Page 43 of Fractured Heart

“The fuck did you just say?” Knox snaps, garnering all our attention.

“Your sister doesn’t go by Waverly Bronson anymore, she is now known as Doxy Da Luca.” Knox’s face pales, I look to his father to find he is shocked by my revelation.

“Why?” Roberto asks, speaking for the first time.

“Waverly Bronson died the night her son did, forcing her to become Doxy Da Luca,” I answer. A sob tears from Clara and Lake covers her mouth as tears fill her eyes. Knox darts forward and wraps his arm around her shoulders drawing her into his side.

“My baby had a… baby?” Clara chokes out. Xander rubs her back and tries to offer her comfort. I look to Xander asking without words if I should continue or not, his subtle nod is all I need.

“Yes. She said she had a beautiful baby boy but unfortunately that is all I can say, it isn’t my story to tell and honestly, I think I pissed your daughter off enough already,” I say with a guilty smile.

“What the fuck did you do to my sister, asshole?” Knox snaps.

“Called you,” I say with no emotion in my tone.

Xander

I stand here staring at Rave and Axlyn, they are so big!

Rave’s seven and I am only just meeting him for the first time. I hate that I missed so much of his life. Axlyn is five and looks so much like his dad. Rave is a spitting image of his mother but I can see the devil in his eyes which is all his daddy. I’ve been standing out back watching the two boys play with Taylan, Clara and Roberto and can’t help but smile at the sight. I never thought I would be back here or even have the chance to meet my nephews or see my mom's eyes have some life back in them.

“Here.” I turn and grab the beer Knox offers me and nod my thanks. We stand here side by side, sipping our drinks as we watch the kids jump all over Tay who pretends to be injured from them bouncing on him.

“Roberto, huh?”

Knox groans and scrubs a hand down his face. “I was out voted in my own fucking house. Lake and mom moved him in while I was in the states meeting up with Chaos and Artemis.” I had heard from Taylan that Knox has grown close with Chaos Murdoch and Artemis Argyros.

“You forgive him?” I push.

“Yes and no,” he answers. “Yes, because he makes my mom happy and my boys get to have their grandfather around. No, because…” He lets his sentence trail off.

“Because you didn’t have him around when you were growing up, you blame him for not being there to protect Wave,” I finish for him.

“Yeah,” he breathes out.

“She’s not the same person you once knew, Knox.”

“It doesn’t matter?—”

“It does to her. I love your sister with every beat of my fucking heart, Knox?—”

“Stop–”

“No, you need to hear this!” I face him so he can see the seriousness in my eyes. “I’ve loved her since we were kids, I never stopped. There will never be another woman for me aside from her. You are my brother and I love you but if there is a war coming between you and her, I will choose her, always.” His mouth parts and his brows raise as he searches my eyes for any sign of deceit.

“You mean that, don’t you.”

“Yes.”

“Is my sister coming to kill me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because she blames me, you and Taylan for not finding her.”

Guilt swarms his gaze. “I thought she was dead,” he whispers brokenly.

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