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“Tell me what?”
Her eyes clash with mine, and I stare deeply into her eyes. “That those assholes who raised you weren’t your parents. They were your aunt and uncle.”
Noelle’s eyes widen, and her lips part, though she doesn’t say anything.
“You also have a trust fund. You and Noah both had one,” I inform her. Watching her like a hawk, I don’t miss her flinching at the mention of Noah.
“That’s not true. I would have known if they weren’t my parents. And there’s no way I have money. I mean, you saw . . .”
“Elle, it’s true,” I interrupt, keeping her from going down that path. “I’ll show you the papers proving it.”
“But my birth certificate, it has them listed as my parents.”
“It’s a fake,” Blaze speaks up from next to me, getting Noelle’s attention. “I’m sorry, darlin’, but it’s all true.”
“Then . . .” Noelle squeezes her eyes shut and jerks herself from my arms. This time I let her. Pain hits my chest like a knife plunging into my chest at the sight of her folding her arms around her stomach and pacing. “If all this is true. Then who am I? Was Noah even my brother?” The last question is my breaking point.
Jerking to my feet, I yank her to me. “Noah was your brother. He was your family, and he loved you. Everything he did growing up was to protect you. He made sure you lived.” I press a kiss to the side of her head. “Noah sacrificed himself for you to keep living and you now get to do that.”
“But . . .” A sob escapes her as her legs all but give out under her.
Talking about Noah is never easy. It hurts her more than it does me. I’ve grieved the loss of my friend. I’ve come to terms with it, and finally accepted it after all these years. Noelle hasn’t had that chance. It’s been thrown in her face constantly. Hell, I’ve even done it. When I first saw her again. And for that, I’ll make up for it every damn day until my last breath because I should have protected her.
Now, it’s time for her to know the truth. Just as it’s time she told me everything she’s been through.
They say the truth will set you free, well, let that be fucking true.
CHAPTER17
NOELLE
After what feels like forever, I finally get myself together, embarrassment threatens to take hold over the fact I broke down in front of all these men. Thankfully, none of them show pity in their eyes, though I do see concern. Especially two of the men sitting off to the side.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, wiping the rest of the tears from my face.
“Don’t be sorry for feeling the loss of your brother.”
I look in the direction of the man who spoke and notice his cut says his name is Twister, and underneath, it says President. But I thought Stoney was the President of the club.
“Noelle, this is Twister, President of the Franklin Charter. Next to him is Coyote, he’s with our club. On the other side of Twister is his VP, my son, Horse,” Stoney says, and my eyes widen and whip to the other man.
“How old were you when he was born?” I blurt out, making everyone laugh. “He looks like your brother.”
Grinning, Stoney crosses his arms, making him look that much bigger. “Was fifteen.”
I’m surprised he answers.
“Whoa,” I murmur, looking between the two men.
“I also have four other children, though they’re not as old as Horse is. I learned to wrap my shit and not let it be on the woman for protection.”
I nod, agreeing with him. “This is true. Men definitely need to do that.”
I slap my hand over my mouth and inwardly chastise myself for not thinking before I spoke. I’m putting it down to being grief-stricken and exhausted.
But it doesn’t seem that any of them are annoyed or mad at me for what I said.
Cyprus keeps his arm around me and pulls me back down onto his lap while Twister crosses the room and kneels in front of me.
