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“So, you’re my twin brother?” I ask him. “You’re nothing like the annoying boy I remember.”
He chuckles. “No, now I’m just an annoying prospect. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who I was when I joined.”
“Did you join because of me?”
“Yes. Not that I’m not committed to becoming a member. But I came here because of you. I’d been looking for you for the last eight years.”
“How did you know I was in Vegas?”
Max tells me about the years he spent with Wayne after our mother took off with me. I’m glad to hear our leaving didn’t turn his life into hell. I remember little about Wayne, but I don’t recall him being physically abusive. He tells me about how he learned of our mother’s death and where to find me. But it’s the last piece of information that sends me over the edge.
“That son of a bitch!” I explode. “So, he didn’t just sell Angelica, but he sold me as well? What a bastard! What kind of monster sells his daughters? Do you think that’s why she left him and took me with her? She said she did it to protect me.” Max shrugs, and I can see the hurt in his eyes. “I’m sorry she didn’t take you with us.”
He shrugs. “I won’t deny feeling hurt and angry. For the longest time, I couldn’t figure out what I’d done to make her leave me. Dad kept telling me we were better off without you both. He didn’t seem to blame me for your leaving, so that’s something. Did Mom ever say why she took you? Or why she left me?”
“The only thing she ever said about our leaving was that she was trying to protect me, but she never said what she was protecting me from. I asked about you. She said that if she brought you with us, we wouldn’t have escaped. That Wayne would hunt us all down.”
Max nods. “She’s right. He would have. He said something to that effect once. I still wish she would have taken me. I missed you. Missed you both.”
We spend some time discussing our youth and growing up without our twin. My life was easier, mostly because I had our mother, but I’m relieved to hear that his life wasn’t bad.
“Can I ask why you didn’t tell me who you were when you found me?”
He shrugs. “I wanted to. My plan was to meet you and see if you recognized me. Since you didn’t, I wondered if I made amistake. Especially after I heard you talking to Dice one day. You told him you were an only child and that both your parents died in an accident.”
I nod as I think back on that conversation. “I said that. When I walked in on our dad killing our mom, I’d never been more scared in my life. I attacked him with a frying pan and knocked him out. I checked Mom for a pulse but couldn’t bring myself to touch him. Instead, I panicked and ran. I figured I was going to be arrested for murder. Spent the next few years just trying to survive. When I came here, it was the first time anyone tried to get to know me.” I chuckle at the memory of how scared I was when I accepted Puma’s offer to prospect for the club. “I made up a story that I thought would keep anyone from digging deeper. Have to admit that while I trusted Puma, I didn’t trust everyone right away. Hell, I only just told Chill that I killed our dad after they patched me in.”
Max nods. “You told me a few weeks after I became a prospect.”
I frown at him. “I did? When?”
“It was after Alisa and Elina came here. You were spending more time with Elina and learned of her father’s murder. Her story somehow reminded you of our mother’s murder. You told me what happened that day. How you came home and found him choking her. When you said you killed him, I realized you didn’t know he was still alive. Then you said you wished he was so you could hunt him down and hurt him like he had hurt her. I couldn’t let you do that. I was afraid that you’d go after him alone. That’s why I didn’t tell you the truth. My plan was to tell you after you got patched in. Then you’d have backup. It’s just after everything that happened with Dice, I put it off for too long.”
I remember that night. After hearing Alisa’s story about her husband and getting to know Elina, my heart broke for thelittle girl. She’d never know her father. All because some asshole wanted Alisa for himself. Our situations weren’t similar, but I related to her loss. While living on the streets, I didn’t allow myself to grieve for my mother. At least not very often. I couldn’t allow myself to be weak. When I came here, I fought against the memories as I struggled with the duties of a prospect. That night was one of the few times I allowed myself to drink. And to wallow.
“I can understand why you didn’t tell me. I’m sorry I got so angry with you. Everything that happened yesterday was just too much. Discovering that Angelica is our sister and that the bastard who spawned us is still alive overwhelmed me.” I sit for a minute and think about the past few days, and one memory has me chuckling.
“What?” Max asks.
“I was just remembering the look on your face when Avery said we could be Angelica’s parents. I couldn’t figure out why the idea horrified you so much.”
He laughs. “I thought for certain she figured it out, but she said nothing. I feel like an idiot for not thinking sooner that Angelica could be our sister. She drew that image of Ouroboros. Wayne still wears that damn pendant.”
“Jeez, we’re a fucked-up family,” I mutter.
Max holds his hand out to me, and I take it. When he stands, he pulls me up with him before wrapping his arms around me. I hug him back as hard as I can. I have my brother back. We have a sister to protect. Together. But we are not alone. We’ll have help from the Demon Dawgs. We’ll make sure Angelica never has to see that bastard again.
Puma enters the room, giving us one of his brilliant smiles when he sees us hugging it out.
“You made up? Good. I just got a call from Rafe. He’s on his way here with some news. Seems like he found Angelica’smother, but he says there’s a problem. He wanted to make sure you were here, Viper. He said he needs to talk to you about Wayne.”
CHAPTER TEN: RAFE
After getting Angela and Reggie’s details, I get back into my car. Pulling up the contact information for Monica Capon, I leave her a message about Angela and pass along her number. I also offer to assist CPS in any way that I can.
Once I’m home, I scrounge through my refrigerator for something to eat. Settling on an omelet, I take out eggs, bell peppers, pepper jack cheese, and mushrooms. While I crack the eggs, I think about Viper and wonder about how she’s doing. Today was tough for her. While I wish I was the one she turned to for comfort, I know she’s not there yet. Hell, she may never be. She’s been fighting her battles alone for too long. Even though she now has the club. I don’t think she’s ready to let herself see them as her family. Maybe she’s too afraid of losing them. However, if she can get over her anger at Max and embrace him as her brother, maybe she’ll grow to realize that she’s no longer alone.
I eat my dinner and clean up before heading upstairs to sleep. My condo is comfortable, but I can admit it’s also sterile. I know it doesn’t look like I’ve lived here for as long as I have. Anyone coming in would think I’d just moved in. I chuckle at the memory of Viper’s first visit. She thought I brought her to a safehouse or vacation rental rather than my home. God, I miss her. I miss her laughter and that gorgeous smile. I miss the feel of her in my arms.
