Syrena

At night, I’m cleaning up the tables as usual while all the other waitresses have already left. Even Roy’s already left, as he expects me to take care of the inside and close up the club. Usually, it takes me until three in the morning to get things done, but there were fewer customers tonight, so it’s less filthy than normal.

When I’m done washing all the glasses and sweeping the floor, I grab the keys from the kitchen counter and walk to the door.

However, the moment I’m there, it opens right in front of me, and a familiar voice breaks my train of thought.

“Syrena.”

I hold my breath and take a step back, clenching the keys in my hand.

Is this real? Is he really here?

I must be dreaming.

I shake my head.

“How are you?”

There’s that voice again … it’s definitely his.

But why? I haven’t seen him in weeks … I don’t even know how long. And now he’s suddenly here? In the flesh?

“Wh-what are you doing here?” I ask, my voice unsteady, just as wobbly as my legs.

“I wanted to come see you.” His voice is so soft, it unravels the part of my heart I thought I’d finally locked away again.

I hold the keys close to my chest. “How did you find me?”

“Roy’s Strip Club. Not a name that’s used often,” he says, and I can actually hear him smirk. “Didn’t take me long to track it down. And you.”

Yet he chose not to come to take me … until this day.

“Why now?” I ask.

“You know why.” He closes the door behind him and steps closer.

“Don’t,” I mumble, holding up the keys like they’re a knife, as if they’d provide any protection.

“I’m not here to hurt you,” he says. “I promise.”

For some reason, my hand instinctively lowers. As if it knows I can trust him even when he’s lied to my face many times before.

He did it to protect me.

Although I never asked for protection.

“You did it once … What’s stopping you from trying to take me away again?” I say through gritted teeth, not allowing myself to show even an ounce of mercy.

Not because I can’t … but because if I did, it would mean the end of my defense.

If he ever touches me again, I just know I wouldn’t be able to resist. Wouldn’t be able to deny my heart the thing it’s craved for so long.

His touch is like a drug to me, and I just can’t. I can’t allow myself to go there.

“I didn’t come here to force you to come home,” he says.

“Then why did you come?” I say, licking my lips.

“To give you information about Cage and Ella.”

My breathing stops momentarily, and I grab the chair next to me for support. “Are they alive?”

“Yes. We’ve managed to track them down.”

“Oh, thank God,” I mutter, breathing out a sigh of relief.

“I’ve written down the address for you. If you have a phone, you can let it read it out loud for you with an app.”

“Okay.” I frown. “And what do you want in return?”

I assume he wants something. Men always do.

Nothing’s ever free in this world.

“Nothing,” he says.

My lips part, but I don’t know what to say. That was … unexpected.

“So … Roy’s Strip Club,” he says, his voice dark. “Is he treating you better than before?”

I mull it over for a second. “Well, he doesn’t hit me, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Good. If he ever puts his hands on you again and I find out, I will kill him.”

Not a single ounce of hesitation lingers in his voice.

It must be hard for him knowing I came back to the very man who treated me so badly, but he must understand that I had no other choice.

It was this … or back to him.

And still, he demands nothing of me. Doesn’t force me to come back with him even though I can tell from his voice alone he almost wants to beg me.

It’s a strength I can only admire.

“Here,” Chase says, handing the small paper to me.

I quickly take it and tuck it into my pocket before he can take it away again.

“There’s something I have to add, though …” He clears his throat. “You have another brother.”

“Another brother?” I say, flabbergasted.

“His name is Lock. He escaped the compound long before Ella and Cage did. Much older too. Apparently, he lived on an island by himself for quite some time. That’s all my contacts managed to find out.”

“Whoa.” I swallow away the lump in my throat. “And you’re sure they’re … my family?”

“Hundred percent. Graham admitted it himself. You’re his.”

I can’t keep my legs steady any longer, so I grab the chair and sit down on it.

I can’t believe it.

I actually have a family.

Not one … but two brothers.

“Ella and Cage also have a kid together,” Chase adds casually. “Thought you should know.”

And a niece or nephew too. Holy shit.

“I know it’s a lot to take in, so take your time,” he says, taking a deep breath.

I nod a few times, but then he pushes something soft into my hands.

“I also wanted to give you this,” he says.

But I’m not listening to his words. All I can do is touch the soft, squishy stuffed animal in my hands. My teddy bear.

“You left it at the orphanage.” I can hear him smile. “Thought you’d want it back.”

“But I never told you,” I mutter, flabbergasted.

“You didn’t have to.” I can hear him smile. “I’m the one who gave it to you.”

My heart shatters into tiny pieces.

This teddy bear didn’t belong to my mother?

It came from him?

My whole body trembles as Chase keeps flipping my world upside down again and again.

All this time, I was searching for a home. A place to call my own. Someone who would come and get me and pull me from the darkness.

And all this time, it turned out to be him.

It was always him.

“Well, that’s all I came to do,” he says.

Then he turns around and walks off.

“Wait,” I say.

I don’t know why I say it. Maybe I really don’t want him to leave.

A part of me wishes this whole conversation never happened because then I’d be able to continue working like a braindead person as I normally do, not giving a shit about what happens to the rest of the world.

But another part of me desperately needed this little push. This little shot of happiness straight into my veins. And a part of me carelessly needed to see him.

Even if it meant breaking my own heart all over again.

He stops in his tracks but doesn’t say a word.

The pause seems eternal before I speak up and finally make up my mind. “Why did you tell me all that and give me this? Just to leave again?”

“Because I meant what I said. I love you so much that I want nothing more than for you to be happy,” he says. “Even if that means letting you go.”

He continues walking. Just like that.

As if he didn’t just rip my heart out of my chest and take it with him, all the way to the door, all the way to the car, until the sound of his engine drifts out of range, and I can no longer call for him to stay.

That moment’s passed.

Just like our time together.

So short yet so significant.

It changed my life.

And I never even told him how grateful I am for this information that’s about to alter my life again.

Where I’ll finally be reunited with the people I shared so much with. Where I’ll finally meet … my family.

And it’s all thanks to him.