Chapter 14

14

"M ine ?" My other hand comes to my chest, and I can't hide the shock in my tone.

I look back to Snowflake to ensure I correctly give her the apple so she doesn't bite me. May rests her hand on my shoulder as I do, putting my worries at ease. Once Snowflake takes the apple, I glance over at May.

"I bought her when you would have been sixteen. Yes, she's getting on now, but I hoped you would get to meet her one day and bond."

I turn my attention to the horse. She is mine. "I've never had anything this beautiful before. Heck, I've never even owned a car."

"I'm sorry. Come with me to do the animals, and we can talk."

I give Snowflake another pat with the promise of returning.

"Okay." May's gaze drops to my feet, and I follow her stare. "What's wrong?"

"Well, you need some boots for a start. I might have some that fit you. Let's go back to the house."

I follow her out of the barn, processing the fact I have a horse. May must realize I need a moment because she doesn't say anything on our walk back.

Standing in the living area, I wait as a picture on the mantle above the fireplace catches my attention. A familiar face stares back at me. It's a man—a young man. He looks about my age or younger.

I walk over and pick up the wooden-framed picture. A familiarity hits me, and I swear I know this person. I spin around as Hunter comes down the hallway.

Holding up the picture, I say, "I know this guy. I've seen him before." Hunter's face scrunches as he approaches me, and I hand him the photo. "I've seen him before."

"You couldn't have. Where did you see him?"

Pressing my palm to my head, I wrack my brain, trying to remember exactly where. Then, a clear image pops up. "He came into a place I was working at about eighteen months ago. His face is so familiar. He would come in every night and stay until close, then walk me to my car at the end of the night." I shrug. "I thought he liked me, but he never made any kind of moves. We became friends."

May comes up beside me. "What's going on?"

I tell her what I just told Hunter, who says nothing. He has a look of pain in his dark eyes. Why?

May's head falls, and tears fill her eyes. She turns to Hunter, who opens his arms for her, and she sobs into his chest.

What did I say?

"What's going on? Who is he?" I take the photo from Hunter and study the face again. Those same kind eyes, that dark hair, and a grin any girl would fall for.

Hunter clears his throat. "His name is Nash..." He pauses. I register the name. Nash . "He was your older brother."

My eyes drop to the picture again. A lump forms in my throat. My brother . Then something else clicks as I remember everything Hunter has filled me in on since we met.

"He's the one who died," I state, my voice trembling.

Hunter nods, a glaze coming over his eyes. In seconds, it turns to anger. "I'm sorry, May," he whispers, and she gently pushes away from him.

Her splotchy and red face tilts up to his. "You had no idea what was going on. It's not your fault. I blame myself for sending him to her and putting them on your father's radar." Her voice shakes with each word.

Hunter gently wipes away fresh tears that keep falling.

A wetness hits my cheeks, and I quickly swipe my tears away. I have no right to be upset. I didn't know Nash like they did. I knew him for a very short time, but I remember certain things about him—that cheesy smile, his booming laughter at his silly jokes, and his caring attitude toward not only me but others. He always made sure that all the ladies at the diner I was working at got to their cars or the bus safely. He was a pure gentleman.

"Do you know who killed him?" I blurt out, not really thinking of the consequences.

Both faces look my way. The way Hunter stares me down tells me I shouldn't have asked.

May comes toward me, placing her arms around me. "My girl, I don't know the details. All I know is that he's gone. He had big plans to change things." May steps back and continues, "He sent me a letter telling me that he'd found you."

"He what ?" Hunter interjects, his eyes wide as he looks at May.

She waves him off, and his mouth quickly shuts. "Yes, he sent me a letter. Come sit down, and I'll tell you all I know."

I follow her to the table, and then she disappears down the hallway.

"You know something, don't you?" I hiss at Hunter.

His eyes narrow. "It's not your concern."

"It is my concern when it comes to my family and me."

"I'll fill you in later," he grits out through clenched teeth while quickly glancing over his shoulder.

I glare at him, squeezing my hands into fists to refrain from slapping him clear across the face. Damn, he frustrates me with all his secrets. Secret this and secret that. I grind my teeth together.

May joins us at the dining table and places a small box in front of her. Hunter sits at the end of the table with May and me on either side. "I was hoping to wait until we got talking some more, but I guess now is as good a time as any." She takes a deep breath, then looks at me. "You said you knew Nash's face."

I nod.

"It was about eighteen months to two years ago that I told him about you and your sisters. He deserved to know. I knew he was nothing like his father. Let's just say he wasn't very happy with me, knowing he had more family out there that he would never get to meet." Her hand comes up, wiping tears off her cheeks.

I reach across the table for her hand, and she takes it. Peace floods through me.

Hunter's hand rests on her shoulder. "You did what you had to, May," he says gently.

"I know I did. Still doesn't help the feelings I have of blame. I blame myself for Nash's death." I go to open my mouth, as does Hunter, but May holds up her free hand. "Nothing either of you say will change my mind, so don't, please."

She releases my hand and opens the box in front of her. It's an old white cardboard thing with different kinds of flowers painted on it. After removing the lid, she sets it aside, pulls out a picture, and hands it to me.

Shock rattles me as I stare down at myself. I'm laughing at something, dressed in my old diner uniform. Then, there's another photo of Nash and I smiling together. It's uncanny how much we look alike when I see us side by side. "This is me, obviously. How do you have these?"

Hunter leans over and focuses on the picture. His scent wraps around me, comforting me in a way I can't deny. How am I supposed to keep pushing him away when my body craves the solace only he can provide?

"Nash sent them to me. When he found out about you and your sisters, he made it his mission to find you all. I told him everything I knew, like where I dropped you off, and he must have followed the paperwork to where you ended up. I'm not sure." She shrugs, then pulls out another two pictures.

Two unfamiliar faces stare at me. In both pictures, Nash had taken selfies with both of them. Nash smiles with them in the photos. He must have done to them what he did to me—befriend me.

"Are these...?" I leave the question hanging, my heart racing as I process what I'm being told. It's an information overload.

"Your sisters," May says gently.

I study the photos. Both have long dark hair like mine. One has brown eyes, the other blue, and I can clearly see we are related with the photos side by side.

We each have a dimple on one of our cheeks—the same side, actually, which is crazy. Both girls appear to be happy and healthy, but a photo can easily hide what goes on behind closed doors. I can only hope they have a better life than I do.

May pulls out an envelope that's clearly been opened. "This letter holds all the information about each of your siblings." I hold out my hand to take it, but May shakes her head. "I'm not giving you this until you're ready."

A flare of anger shoots through me, and I stand, the chair scraping along the floor. Hunter rises as well. "I deserve those names and addresses. That's my family!" I point at the envelope.

"I understand you're frustrated and upset, but I need to know they're going to be safe before their lives are uprooted and they're thrown into a world they're not prepared for, and one you are not even ready for."

I release a puff of air through my lips. "What? So it's okay for you both to do it to me, but no one else. How's that fair?" My face heats as I speak.

"Aelina, you're a lot stronger than them. I know it. I've heard about your strength and endurance. I have something else for you right now." She rummages through the box again and pulls out another envelope, which hasn't been opened.

She hands it over to me, and my hands shake as I take it. "Who's it from?" I study the neat handwriting on the envelope addressed to me.

"Nash."