Page 15 (2/2)

"I think I re the sah our veins as well And that was a lie" He turned away fros to I don’t even knoho I really am"

"Blood didn’t make us a fa affection and care for each otherfor each other makes us a family You’re still my brother, Zane My full brother I don’t care if we only share half a bloodline" My voice rose as I talked to him, and he turned to look at me with tears in his eyes

"I’ else"

"I have so for you" I walked over to Sidney’s file cabinet and opened the second drawer and pulled out a folder and handed it to Zane "This is for you" I watched as he opened it sloith a weary expression "It’s everything I could find out about your birth ain with the folder in his lap and held it in his hands gingerly

"Your grandfather died in World War II He was a war hero" I started talking when I realized that Zane was too dazed to look at the file hirandht your e Your mom was a teacher" He looked up at ht kindergarteners She loved them and they loved her There are two class photos in the folder You can see what she looked like She was beautiful She was older than Dad by eleven years" Zane’s eyes widened in surprise and I laughed "I knoas shocked as well"

"She was older than Dad?" Zane spoke finally and opened the folder I watched as he went through the papers and photographs eagerly, holding the them intently "She was beautiful" He stared at one of the photos and s woood mother"

"She was really excited to have you" I continued on "The detective found many people orked with her They all said she was so excited to have a baby of her own She boasted to everyone that she was going to call hi little ht you were going to break through her stomach"

"That’s not what hurt her, is it?" Zane’s expression turned bleak again and I almost cursed myself out

"No, that’s not why She loved you sofor her whole life" I took a deep breath and continued "She chose your life instead of her own"

"What?" Zane looked confused

"When she went into labor, the doctors told her they could try and save her or they could try and save you And she didn’t hesitate She chose you She had a preexisting condition and knew she was going to die anyway So she chose your life She wanted you to live " I took a deep breath "And there’s supposed to be a letter"

"A letter?"

"I don’t knohere it is" I gave hietic look "I don’t even know if it’s true, but the detective spoke to someone that worked at the hospital when she died She was a receptionist or so She said that your mom left you a letter"

"Why didn’t you tell me any of this before, Noah?"

"Because I was scared of how you would react" I answered honestly "You were in a bad, bitter place, bro I wasn’t sure that you’d be able to handle it all"

"I understand" He gave me a small smile "I was in a bad place But now that I have Lucky, I feel like nothing can phase me I’m really hurt and upset, but I understand your reasons for keeping it secret, Noah"

"I love you, Zane"

"I love you too, bro" He stood up and gaveback "And now, if you’ll excuse " He laughed as he shook his head "I can’t believe that I’ve becoreed with hio to Aruba" She sat at the table and looked up at hed, irritated that ere having this conversation again

"I want to go on vacation This shit is boring" She looked atto know or care who you are"

"I’o"

"What use are you to ht you liked my company" I turned away from her, unable to look at her I wasn’t sure who she was beco, or maybe I just hadn’t knoho she really e first started dating

"Noah, it’s not that I don’t like your company It’s that I’ll like it ernails and held theht red polish on her nails and thought the color was apt Her fingers looked like they had been dipped in blood and really, that was the way I was starting to think of her She was a bloodsucker, only interested in her own needs The fact was I would have already dumped her if there weren’t other issues to consider, other circumstances that made it more difficult It was hard for me to walk away fro soood" I faked a s to be a prostitute or vampire" I said under my breath

"What’s that?" Her voice was shrill, and I looked over at her with a blank expression

"What’s what?"

"What did you just say?" Her eyes narrowed at me coldly and I almost shivered as I stared at her There was no happiness or joy in her spirit She looked broken Broken and distant

"Nothing, just that I wished I could take you to Aruba"

"Whatever" She flung her hair over her shoulders "I’ll figure out a way myself or with the help of sooing to steal again?"

"You act like that’s a bad thing" She stood up and walked over to er’s house after we stole the handbag"

"We didn’t steal anything" I took a step away fro harder and harder for s

"No one would believe that you weren’t in it with hed cattily, and ran her index finger all the way down my chest and to my crotch, which sat motionless She looked up at me with a pout "There was a day when all I had to do was touch you and you would rise to attention"

"I’m not in the mood" I looked away from her