SAVANNAH
The past few weeks have been busy in the office. I missed Rafe terribly despite my anger at what happened in Long Island. His absence had me overthinking things about him and Erin—things he refused to tell me.
I hadn’t heard from Rafe since his last message and only followed him on the news. He was in many meetings and conferences, but Billy and Carter assured me everything was going fine. They didn’t tell me when they were returning. I’d just take what I could get and let him explain when he returned.
But today, I stood before his brother because I needed to leave early. Brett was picking me up to take me to Brooklyn, eagerly looking forward and hoping I’d meet Michael’s family. However, Carter had to bring another piece of news.
“Rafe’s returning today.”
A pool of emotions lifted up my heart. Excitement? Restlessness? I wasn’t sure. “He is? What time?”
“Not sure, but he has probably left the office now.”
I heaved an exhale. “Thanks for giving me an update every now and then. It helped keep me from being paranoid.”
“Because I knew you would worry about it. What should I tell him when he asks for you?”
“I’ll text him. I’m going to Brooklyn this afternoon.”
“Is your appointment with your brother?” He beamed.
“Something like that.”
“Just go before he thinks I’m keeping you here.”
I laughed. “Michael isn’t like that, you know.”
He raised his hands. “Relax, I’m just kidding. I’ll tell you when Rafe has returned. Have a good day, Savi.”
“Have a good day, Carter.”
I hurried to the lobby because Brett was already waiting in front of the building. As soon as I saw his Bentley, I immediately got into it. He greeted me with a smirk as if we had a good time together when I was still his in-law when we actually didn’t. As usual, Brett still looked cocky.
“Quit that grin and drive,” I said.
“We’ve only been ex-in-laws recently, so have some patience.”
I rolled my eyes. “I still don’t know why you’re doing this or whatever it is you’re plotting.”
“I guess you’ll find out.”
Brett revved the car engine to life and pulled out of the driveway.
While we drove, my curiosity grew about this family his investigator found, so I thought of asking just to make the atmosphere less awkward. Brett and I weren’t close, and I knew what he did to Rafe in the past, which gave me more reason to not let my guard down.
“You said you know them, the people we’re meeting today.”
“I do.”
“Who are they?”
“You’re only meeting one of them, not the rest of the family. And I can’t tell you yet because it’s a surprise.” He flashed out a playful grin.
I groaned. Typical Brett. He liked to play games. “I’m not in the mood to ride on your schemes, Brett. Edward doesn’t know about this, which made me more curious why we can’t tell anybody.”
“I told you the reason. We still aren’t sure if this family is Michael’s.”
I scoffed. “But you seemed so sure. Can’t you give me something, just anything that’d describe them? What kind of family are they, so I know what to expect when I meet them? Even if we’re still not sure.”
“Are you worried your brother will leave you if they are somehow decent?”
I hated that he knew what I was thinking. Well, it was pretty obvious. “He’s not leaving me. Michael assured me he won’t.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because he’s my brother.”
“Who isn’t your real brother.”
I scowled at him. “How dare you say it like that?”
“Because it’s the truth. There are some circumstances you can’t avoid or change, Savi. This person we’re meeting today is, uh, let’s say he’s influential. Rich. And I want to say nasty.”
I cringed. “Ugh. If that’s the case, that person is exactly who Michael would hate. I’m sure of that.”
He laughed, but the humor didn’t touch his eyes. “Don’t jump to conclusions.”
“You. You are jumping to conclusions that my brother would leave me. He won’t. He’s not the kid they lost twenty-nine years ago anymore. He has his own life now, a career, a new family, which is me,” I said, repeating what Michael had said.
Brett smirked again as if he would enjoy looking forward to this. Seriously, what was up with him?
“Let’s just see, Savi.”
His speed accelerated as we approached the Brooklyn Bridge.
When we arrived at our destination, we stepped down in front of the amusement park, where another black car waited for us. Brett approached the man leaning on it, which I assumed was Elliot.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Reed.”
“Good afternoon, Elliot.”
They shook hands.
“This is Savannah Gibson, Michael Gibson’s sister,” he introduced. “She’s looking forward to meeting our person today.”
“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” Elliot pumped my hand as well.
“Thank you,” I answered simply.
“Shall we?” Brett asked.
I nodded.
It was a wild afternoon in the amusement park. Children and parents brim the place, wearing smiles and holding carnival items. Each stall and ride had a long line, waiting for their turn to play. Our destination was the office, where the person we met today was already waiting.
“This is how far I’ll go,” Brett said, stopping a few meters from the amusement park headquarters.
“Why?”
“I’ll be right in the car. This is your moment, and you don’t want me spoiling that moment for you.” He flashed out a cocky grin again, which started to annoy me.
“Yeah, fine. That’s probably much better.”
“Elliot will take you inside,” he said.
“Yes. This way, miss,” Elliot seconded.
I nodded.
Our investigator greeted another man waiting by the office door. He said his name was Paxton, another investigator looking for a child who had gone missing in the same amusement park the same year Dad found Michael.
Paxton asked me a few questions before we proceeded inside.
“My boss is waiting for you. But he hates wasting time, so he wanted me to check before meeting you. You’re Mikhail’s sister?”
“Mikhail?” I frowned. “My brother is Michael.” But that sounded similar. Maybe they were the actual people we were looking for, after all.
Paxton’s expression brightened up. “They sound the same.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought, too.” I chuckled nervously. My hands were sweating as hell.
“And your brother, he’s been looking for his family since when?” he asked again.
“I don’t know. I didn’t even know he was looking for them until recently.”
“Why now and not then, if I may ask?”
“Like I said, I’m not sure.”
“Who in your family found him?”
“My dad. I wasn’t born then. I just know that he was lost around here. Michael only remembers a brother. A twin, brother, actually. Does that sound like who you are looking for?”
The two investigators shared the same astonished look.
“What do you think?” Elliot asked Paxton.
“My boss is also looking for his twin,” Paxton answered.
My heartbeat sped so loud that I could almost hear it pumping in my chest. I didn’t know what it was, but I swear something sparked.
“Oh my God. Please let me see this person.”
“Alright. I think you should meet him. Come inside.”
With trembling legs and goosebumps rising over my body, I followed Paxton inside. As soon as he opened the office, I found someone I would never expect to see. The only man who could make my heart beat even wilder.
What was he doing here?
“Rafe…” I muttered.
Rafe sprang up in utter surprise. I hadn’t seen him look so vulnerable as he was right now.
“Savannah. What are you doing here?”
I froze. Bewildered at how this event was so unusual. That was my question too. But I must be at the wrong place, or I was still probably dreaming.
When did he arrive? Was he okay? Why did he come here? Did he know I was coming here, and he only just wanted to surprise me?
That couldn’t be the case.
“What is this all about?” Rafe questioned, looking directly at Paxton.
“This is Savannah Gibson, sir. She’s the family,” Paxton introduced.
Rafe’s scowl deepened, but he didn’t speak anything else and only stared at me, confused.
I wasn’t so sure what was going on anymore. It was so messed up.
“What? W-Why are we… What is…” I stuttered. “Elliot, what is happening?”
Rafe rushed to Elliot and pulled him by the collar. “Are you fucking kidding me? Who do you work for?” he raged.
“Mr. Sebastian!” Paxton immediately attended to them. But Rafe didn’t budge, still holding Elliot on the collar.
The poor investigator’s face turned white, and he lifted his hands in surrender. “I’m just following orders.”
“Who. Do you. Fucking. Work. For?” he demanded, word by word.
“It’s B-Brett Reed, sir. He hired me to help Ms. Gibson.”
“I knew it,” Rafe muttered harshly. “Where is he?”
“He’s outside, sir.”
He released Elliot and shoved the man. “Stay here!” he thundered.
“Rafe!” I called out.
“I said stay here,” he ordered again and marched out of the office. Paxton, despite Rafe’s instruction, followed him outside.
I dashed to Elliot’s side to help him get up.
“Can you please just tell me what is going on?” I questioned desperately.
“Paxton’s boss is that man,” Elliot said with difficulty getting up. “He’s the one looking for your brother. He has a missing brother he’s looking for, too. But fuck! Nobody told me I’ll be treated like this.” He massaged the back of his neck. “Do you know each other?”
“No.” I shook my head, my eyes widening. “Yes, I know him, but no, this can’t be happening. I’m so sorry.”
I felt like the energy left I had was leaving my body. I struggled a few steps back and stumbled on one of the seats.
Oh, God. If this was true…
If Rafe was Michael’s…
No, no, no. This wasn’t happening. This was a mistake.
And this was probably why Brett wasn’t mentioning anything. He only probably did this to mess with us. Screw the rules. I was going to find out.
I sprinted back to the carnival, walking past the festivities with a racing heart.
Not far from where Brett was, I saw Rafe land a hit at his rival’s face. Paxton tried to stop them because people were looking. I finally made my approach. I guess it was right to know what was happening because I was already involved.
“You started this!” Rafe accused, pointing his finger at Brett sprawled on the ground. “You fucking did this! And now you’re trying to mess with me again? Just how long are you going to fuck with my life?”
I still couldn’t get a grasp of what was happening, but Brett absolutely had an understanding of what he just did. He really was a bully by how he was still smirking at Rafael. If I were to look at them from another angle, I’d say that Brett had gone insane.
But why would Rafe say Brett started this?
“What happened back then was an accident, and you knew it,” Brett said, trying to get up. “I’m just making things right. You know, for a fair fight. But what you found out is the truth. Ask your investigator, mine, or the foster home that helped Mikhail. You’ll find out.”
What truth? What accident? Were they really talking about Michael? This was breaking my head.
“This doesn’t make us even.” Rafe seethed under his breath. “Your conscience means nothing to me because you don’t fight fair.”
“For fuck’s sake, Sebastian.” Brett walked to his car and picked something from the inside. It was a black folder. He shoved it into Rafe’s chest. “Here. This will explain it.”
Rafe opened the folder, glancing at me. He shifted his attention back to the documents, frowning as he read them.
“Paxton,” he called. “Is this right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You knew, and you didn’t tell me beforehand?”
“I’m sorry. I’m only respecting the other party’s request. But I assure you it’s accurate.”
Rafe closed the folder and handed it to Paxton. He turned his attention back to me. He stared at me, assessing, communicating with no words, just emotions. I noticed the tension in his chest and shoulders had relaxed. His eyes began to well, and his cheeks turned crimson. He looked so defeated.
“Where is your brother?”