Page 67 of May 11

Wire stroked her cheek. "That's his business to share with you. You can ask him, but you'll need to respect his decision if he doesn't want to discuss it. You need to focus on letting him know you're related. Give him the information you need to share, then let him decide how he wants to move forward."

"Give him...you mean, I get to see him?" She came up on her knees. "When? Where is he?"

"Slow down." He pulled her down onto his lap.

"Does he know about me? Did you tell him I've been looking for him?"

"Cora," he snapped.

She closed her lips and mouthed, "Sorry."

How could he expect her not to ask questions when he had information about her brother?

"He doesn't know about you." He pulled the blanket over her back to keep the wind off her. "Jagger talked to him. Your brother doesn't know anything. All he knows is my girlfriend wants to talk to him."

All the strength left her, and she pressed against Wire's chest as if he could personally make her stronger. All she'd wanted to hear was if her brother was excited to know he had a sister. Maybe he looked forward to having her in his life. He wouldn't treat her like he had their parents when he chose to walk away and never return.

Afraid of what her brother thought of having a sister, she tried to prepare herself for his rejection. Why would he want a baby sister he knew nothing about?

"He told Jagger he'd ride over to Seaglass Cove in two weeks," said Wire.

"Two weeks?" she repeated.

Never had two weeks seemed so far away or so close. She held on to Wire. Meeting her brother was no longer a dream.

Fear paralyzed her. She wasn't sure if she could do it.

Her parents had always accepted her. They let her grow, basically raising herself. They had nothing to complain about as long as she brought home good grades and stayed out of trouble. But her brother would look at her and see the parents he walked away from.

"Will he even give me a chance to love him?" she whispered.

Wire's arms tightened around her. "If he doesn't, he's a fucking asshole."

"No, he can't be an asshole." He was her brother. He had the same DNA as her. At one time, he was raised the same way she was. They just weren't raised at the same time.

"Babe." He cupped her head, holding her against his chest. "Keep your head. Your brother has lived through a lot. He's seen and done things you have no understanding of. He's got forty-six years of living behind him. He'll be set in his ways. He might not want to change his life to include you, and you'll need to let him walk away from you."

"No." She shook her head. "For all those reasons you mentioned, he won't walk away from me. He's tired of being alone. He wants someone like him. I'm his family."

"Family means something different to everyone." His hand stilled. "Some of us do better finding our own family. He's had a lot of years with Havlin—"

"You said he was in prison."

"He was, but that doesn't mean Havlin wasn't there for him."

She looked up at him. They were from two different worlds. He, too, spent time in prison. But he was an electrician. He was surrounded by members who called each other brothers. They even welcomed her into their world.

She hoped her brother had others who helped him. Loved him. Called him brother.

"Thank you." She captured her face. "I don't know how you made this happen but thank you for allowing me to meet my brother. I'll never forget what you've done for me."

A cold, wet force knocked her into Wire. She screamed in shock. Water pushed her, stealing the sand out from under her.

The blanket smothered her. Over the constant roar of the ocean, she heard Wire chuckle as he rolled her over him, keeping her head out of the water.

As quickly as the water overtook them, it pulled at her, trying to force her out of Wire's arms. She fought back, clinging to him.

"You said the tide was turning," she shouted.

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