Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

XANDER

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 5:30 P.M.

I rush over to Dottie. Her pulse is a little fast, but she seems to be breathing fine. "She just fainted." I point to the guy wearing my face. "You…me…whoever. Can you get me some water?"

He nods, glances at Dom, and then races out of the room. I tuck an apron under her head. When he returns with the water, I pour some on another apron, hoping Dottie won't care, and dab her face. She groans and looks up at me. Then her head swivels to the other me. Her eyes widen. Is she going to faint again? "It's fine, Dottie. Everything's fine."

"But you…" Her gaze scoots over to the other guy. "And you."

"For goodness' sake, girl," the older woman says. "Get up. It's like you've never seen twins before."

"Twins?" Dom shakes his head. "I already have a twin. Xander."

She crosses her arms and raises an intimidating brow. "Do you want to hear this or not?"

I help Dottie to her chair and give her the rest of the water to drink. She downs it in one gulp.

The other Xander and Dom—or is it Tor?—sit on the couch. I take the chair next to Dom. Paxton and the older lady continue standing, each wearing a smug look I want to smack off their faces. I wave my hand for her to go on.

"I was never certain about any of this, mind you. But twenty-five years ago, my daughter-in-law Callie befriended another woman. Her name was Sophia."

I'm expecting the words, but they still shock me. Or maybe it's the implications. I want to know, but whatever she tells us will change everything.

I'm not good with change.

"They were both pregnant and bonded over their love for Vin Diesel and baking. They planned on opening a bakery together." She sighs and gets a faraway look in her eyes. "A tornado tore through the town just as they were both giving birth. And their babies…" Her misty gaze rests on each of us. "They were both having twins, you see. The babies must have gotten mixed up. With each mother getting a dark-haired baby and a red-haired baby."

"No," Dom says, shaking his head. "You're saying my mom isn't my mom? That Xander isn't my brother? I don't believe you."

She smiles sadly. "Yes, you do. But it doesn't make it any easier. I'm sorry, Dom."

"Why didn't they tell us?" I ask, the spike of anger sudden and intense. They kept this from us.

"I don't think they knew. Each thought the other mother and babies were lost in the storm. They accepted the children as their own. Believed it even. Believe it still."

I take Dom's hand. This is harder for him. I've lived with my biological mother. And I will always consider Dom my brother.

"Did you know, Lucinda?" the other Xander asks, his face a mask of fury and hurt. He's my real brother? My twin?

"No, Not really, Cage. I mean, you resemble Sophia more than your mother. But I couldn't be sure."

"You could have told me."

"I thought Sophia was gone. What good would it have done to tell you of my suspicions?"

Paxton clears his throat, getting everyone's attention. "What do we do now?"

"This is interesting and all," Dottie says, standing again and looking more sure of herself. "But can you hold this family reunion somewhere else? I have a lot of work to do, and Brad fucked off somewhere."

"Do you need help?" I ask, getting an eye roll from Paxton. I ignore him.

Dottie smiles. "Nope. I've got this. Go on now. Scoot."

We pile out of Dottie's makeshift office and end up in the lobby. It's deserted now, and we take up most of the seating area.

"Just so I'm clear on this," Dom says, glancing up and then back down at his hands. "Callie and Mom—Sophia—aren't related? I thought they might be cousins or something."

"No. Not related."

He nods. "So Xander isn't my brother…biologically, I mean."

"No," Lucinda says, her voice softening. "He's not."

"Which also means I'm not related to…Cage." Bright spots appear on his cheeks.

"Correct. You're not related."

Paxton smiles, and I feel like I'm missing something.

"Good to know," Cage says, watching Dom. My bother—the one who isn't actually my twin—glances up, and their eyes meet. Is there something between them?

"Wait." The pieces start falling into place. "You're the one dating Ren."

"Was dating. We broke up."

"What about Erik?"

Cage crosses his arms. "What about him?"

"Were you dating him too?"

"Erik and I have never—we were best friends growing up. And roommates in college. That's it."

"Why does he hate you?"

"None of your damn business. I don't care if you are my brother. That's a title you need to earn."

"Maybe you're just an ass?—"

Everyone starts arguing at once, with Dom defending Cage and Tor egging them both on. Paxton tries to break it up but starts arguing with Tor on whether he's acting like a Daddy or not. I'm about to scream at all of them when Lucinda takes care of it. A loud whistle gets everyone's attention.

"Stop this bickering," she says, "before they throw us out. There's something more important we need to discuss."

Paxton nods. "What are we going to do about your mothers?"