Page 59 of Hartley

“My mom didn’t love my dad,” Lane said. “She was stuck in a marriage she hated. They must have been in love at one point, but I remember her crying a lot and him being an asshole. I never felt like I belonged in their family. Only with my mom. Now it makes sense. Why she tried to protect me more. Why she left me the trust. She knew I’d find out but… Holy fuck, he knows. My father knows. Why else would he treat me like he did? Why would he say your grandfather owed him money? It was probably some fucked-up way to get child support. He found out my mom cheated on him and instead of killing the man she was with, he made him pay. Any way for him to get money or power. Killing him wouldn’t have gotten him anywhere but having your grandfather owe him a lot, that was something he could get behind.”

A memory tickled me. A forgotten piece of information I tucked away.

“For, do you remember the reading of the will?” I asked my brother.

“I barely remember being at the funeral. I was so torn up it was a blur.”

“Pop wanted the attorney to read us something. I remember because I thought it was about the money he owed the bank. He said he was sorry, and he hoped we could forgive him. That family meant everything to him, and he always wanted to be there for us. He apologized for letting us down.What if he was talking about the money he owed Lane’s family?”

“We won’t know for sure unless we ask my dad,” Lane said. “Honestly, I’d rather get a DNA test to see if I’m related to you than speak to him ever again. I never felt a connection to him. He was just the mean fucker who ruled my life and treated my mom like shit. I would never hold it against her for being with someone else. If you could have seen how horrible he was… I tried to help her, but she wouldn’t leave him. He said she’d made her bed.”

“Now what?” Forest asked.

“I can call Alton and have him do the test,” Jordan offered. “See if you are related.”

“That would be good. This way we know for sure.” I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that Lane was what? My half uncle? He was younger than me, for fuck’s sake.

Just when I thought my life couldn’t get any more fucked up, this happened. It could have been worse. It could always be worse.

I slumped in the chair and watched my brother. He looked as defeated as I felt. Maybe defeated wasn’t the right word. I mean, what the hell could we really do about this? Nothing. Our grandfather was gone. Lane’s mom had passed too. The only person with knowledge was a man who wanted us dead. Talking to him wouldn’t happen. Jordan wouldn’t let that shit fly. Hell, I wouldn’t want to go near Lane’s father.

Forest nudged me with his foot under the table. I hadn’t realized I let my eyes drop to my hands. It was all so much to process. When my eyes met my brother’s, he mouthed, “You okay?”

I shrugged in response. Were either of us really okay right now? If Lane was related to us, then what? Jordan wouldn’tkick him out. Lane wanted nothing to do with his family, except freedom from them. Jordan could give that to him and all of us. He could eliminate Lane’s brother and father, and we could breathe a sigh of relief. Although, how long before someone else was gunning for us? It was what we lived with being Jordan’s partners. The risk was worth the reward.

My chair was pulled back from the table. With it being on wheels it was easy enough to do. Vail crouched in front of me, his beautiful eyes meeting mine. It was like he knew how much I needed him right then.

Vail leaned forward and wrapped his arms around me. I readily went into them, latching on to Vail and breathing him in. “I’ve got you, Hart,” he whispered. “We’ll figure it out.”

I didn’t doubt him. I hoped the cost of getting everything back to normal was minimal. Jordan still had two men to kill. He had to risk his life yet again to save ours. He would do it without hesitation. Just like Vail and I would do anything for him and for each other.

28

HARTLEY

In my pocket were the DNA results. Alton had collected samples from Lane and me and sent them off. I’d had the results for two days but had stared at the envelope instead of opening it.

This morning, Jordan handed me the envelope and told me to open it with my brother. Together, the two of us could tell Lane with no less than three guards present, when we were ready. I was hardly ready to see the results with my brother no less than with Lane. I must have licked my lips a dozen times with the nerves coursing through me. There were moments I had to give myself an internal shake to remind myself why I shouldn’t do it. Some habits were hard to break, no matter how old they were.

“I thought I was the jittery one,” Forest said as he handed me a glass of lemonade, the sugary powder kind. He didn’t like the real stuff, not that I blamed him.

“You are. There’s something I have to tell you.”

He paused, staring down at me from where he stood infront of the couch. Setting his glass on the end table, he gave me his full attention and sat. “And?”

“I’m engaged.”

Had I ever rendered my brother speechless before? He watched me like he was waiting for me to say gotcha, but I didn’t. I stayed where I was with my serious face and waited for his response.

I literally counted the seconds.

Two minutes and forty-five seconds later, he asked, “What about the DNA results?”

“Really? That’s all you have to say to me? No congratulations, Hartley? No I’m really happy for you? What the fuck, For?” I expected something more than whatever face he was making. “Are you constipated?”

His nose scrunched up. “Even if I was, which I’m not, I wouldn’t talk to you about it.”

“Then why aren’t you happy for me?” I yelled, unable to keep my emotion in. Tears stung my eyes, and my bottom lip began to tremble.

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