34.

Ryan

I think it's fair to say that my brothers have the worst timing in the history of the world. I don't even think they try. They just happen to show up anytime they please, and it's always the wrong moment.

Alex and I manage to get dressed – sort of – before my brothers barge into the office. They stop as soon as they see the two of us. I think I see the hint of a smile tugging at Phoenix's lips, but just as soon as it appeared, it's gone again.

"What's this?" Oscar says. He's less angry than Phoenix. More trusting.

"Nothing," I say. At the same time, Alex says, "I was just leaving."

"Oh, no. We think she should stay," Oscar says. He waves his hand vaguely around as he heads for the bar of liquor in my office. He pours two fingers of whiskey and turns back around.

"I really should go," she says.

"You told her, right?" Oscar says. Phoenix and I both shoot my brother death glares. I'll tell her when I'm ready. Oscar doesn't take the hint. "About Dad and the kids?"

"What?" Alex has gone ghastly white.

"About our dad's adoption scheme," Oscar says. He pours a second drink. "I'm glad Ryan talked to you about it. We're going to need everyone on the same page if we're going to get to the bottom of everything."

But Alex is staring at me now, and she doesn't seem confused about Oscar's words.

She seems...broken.

"What is he talking about?"

Oscar finally catches on.

"Oh, shit," he says.

Oh, shit, is right.

"Listen," I take her hands in mine, "I didn't want to tell you like this, but I recently learned that our father had his hands in some...let's say, unconventional business practices."

"He was stealing babies, Ryan," she says softly. Her eyes are filled with tears. "He was operating under the guise of finding kids new families, but they already had families."

I stare at Alex.

She looks like she already knows about this, but there's no way she could have. She couldn't know what I know unless she'd uncovered it through different means.

Her private investigator.

Her brother.

"Your brother," I say. My heart feels like it's going to explode from anger or fear: maybe both.

"Yeah, he's one of the kids your dad took."

"What the fuck?" Phoenix is practically reeking of anger now. It's one thing to know our dad did something terrible, but it's another to see up close and personal just what that means.

"You knew, didn't you?" Alex asks. She's looking at me like it's only us here. Oscar and Phoenix are both talking, but I don't hear what they're saying because I'm locked on her.

"I didn't know," I promise.

"You knew he was taking people, though."

"I knew something was going on. I didn't know what or to what extent. Phoenix, Oscar, and I have been doing some digging," I explain. She's still here, so I'm going to try my best to explain everything as well as possible. I know I'm screwing up, but I don't want her to leave. I don't want this to be over.

"You knew my brother was gone," she whispers. "You knew I was looking for him."

"I know," I say. "You came to work for me so you could get money to find him. I know, baby. I promise I didn't know where he was. I hired a private investigator just like I told you I was going to, love. I just got a stack of records and no idea where to start. Finding Aaron could be a good start."

"You should have told me about your dad," she says. "You shouldn't have hidden it from me."

"He was a monster," Phoenix says, raising his voice. He's finally loud enough that I notice him. Alex does, too. She turns to him.

"Monsters only keep reigning when people let them," she warns him.

"You can't think that Ryan knew. He didn't."

"I don't know what to believe anymore," she says. Then she turns and leaves, pushing past both of my brothers. They turn to me, gesturing at the door.

"Go after her," Oscar snaps.

"Dude," Phoenix says. Obviously, he agrees, but I can't move. My feet feel stuck to the floor. I can't move. I don't know what I'm supposed to do now. We know her brother was taken, but I don't know where, and I don't know his new name, and I don't know what this means for my future with Alex.

One thing is for sure. I'm never going to stop searching for Aaron. I'll do whatever it takes to find him. I'll look high and low. I'll tear apart the fucking world if it means finding the person she loves the most.

Because she's the one I love the most.