Page 131 of Vicious Deception

“You and your secrets,” Finn grumbles.

We all laugh, and I lean into the guys, appreciating the warmth that comes with their closeness. Even if Oliver is a little too drunk, I’m in agreement with him. Our future is bright, and hopefully, it’ll be as prosperous as Sparrow says.

Chapter thirty-eight

Rhett

OnemonthafterLudo’sdeath

I slide my hands into my pockets after ringing the doorbell to Corinne’s home. As I wait for an answer, I stare up at the house that my father built. Did he ever feel any guilt about leaving me and Sammy behind? Did he ever blame himself for her death, or did he see it as a way out of a family he was trapped with?

It’s probably for the best that I’ll never know. I’m pretty sure the answer would only cause me more grief.

When the door opens, I plaster on a pleasant smile. I try not to think of Corinne as the woman my father cheated on my mother with. I think of her as my brothers’ mother—the woman who’s going to be in my life from this day forward no matter what.

The look of immediate recognition on Corinne’s face doesn’t surprise me. I’ve always hated how much I look like my father.

“Can I help you?” she asks suspiciously.

For the briefest of moments, I stall. I thought about dozens of ways this conversation could end, but never how it would start. I suppose there’s no other way to go about this than to just dive right in.

I clear my throat. “Yes. My name is Rhett Brooks. I’m not sure if Richard ever told you about me, but I’m his son from his first marriage.” It’s the truth—I really don’t know if Richard kept us from her.

“I think he . . . mentioned you once or twice.”

“I saw his obituary in the paper. I’m so sorry for your loss.” I infuse my voice with as much sympathy as I can.

“Thank you.” She gives me a cautious smile.

“Do you think I could come in for a few minutes?”

Her eyes widen, and I can practically see her raising the walls she barely lowered for me.

“I saw in the obituary that I have two brothers, and I—”

“No, I don’t think that’d be a good idea.” She starts closing the door.

I grab it, holding it open. “Please, just a few minutes. I lost the only sibling I thought I had.”

I timed this almost perfectly. Once Benny got back into his normal routine, I kept an eye on his comings and goings as much as I could. Andrew left to pick him up from school a while ago, and they’ll be back any second now.

My suspicions seem to be correct. I’m sure Corinne knows more about me than she’s letting on, and I doubt she has any intention of welcoming me into her boys’ lives. But, quite frankly, I don’t give a shit.

“Please,” I say again. “I think we both know you at least owe me that.”

Her expression softens—not with compassion, but with guilt. Finally, she opens the door up enough that I can slip through.

The interior of the house looks much different in the daylight. It’s much warmer, although I don’t know if I could ever be comfortable in here.

“I saw in the paper that their names are Andrew and Benny,” I say. “Are they here? How old are they?”

“They’ll be home soon,” Corinne says, wringing her hands. “Drew is nineteen. Benny is twelve.”

My jaw drops, and I widen my eyes. “Nine—nineteen?He’s that old?”

Corinne nods, avoiding my gaze.

“But that would mean . . .” I pause, partially for dramatic effect and partially so it looks like I’m doing the mental math for the first time. “I’m sorry, I must be confused. When did you and my father get together?”

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