Page 50 of She's Mine

My eyes widened. “You werecaught?But Dad thought they’d killed you.”

“Well, he didn’t check the body well enough, did he--”

“What do you mean? I was there when they buried you--”

The man that had once been my brother scoffed indignantly. “Did you actuallyseemy body?”

“Well, no, I was only fifteen. But Dad wouldn’t lie?”

“Wouldn’t he?” This stranger with my brother’s face challenged me. “When has Charles Blytheevertold the truth? He lied when he said I could help him bring down the Bloodline. He lied when he said no one would get hurt. I’ve been hurt badly, Alyssa!”

Tears started to roll down my cheeks. I didn’t fully understand what was going on. Was Joey implying that our father had used him as bait for the Bloodline? No. Iwouldn’tbelieve that.

“He didn’t even bother to check if I was alive or not. He just reported me as dead. You know I was there, at my own funeral. I was the guy sitting in the back row with my face concealed.”

I had a stark memory of the stranger who’d been at Joey’s funeral. I’d only been fifteen at the time, and in my grief, I didn’t really questionwhothis man concealing his face, and sitting in the back row of the church might be. Why would someone who hadn’t known my brother be at his funeral? I certainly had no reason to suspect Joey was still alive.

And I knew Dad didn’t either. If he’d had so much as an inkling that Joey was alive, he would have moved heaven and earth to get his son back. I had to believe Dad knew nothing about this.

“I woke up after the Bloodline’s battle with the LAPD in a strange bed, with a woman watching over me. Her name was Yesenia, and she spent the next two weeks nursing me back to full health. Yesenia is Tomas’ wife, and in time she became like a mother to me--”

“You have a mother!” I yelled, even though it hurt my voice to do so. “A mother who was heartbroken by your death, and terrified when the Bloodline started targetingourfamily. Or does none of that matter to you?”

For a brief instant, I saw a flash of regret in Joey’s eyes, but then they turned cold and hard again, and his face morphed into a mask of stoic passivity.

“I did what I had to repay Tomas for everything he’s given me. I was the enemy’s son; he could have killed me on the spot. Instead, he accepted me into his home, and treated me like one of the family. I wouldn’t be here without Tomas; I owe himeverything.”

“Sothat’swhy you’ve betrayed your family? Because of some sense of misplaced loyalty towards the Bloodline’s leader? Can’t you see he’s brainwashed you, Joey? This is Stockholm syndrome.”

“You knownothing. You might remember our childhood through rose-tinted glasses, but I remember things a little differently. I remember all the events Charles missed. I remember the pressure he put on me to grow into a manworthyof the Blythe name. Tomas not only saved my life, but he freed me from the prison of our father’s making! Away from Charles, I was free to choose exactly what I wanted to do with my life--”

“And you chosethis?” I accused, my blood burning in my veins.

I couldn’t believe this. Maybe Ididview our childhood through rose-tinted glasses, but our parents had always done their best. Even if Dad missed some school events sometimes, he always made up for it by taking us on vacation in the summer. And he only wanted to ensure Joey and I had the best future possible. All children needed their parents’ guidance. I’m sure what Joey saw as‘pressure’was just Dad trying to point his son in the right direction.

“I chose to fight for myself. To have myownlife outside of being the son of the LA Chief of Police. And I’m sure Tomas will give you the same choice. I can get him to agree to spare you, but only if you promise not to interfere with our plans to kill Charles. You’ll be able to leave LA and start over.”

For a moment I thought I was going insane. I couldn’t actually be hearing Joey correctly, could I? He was going to murder our father? And he wanted me to be okay with that? He wanted me to just leave LA and my life here behind?

Well, that wasnevergoing to happen. For starters, I wasn’t about to betray our parents like Joseph had. Plus, I didn’twantto leave LA. My whole life was here. David was here. He didn’t have a clue where I was … I hadn’t even gotten the chance to tell him I was pregnant.

Slowly, the truth dawned on me. My only hope was somehow getting in touch with David. Heshouldbe back at the cabin right now, and once he realized I was missing, he’d be searching for me. If I could let him know where I was, he’d come to rescue me. I was sure of it. In fact, he’d probably bring the whole J&J Security team with him. They’d take out both Joseph and Hernández, and the rest of the Bloodline. And then this whole horrible ordeal would be over.

I’d be able to go home.

I could tell David I was pregnant, and we could start planning our life together.

I just had to bide my time, convince Joseph I agreed with his insane plan, and somehow get a message to David.

Knowing I had no other choice, I gazed up at the man who’d once been my brother and said, “Fine. I’ll do what you want. I won’t interfere with the Bloodline’s plans. Please, just let me live.”

Joseph’s features morphed into a sinister smile. “Excellent. I knew you’d see sense.”

As Joseph walked away, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread settling over me. He was my brother, and yet he was willing to betray our family and leave them for dead. I couldn't understand how he had become so indoctrinated into the Bloodline's twisted ideology.

I took a deep breath and tried to push those thoughts aside. I had to focus on getting a message to David.

But as I looked around the small, windowless room where Joseph had brought me, I realized that it wouldn't be easy. There was no phone, no computer, no way to contact the outside world. I was completely cut off from everything and everyone I knew.

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