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“Are we ever going to talk about this?” I ask when he comes into the gym while I’m working out. “I’m done with this, Romeo. It’s always been us two, and I want us to go back to how we were. I didn’t want us to change and that’s why I didn’t even want to talk about what I’d heard.”
And now things feel different, and I don’t fucking like it.
“I’m not angry, I’m just... I don’t know, okay? I don’t know how to handle this,” he says, shrugging. “I spoke to my mother, and she said she never meant to tell you about it—it just happened because she was so drunk. So they were just never going to tell us. And when I asked Dad about it...”
“What did he say?” I press, as this is something that’s been weighing heavily on my mind. What does Andrew say about all of this?
“He said he didn’t know for sure, but he had a suspicion. But when Aunty Lisa didn’t say anything to him, he assumed you were Robert’s, because the timing was so close together,” he explains, and when I really look at him, I notice how tired he appears, like he hasn’t been getting much rest.
“It doesn’t have to change anything,” I tell him, getting off the weight machine and going over to him. “We are us, just like we’ve always been. You’ve always been like a brother to me, Romeo. This just makes it official.”
“It means you are next in line to the MC, after my child,” he says, scanning my face. “So where do you stand with all that? Because I want my child to lead, whether it’s a boy or a girl. If I have a daughter, which Julianna thinks it will be, you could fight for leadership by sticking to the old ways.”
“That’s what you’re worried about? I don’t want the MC. If I have to stand up and lead one day, I can, sure. But I’m not gunning for that position, and I’d never take that away from any of your future children, no matter their gender. You know me, Romeo. You know me. So stop second-guessing everything just because of what we found out,” I say.
He nods. “You’re right, I do know you. And I’ve always loved you like my brother.”
He holds out his palm and we shake hands, and then we share a hug.
I hated fighting with him, and now we can move forward and deal with the hand we’ve been dealt.
Now I just need to tell Corey about it, and it’s all out in the open.
And eventually, I’m going to have to face Andrew.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Bella
“This week has been a shit show, and now I find out that River and I don’t even have the same dads. I mean, what the fuck,” Corey says, coming into my office and sitting down on the daybed. “I’m almost scared to find out what tomorrow is going to bring.”
I swivel around in my chair. “He was as shocked, don’t worry. And it still doesn’t change anything for you both. You are still and always will be his baby sister.”
“I know,” she sighs, staring at her freshly done white fingernails. “It was just a shock. What other secrets is this family keeping? Actually, never mind, I don’t even want to know. A whole cupboard of skeletons will probably fall out and crush us all.”
I can’t help but laugh. “You know what, I think you’re right. It will be nice to have things a little drama-free for a while. No evil villain grannies or anything would be lovely.”
One love betrayal is more than enough.
“Only our family,” she sighs, standing up. “Can I do something for you for once? Get you something to eat or drink?”
She’s so sweet, and obviously wants to do something nice for me. So even though I already have a fridge full of snacks and drinks, I say, “Yes, please, I would love a coffee. And maybe some of those shortbread biscuits Julianna bought the other day.”
She beams as she walks out. “Okay, I’m on it.”
Julianna finds her way into my office next—it’s almost like it’s become everyone’s psychologist sessions. The poor thing looks upset, her eyes puffy and sad. And understandably so. Betrayal is a hell of a weapon, and it’s one that can take anyone down.
“I can’t believe Rosalind did this to me,” she says, sitting in the spot Corey just vacated. “I should have known that she didn’t forgive me and Romeo for being together. I thought she got over it and wanted to make amends, but boy, was I wrong. I don’t ever want to see her again.”
“What is your dad going to do with her?” I ask gently, wishing there was something I could do to help. “What if this is something she’s never going to let go, like with Cathy? I think losing Johnny Boy to Libby just pushed her over the edge even further, so they feel like they have nothing to lose.”
“They just want to bring down everyone around them. It’s pathetic. My parents don’t know what to do with her. At the end of the day, that’s their daughter. But Romeo told them she gets one chance and one chance only, because the next time the MC will be dealing with her themselves. I know I’m the only reason he was so lenient, but I just hope I don’t come to regret it,” she says, scrubbing her hands down her face. “You can’t choose your family. I just don’t know how I got paired with Dumb and Dumber.”
I choke with laughter. “It’s not your fault—you were a good sister to her. Unfortunately you can’t control other people and their intentions. But we can make sure that we don’t trust them again. Fool me once, shame on you...”
“Fool me twice, shame on me,” she finishes, nodding. “Yeah, you’re right. I just don’t understand how she can be filled with such hatred. She only dated Romeo for a few months, and I didn’t know about that when I met and fell in love with him. If I did know I probably wouldn’t have gone near him, because who the hell wants their sister’s sloppy seconds?”
I cover my mouth with my hand, trying to contain my amusement.
