Page 143 of Wild Blades

“Marcus is my father,” I state, ignoring her, continuing to shuffle through the old bank statements, no longer giving a shit what she wants.

She’s never cared about my feelings. Why should I care about hers now?

“M E. Stands for Marcus Edwards, right?”

“You were never supposed to find out.” Her lips pucker as ifshe’sannoyed.

“I see where the money came from to pay for all the extra hockey lessons for me now.” My grandfather inherited this house, financially comfortable, yes, but he was a simple man and worked as a bank manager. When I was younger, I never could work out how she paid for everything and could afford not to work.

Now I know.

“Anything to keep me out of the house, I suppose,” I say dryly. Long enough for Marcus to visit while I wasn’t around. “You’ve never worked a day in your life. Although is lying on your back a career? I suppose it is.”

She looks shocked at my outburst. It’s been a long time coming and she deserves my anger. “Don’t be so disgusting, Wade.”

I ignore her. “I look just like him.” It’s so fucking obvious now.

Heavy footsteps race across the wooden flooring of the hall, Marcus appearing in the doorway looking like he’s about to have a heart attack.

“Hey,Dad.” I feign happiness. “I’m so glad you could join us. Better late than never. Although that was the plan, right? To never tell me I was your secret love child. You swore her to secrecy. Paid for her silence.” I throw the bank statements toward him, letting them scatter everywhere. “Zane is my brother?” Mixed feelings surge through me as the truth I’ve been avoiding since I found out about Marcus flashes in my mind like a giant neon sign. I can’t fucking deal with that now, so I box up my emotions to unpack later.

“I’m you’re fucking what?” Zane storms into the office, naked aside from his boxers, his face instantly turning red in anger.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Marcus and I ask his son at the time while Kali and Lola watch on in horror.

My life is unraveling before me.

I look at my mom. With her head in her hands, I get the memo.

“Fatherandson. Wow. You’re a piece of work. Did you get a cab ride here so no one would know you’re fucking your father’s mistress?”

Zane’s eyes flit around the room as if he’s unpicking my words. “I think I’m going to vomit.” he folds in two, holding onto his stomach.

“Well, isn’t this lovely? All of us here, together, like one big happy family. Minus Lola and Kali, of course.” I sound stupidly sarcastic.

“Lola?” My mom snaps her head in her direction. “Lola? Is that you?”

“You know her?” Now I’m confused, so I fix my gaze on Lola, waiting for my mother to reply.

She shakes her head, tears rolling down her face. “She doesn’t know me. She knows nothing about me. She didn’t want me.”

“Gladiola,” my mother says under her breath.

“How do you…” My question dies in my throat.

Blond, as beautiful as my mother, but nothing like her all at the same time, because Lola has a heart, a couple of years younger than me…

“She’s my mom,” Lola sobs.

“You’re my sister?” My voice is quiet with disbelief.

She nods rapidly.

I push myself up from the seat and move from behind the desk. Eyes wide, Lola looks petrified as I make my way over to her and stand toe to toe, to get a really good look at the girl who loves nothing better than doing everything to help me.

“I have a sister?” I ask gently, awe-struck that I have someone who has the same DNA as me. I have a family.

“Yes, she’s my mom too. She was married to my dad. Not Marcus, his name was Ritchie Ramsay.” Sobbing between words, I pull her into my arms and hold her close, hoping to bring her some much-needed comfort. Which I am in need of myself.

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