Caught in Us (Caught Series Book 4), Kacey Shea [top 50 books to read .TXT] 📗

shares another look with Eddie before turning his attention on me. “We need to talk.”

“About Mom?” I lean forward in my chair, resting my forearms against the table. “Because I’m really concerned for her mental health.”

“Alicia. Mom’s fine.” Eddie’s tone is thick with irritation. “This is . . . it’s . . .”

Ricky sighs. “It’s about our sister.”

“Our—?” I can’t even say it. In fact, it shocks me how easily they use the word sister to refer to a total stranger—a secret I’d been holding for years—and someone they didn’t even know existed until after Dad’s stroke.

“Look, I know you’re only here a few more days, but there are some things we need to work out.” Ricky takes a sip of his beer, but holds my stare.

“What?” I’m confused. He runs the family business with Eddie. What do they need me for? I don’t even have full access to my trust fund. Not until I turn thirty.

“After everything with Dad, we want to make sure she’s taken care of.” Eddie taps his finger along the side of his bottle, rocking back in his chair. “Move some money around. Make sure it’s distributed fairly.”

What they’re getting at finally hits me. “You want to re-organize the trust? My trust.”

“She’s family. Blood.” Ricky holds my stare. “It’s what Dad would have wanted.”

“How do you know that?” Defensiveness prickles my spine. I’m blindsided by this request because it doesn’t seem I have a choice. They’ve already decided what’s best without my input. It’s the same crap our parents used to pull. They’re just like Dad. “What if she’s not a good person? We don’t know why Dad hid her away. And we can’t even fucking ask him!”

“Alicia,” Ricky chastises.

“There’s no reason to get upset.” Eddie holds up his hands. “Calm down.”

I shake my head, hating the judgment in their faces. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?” Ricky rubs his temples, blinking with annoyance.

“Like I’m the one being irrational here!” I hate that my voice gets pitchy and that my hands shake. That they appear so nonchalant while I’m clearly upset.

“Look, we all know why Dad hid Lucía away,” Eddie says, his head tilting toward the door. “He loved Mom, and wouldn’t have done anything to upset her.”

Except have an affair, and a child in another country. The irony isn’t lost on me, but what’s most upsetting is how Eddie refers to my father’s love in the past tense. Daddy might not be able to speak, but he’s not dead.

“So, what?” It’s not that I can’t raise Matthew on my own, but having those extra funds provides me peace of mind. It’s made it possible for me to pursue my doctorate degree. “We’re supposed to give this woman who claims to share our blood half of my inheritance?”

“A third.” Ricky states flatly. “We’re doing the same with ours.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

Ricky exhales, his sigh radiating his disappointment. “Then you’re not the person I thought you were.” He takes another sip from his beer and shrugs. “Look, we can’t make you sign a damn thing. But promise me you’ll at least think about it before you go back. We have an appointment with the lawyers on Monday. It’ll be simple and easy.”

Silence settles around us, the chirp of crickets the only sound to fill the space. I don’t want to give in, but my anger has just as much to do with them as it does my father. I hate that he left us with this mess. That we can’t confront him and demand answers. Instead, he’s destined to a life of silence while we pick up the pieces. It’s unfair. I hate him. Because I still love him. I miss him too.

“Okay.” My indignation deflates under my brothers’ disheartened stares. “I’ll think about it.”

“Thank you.” Ricky sighs and takes another sip from his beer.

“Well, I better head out,” Eddie says, pushing to his feet. “I’ve got that meeting early tomorrow.”

“I should get going too,” Ricky says, twisting the half-empty beer bottle in his hands. “I’m going to stop in and see Dad before I head out.”

“I need to get Matthew to bed.” I don’t even try to mask the coolness in my tone.

“Hey.” Eddie pulls me into his arms before I can pass by him. My stiff body relaxes into his warmth. Thanks to technology we’ve worked hard to stay in touch, but I’ve missed both of my brothers. I miss their hugs. “I love you.”

“Love you, too,” I whisper.

Ricky is waiting with open arms when Eddie releases me from his embrace. “And I love you, too. Having another sister doesn’t change that.” He gives me a squeeze, holding me tight for a long breath. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I don’t want this to ruin our time with you.”

Time that’s limited because I choose to live in another country.

I’m having a hard time remembering why after today. Watching my brothers shower my son with love and attention makes me long for what should have been. It’s my fault they don’t see him enough. It’s my fault Matty doesn’t know his own father.

I replay my conversation with Chase over in my head. His kiss too. It felt so good to be wrapped in his arms, like going back in time. I relished that feeling of being wanted. The tenderness, the passion, all of it stoked a flame I thought was extinguished years ago.

How could one kiss hold that power? I don’t really want the answer to the question. Everything I’ve held true all these years I’d built on sand, and this trip was washing it all away. They say the truth sets you free, but does it? Because I don’t know what I’ll have left when this week is over.

20

Chase

The next morning, I drive to pick up Alicia and Matthew with a nervous energy pulsing through my veins. I’m excited. But I also want this day to be perfect. At the very least, a success. I feel as though