Page 63 of Next Level
“Blossom, you’re starting to freak me out. Just tell me,” he says more roughly.
“I talked with my parents. They spoke with Garrett, finally,” I blurt out.
Ray sits down on the bed next to me, giving me his full attention.
“Okay, this is going to be a lot. I’m nervous and scared about how you are going to react to this news.”
Ray grabs my hand. “Don’t be scared. Just tell me.”
Here goes nothing.
“Please bear with me because I just found all this out today myself.” I take a deep breath and begin, “My parents never lied to my brother or me about him being adopted. Maybe they should have, but they didn’t. My parents didn’t tell anyone what their names were, just that his mom died and his dad was in prison. Garrett figured out their names on his own. They thought maybe finding out who his real parents were would help him. He rebelled so much they didn’t know what to do with him. It was like he was a lost soul.” I pause, shifting to sit with my legs crossed on the bed next to him.
“Okay, so this part is news to me. What they didn’t tell any of us was that Garrett’s birth father had been putting money into an account for him. The adoption agency had told my parents about this account and said they could use it if Garrett needed anything, but they never did, choosing instead to keep it in case he wanted to attend college or pursue other interests. They never told him because he was fucked up. Plus, they said when he turned twenty-five, it would all go to him without any stipulation.
“My parents knew he had gone to see George because right after he came back, he was a completely different person. My parents never questioned his behavior. George told him he had a brother and Garrett was hell-bent on finding him. He hated my parents for not telling him he had a sibling. For the record, they didn’t know anything about him. They decided that if he foundhis brother, maybe it would help Garrett.” I wave my hands around. “They always fought about his biological dad.” I pause again to gauge his reaction, but he’s just sitting there, listening.
“When the money stopped being deposited into the account, the bank contacted Garrett since he was over the age of twenty-one. Not knowing anything about it, he had questions. My parents were unaware the funds were no longer being deposited. So when Garrett went to see George in prison and asked about the money, George went crazy, saying that JR was still meddling in his life even in death.”
Ray interjects, “JR? My dad?”
I dip my chin.
Shit.
Shit.
Shit.
I make a pained face and rush out, saying, “It seems George told Garrett he wasn’t his kid, but that he was Marco Raymond Amato Jr.’s kid, and JR didn’t want him. Garrett lost his shit. Especially when George told him, his slut mom wanted JR, not him or the boys.
“Wait. What?” Ray’s face is in shock.
Wringing my hands nervously, I say slowly, “I know. That’s why I rushed over here. I guess ever since then, Garrett’s been on this mission to hurt you and your family for ruining his family.”
“He told your parents this today?” Ray asks.
“Yes. It seems Garrett needs his money for a lawyer, so he called my parents. He told my parents everything George said to him, including how your dad is his biological father, not George. Garrett also told my parents how he hates them, me, and all of you. George has him so brainwashed, thinking my parents and your family ruined their life.”
Ray sits staring at the floor with his elbows on his knees before dropping his head into his hands.
I sit there anxiously. I don’t know what to do or say, so I let him think.
A few minutes later, he lifts his head.
“So, you’re telling me Garrett is my half-brother?”
I give a slight tilt of my head, not trusting my voice.
“And you just heard about this today?”
“Yes, same as my parents.” I want to make sure he knows my parents and I are just as shocked as he is.
Pure rage spreads across his face, and Ray’s crystal blue eyes turn murderous.
Fuck.
I cower back.
