Page 62 of The Master

“There are some things I need to say to you,” I began. “Things I need you to hear. And I don’t want to be a part of your life, no matter how little is left.”

“Ash–” Mom started to interrupt, but Mona held up a hand, letting me finish.

“But I forgive you. It’s more for me and for Mom than it is for you, but I forgive you.”

Something twisted and tight in my chest released, and I found I could breathe easier than I had in a long time. We were far from done here, but at least we were on the right path.

Forty-One

Nate

Isti was lying.She had to be lying because there was no possible way that the person I’d been closest to and relied on for more than a decade had been hiding something this big from me all this time. He’d been there for me through all of the shit with my family, and he’d never once talked about the fact that he had a half-sister, much less that she was my ex.

I frowned as Angus pulled up to Finley’s place. A memory came forward, something from not too long ago. Finleyhadsaid something about having a sister. It’d been the first time I heard him mention a sibling and he hadn’t given details or brought it back up. I’d been mildly curious, but nothing more than that. It still didn’t excuse anything.

“Do you want me to circle around, Mr. Lexington? Or should I find somewhere to park?” Angus asked as I reached for the door handle.

“Park, but not too far. When I’m ready to go, I don’t want to have to wait.”

“Yes, sir.”

When Finley opened the door, he automatically stepped out of the way to let me inside. As I passed, he asked if something was wrong. I couldn’t help thinking that in a minute, he’d regret that question. I just had to figure out how I wanted to start.

“Is Ashlee okay?”

“She’s fine,” I said curtly. “This has to do with you and me.”

When I turned to face him, he looked confused, but I didn’t see any guilt or betrayal there, which just pissed me off even more. He’d lied to me for years and didn’t even have the decency to acknowledge it.

“You’re a fucking liar.”

Okay, maybe not the calmest way to start the conversation, but at least it got to the point quickly.

“What are you talking about?”

I shook my head. “I can’t believe you. Lying to my face all this time and you’re acting like you have no clue.”

“Assume I’m clueless.”

He crossed his arms, and even though his tone was mild, I knew him well enough to know he was annoyed. Then again, I clearly didn’t know him as well as I’d thought, so maybe that wasn’t his annoyed stance. Maybe that was his ‘boy are you stupid for not having figured it out before’ stance.

“I went to see Isti to find out why she was going after Ashlee.”

If I hadn’t been watching for it, I probably would’ve missed the slight tension that appeared the moment I said his sister’s name.

“What did she say?”

“It’s funny. Her excuses were exactly what I’d assumed they’d be, and I thought I’d basically wasted a trip. But then she told me something about herself that I found interesting.”

I paused to see if he’d confess, but he didn’t say a word. More than ten years and he’d been acting like it was sheer coincidence that he’d found me and helped me. All out of the goodness of his heart.

“She’s your sister.”

He nodded. “Half-sister, yes. We have the same father.”

When he didn’t add anything else, the control I had on my temper disappeared. “What the hell, Finley? When I told you about her, why didn’t you say you knew her, and that’s why you were helping me? Some misguided attempt at atoning for her sins or whatever bullshit you told yourself?”

“Would you have come with me if I’d told you that she and I were related?”

---