Page 10 of Crave

The next morningmy head buzzed like I had a hangover, which was probably from all the crying I had done last night. Grant hadn’t made any smartass remarks to me, though. He greeted me with a loving kiss, freshly brewed coffee, and slow cooked oatmeal. For the first time since this nightmare started, I wasn’t scared of what he would say next or what my next lie would have to be.

I pressed the coffee mug to my lips. “How’d you sleep?”

“Not good. Curry kept me up all night meowing.” He stared at my hair. “You going to stay blonde?”

“Not forever. I do need to touch up my roots. I thought you liked blondes?”

He smirked. “I like your natural color.” He took my hand across the breakfast table. “Finish up. We need to go see your brother.”

I shoveled down my oatmeal, hopped into the shower, quickly dressed, and we left.

We sat in silence in the truck as we made our now normal route to the jail. My nerves were raw, and I kept glancing at Grant, wondering what he was thinking.

Before we exited the truck, Grant turned to me. “Remember what we talked about. Only tell him about the DNA. That’s it. Not about finding out that Julián is our son, not about Joaquín knowing you were raped, none of that. Promise me.”

“I promise.”

He leaned over to my side of the truck and gave me a kiss.

We walked into the jail and followed the same procedure, but it was faster this time. Apparently, we were becoming regulars here and the guards were starting to recognize us. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, so I just gave them a tight smile as I passed.

As I waited for Joaquín to turn up into the room, I realized I felt uneasy about seeing him. Everything had changed when I found out my son was alive. Nothing made sense to me anymore.

But I couldn’t allow my mind to doubt him, and I wouldn’t give up on him when I’d been through so much to help him. I had to believe in him until I had irrefutable evidence that he was guilty. If I didn’t, who would?

Joaquín grinned when he saw us. He picked up the phone, and I clutched the other end. “Damn, I can’t even miss you two. You’re allowed to go on living your lives.” I glanced at Grant, and he just gave me a small shrug. “I’m playing. What’s up?”

I turned back to my brother and gave him a pursed smile, debating how to handle this awkward conversation. I didn’t know the best way to ask, so I just let the words come. “Did you know we aren’t biological siblings?”

His face turned white, and his brow furrowed. “What the fuck are you talking about, sis?”

I’d rehearsed this answer in my head, remembering the lie I‘d created about why I would’ve needed his DNA. “I am working with a private investigator to help you get out of here. He asked for your DNA sample to check for other evidence. I didn’t have one of yours, so I sent mine since we are siblings, then I found your hairbrush and sent hairs from it in. The lab said there was no biological relationship between us.”

His fist clenched. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, Mia. You’re my sister. Maybe your guy fucked up?”

Fuck, he didn’t know.

I glanced at Grant again, but this time, his gaze was locked on Joaquín.

“No, it isn’t a mistake. I had it retested with a letter you sent me—he took the DNA from the envelope seal. I don’t know what to say. Maybe Mama and Papa adopted you? Or me?”

“Fuck if I know. So, what the fuck are you saying? Because of some piece of paper, you’re no longer my sister? That you no longer love me? We grew up together. You’re everything to me.” His voice dripped with desperation.

“No, no, it isn’t that at all. I swear. I just wanted to know if you knew.”

“No, I didn’t fucking know. Papa and Mama’s secrets died with them. Not that it matters. You are my sister, Mia. Mine. No matter what that fucking test says. No piece of paper is going to change the way I feel about you. I love you. Is this why you came here today? To destroy the only thing good left in my life?”

“God, no. I just thought you should know.”

His vein visibly throbbed. “Fuck you, both. I’m stuck in here, and you are running DNA and shit? What the fuck does that have to do with the case?”

“The PI wanted to run your DNA against other evidence at the crime scene. If we can find someone else’s DNA in the room, it could prove someone else was in that room other than you and Tiffany. I had no idea I would find this out.”

He exhaled and clutched the phone. “Well, that didn’t solve shit. Maybe you need to look closer to home.” His gave Grant an intense, fevered stare.

What the fuck? Was he insinuating that Grant had killed Tiffany?

I glared at Grant. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his teeth were clenched. Grant stood and walked out of the room.