He smiles, sniffling a little. “Thank you.”
I nod and motion toward the door. “Any time. Now get out, my wife is waiting for me.”
“Christ, talk about favoritism.”
I smirk but don’t bother denying it. Francesca is the most precious person in my life. There isn’t a single thing I wouldn’t dofor her, but Visha is my brother. My flesh and blood. I will love and protect him until I draw my last breath.
I refrain from telling him that, because he needs someone to hate and blame for bringing him home to France with me.
Since he reunited with Aoi, I knew I had to tell him eventually about what truly happened all those years ago - how I found him. Though I can’t say I’m prepared for the rage that is going to follow when he learns the whole story.
Tomorrow. Yeah, tomorrow I’ll tell him.
It’s time heknows the truth.
51
Visha
My shaky hands settle on the door handle.
But I can’t open it.
Theres nothing but the truth out in the world now.
Proof of what I am, what I did.
I’m a liar. A fraud. I hurt him when I promised I never would. I shattered what we had. Destroyed the future we were beginning to build.
But he was right.
What future was I trying to build when it was based on a lie? How could I expect him to understand? To forgive my mistake? He’s right to hate me. I would hate myself, too. I already do.
But I can’t bear the weight of his hatred. Not when he looked at me like I was a parasite he’d rather see burn.
“You shouldn't be here, Visha,” Bellami says from behind me.
I glance at him over my shoulder. “I thought you were inside.”
“I stepped out for a second. What brings you here? You should be resting.”
Resting?
I don’t deserve it.
“Yeah, well I’m here now. Might as well be useful.”
He steps into his office and holds the door open for me. “There’s something I need to tell you.” He exhales sharply. “Close the door and take a seat.”
“What’s wrong? You’re freaking me out.”
I oblige and hesitantly slump into the armchair near his desk. Bellami settles down in his usual seat and crosses his hands over his chest.
“Eight years ago, I didn’t bring you home with me by my own means only,” he says. “You had disappeared from the face of the earth and no matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find you. But then I got a call from a man who knew exactly where you were, and he offered me a deal.”
I lean forward, sensing what he’s getting at. “What deal?”
“He would only tell me your whereabouts if I agreed to make sure you and Aoi never met again. He threatened to harm you if I couldn’t separate you from Aoi. I agreed to his deal because all I cared about was to find my little brother. The idea that such a nutjob was around you was too much to handle, so I forced you home by any means. I know what I did to you is unforgivable, but he wanted tohurt youif I failed to uphold my end of the bargain. And you vehemently refused to let go of Aoi. I had no other choice.” He grunts, raking his fingers through his hair. “Of course, that was before I realized how important he really was to you, but I could only think about finally being reunited with my little brother. Nothing else mattered, and I don’t regret what I did.”
