Page 33 of War

Her delicate throat works as she swallows. She doesn’t deny it, nor does she look too surprised. Yes, she’s known who Rome was to her this entire time.

Why didn’t she tell him?

Why did she keep this to herself?

She couldn’t be working against us, could she?

I hate that these thoughts run through my mind, but they do. She hasn’t been honest with me.

“I can explain,” she finally says, moving closer to me. We all sit back down, trying to appear less intimidating, maybe, but I don’t reach for her. I’m too angry, too on edge. She leans against the table. “When my mother died, I found a box with your photos and information. I came here to see you, I guess. You’re my only living relative. I saw you at one of the charity events, and I don’t know, you had the club, your family already.

“As far as I was told, you weren’t ready to be a father, so I was torn. What if you still didn’t want anything to do with me? I’d come to see you sometimes from afar, but I never approached you, and I kind of let it go. When I met War that night, I didn’t know he was a member. I only knew when he walked into the bakery.”

“Firstly, let’s clear something up. I didn’t know you existed, Ora. When I saw you, you looked familiar. I remember your mother. You look just like her. We were seeing each other for about six months before she ended it and left town. If I’d known she was pregnant, I never would have let her leave,” Prez admits, clearing his throat. “Don’t ever say that I didn’t want you. I didn’t fucking know.”

She blinks away tears, and I feel like we’re all intruding on their moment.

Prez must realize the same. “Everyone, out.” When Ora turns to leave, he reaches out and takes her arm. “Not you, Ora. You sit.”

I pull out my chair, and she drops into it, her eyes trying to connect with mine, but I look away. I need to clear my fucking head because this bomb has just been dropped squarely on me.

“Didn’t see that one coming,” Bones mutters, slapping me on the back. “You all right, VP?”

“I’m going for a ride,” I say, walking outside.

The twins follow, getting on their bikes and roaring their engines. We ride out with me taking the lead.

This brotherhood means everything to me.

So why does it feel like something just changed?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

ORA

I should have told War.

Never once did I think it would come out like this or that Prez would secretly run a paternity test from my fucking saliva. After he tells me how he figured it all out, I lean back in War’s VP chair and sigh. “What now?”

He studies me, his familiar blue eyes trying to see through me. I see a hint of vulnerability in them, and that’s what makes me lower my walls a little. “Now, I want to get to know you, Ora. You’re my only child and one I’ve missed out on. You’re grown now, but I still want a relationship with you.”

“Did you love my mother?” I ask him.

“I did.” He nods, scrubbing his hand over his beard. “But I’m pissed Amanthi never told me about you. She knew where to find me. Instead, she let you think that…” He slams his fist down on the table. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you growing up, Ora. But let me make it up to you now.”

Biting my lip, I consider his words, words I’ve wanted to hear for so long. “I should have told War the truth. Saying it out loud just made it real. I knew he would have told you if he knew.”

A calculating look flickers across his face before he can mask it. “I wish I had known who you were before…”

“Before what?”

He shakes his head, standing and offering me his hand. “It doesn’t matter now. You want to get out of here and get something to eat?”

I stare at his hand for a moment before accepting it. “Sure. I’ll just let War know.”

“War left,” he murmurs, clearing his throat. “That was him riding off.”

“Oh,” I mutter, wrapping my arms around myself. “Okay, could you drop me home after, though?”

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