This Time Around (Maybe #2)(28)

“We need to find her,” is all he says.

I nod, smiling bitterly. “We will.”

I have a half-sister I had no idea about. And only now he wants to tell us, just spring it on us like this. In a f*cking letter. Is she okay? Is she living a good life? Does she know about us? Did our mum know that he cheated on her? So many unanswered questions, and since I’m not going to go to the source to ask for answers, I’m just going to have to try and find them out for myself. Starting with her. Persephone Knox.

I put my hand on Reid’s shoulder, squeezing. “We have a baby sister, huh!”

He smirks a little. “I feel sorry for her already.”

“Tell me about it. So this is how Xander felt,” I say, and we both go quiet, lost in our own thoughts.

“What if she doesn’t want anything to do with us?” he asks suddenly, sitting down on the bed.

“We will worry about that when we get to it. First we need to find her.”

He tightens his lips. “We could have had her in our lives this whole time. Even if it was just on holidays. We would have kept an eye on her, make sure she wanted for nothing. He is such a selfish f*ck.”

I nod. “I know.” What else is there to say? Our father is a dickhead; there’s really nothing new there. I have to wonder why he decided to tell us. Probably for us to come and see him to beg for her whereabouts. Maybe he needs money or something.

“How do we know he isn’t lying?” I ask. Reid stands and gets the envelope on the table. He hands it over to me, and I peep inside. Pulling out the small photo, I stare at it. It’s my father, another woman, and a little baby girl. She’s blonde, and cute. I turn the photo over, and it reads ‘Persephone’.

I swallow hard, taking in every detail on the photograph. I don’t know why it hurts, but it does. He had a whole other family. Is that why he hated us so much?

“Stay in the present, Ry,” Reid says, pulling me from my thoughts.

I go rigid. “It’s a little more complicated than that, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but we need to think about Seph now,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck.

I pause. “You’ve already given her a nickname?” I ask, my lips twitching.

“That name is a little long,” he pauses, “and ridiculous.”

I nod in agreement. “She needs an R name.”

He laughs. “That’s exactly it.”

“You know, I think we’re going to be amazing brothers.”

I flash him a look that says ‘well, duh.’ “So I guess we start with the internet.”

“We should ask Mia to help,” he says, surprising the shit out of me.

“What?” I ask, confused.

“She’s like the FBI. I remember when we were dating, she would hack into everything, my phone, my email, and track me down at random times.” We both laugh, and I know he’s only messing around, trying to lighten up the situation.

“Yeah, it’s funny now,” he says, clearing his throat. I laugh harder at the expression on his face.

“Come on, let’s go talk with our women,” he says, making me grin.

“Now who’s whipped?”

“Still you,” I reply.

He scoffs. “Well, yes, but now you can’t judge me for it.”

“Fine, we’ll call it even.”

“Equally * whipped?”

I still. “Well, yes. But you don’t admit that.” At least not out loud. Or in public.

“* whipped but can’t admit it, got it,” he says, his smile letting me know he’s just being a tool.

“You worry me sometimes.”

“You love me.”

I do. “All right, let’s call in the reinforcements. Tomorrow, we start looking for Persephone.”





Chapter Seventeen

Taiya

When we get back to Ryan’s apartment, his mood has suddenly changed. He is quiet and almost zoned out. I know that he was just processing the news of his sister, so I let him have his space. I know how much Ryan values family, even though his dad is an *; he loves Reid with everything he has. He is so loving, always trying to take care of everyone around him. He even offered Isis a job when she mentioned looking for something to make some extra cash. Ryan is always willing to help someone else. That’s just who he is. Knowing he has a sister out there, I can’t imagine how he’s feeling. Her being a half-sister doesn’t matter to him; I know that. Ryan wants her in his life, and he’s going to make sure it happens. Almost like he did with me. I hope we’re able to locate her soon, and that she is happy and well.

I fill up the bathtub, undress and get in. The warm water feels amazing, and I let my head fall back, feeling relaxed after what turned out to be a stressfully eventful evening. An hour later, I’m in my robe and walking towards the bedroom, when I hear banging. I rush into the games room, where Ryan is beating the shit out of a punching bag, barehanded.

“Ryan…”

He cuts in. “I’m not good company right now, Tay.” I think it’s just hit him. His father. His sister. I wonder if I should leave him alone, or if he needs me right now. He punches the bag a few more times, and then turns to face me.

“Go to bed,” he says, before ignoring me.