”
He sent me an inscrutable smirk again, coming to his feet. “Well, it was great talking to you, Damian. Maybe someday I’ll call you brother, too.”
“We can only hope.” I stood, my heart pounding as I followed him to my office door. He waved before he sauntered away. I watched him disappear down the hallway, making sure he actually left, before I shut my door.
Rossberg Aerospace.Eli Rossberg’s family business.
Axel would have flown off the fucking handle if he’d heard that name dropped in our building. And while I’d been able to tamp down my reaction, it still left a distinct and disgusting taste in my mouth. Like the tang of copper, warning me of a wound I had yet to discover.
He’d almost had me. Almost convinced me of his pure intentions, his genuine interest in connecting with his blood family.
But the mention of Eli’s company blew all that out of the water. This guy had an ulterior motive. He wanted something. Probably money. But there was something more here, and not knowing had my gut cinching tighter and tighter every second that ticked by.
You knew something else was waiting in the wings. You were right.
You were right.
