Chapter Eight
Nick rang the doorbell to the Harrison mansion. He hadn’t planned on being back at the mansion the very next evening, but he’d been summoned by Charles. His guess was that the test results had already come back. Only that would have made Charles sound so serious . . . and a tiny bit humbled, if Nick wasn’t wrong.
So here he was, on a cold Friday night. Well, it was cold to him. Everyone around him that day had been thrilled for temperatures that’d hit fifty-one degrees. To him, that was still too damn cold. He was a Florida boy through and through.
It was Ava who opened the door for him. She smiled and said, “Hiya, Unc.”
Nick laughed. She was a firecracker, this kid. “Hi yourself.”
She took his jacket, but he said, “Think I’m keeping the shoes on. I’m here to see your dad tonight, not your brother.”
“Family powwow ahead,” Ava whispered. “Be warned. My aunt and other uncles are here too.”
A quick worry snaked through Nick, but he only whispered back, “Thanks for the heads-up.”
Ava led him to the living room. He hadn’t been in there before. It was much more grandiose than the den; more expensive furnishings and décor, all intended to impress. Nick supposed it was impressive . . . if he gave a shit about that stuff. Tess and Pierce sat on the longest couch, Dane was sprawled out on a love seat, and Charles was at the back wall, behind the wet bar, fixing himself a drink. “Well, well,” Nick said. “Am I walking into an ambush here?”
“No,” Tess said quickly, shooting to her feet. “No, please. We just want to talk. Not fight, or argue, or anything like that. All right?”
“What she said,” Pierce chimed in. He and Dane set their beer bottles down on the coffee table at the same time.
Nick could feel the tension in the air, and it tugged at him. He gazed at Tess for a long beat, quickly scanned the three men’s faces, and a surge of knowing rushed through him. “You got the test results back already, huh?”
“Yes,” Charles said from behind the bar. He held up his glass, half full of golden liquid. “Scotch. You want some? Or a beer?”
“No thanks.” He looked at Tess, saw the way she was studying him with something like wonder in her eyes. “It proved my mother’s story, didn’t it?”
Tess nodded and drew a shaky breath. “Without a doubt. You’re a Harrison. He’s your father.”
The words set off something in his chest, a bizarre combination of elation and dread. His mother had been telling the truth, as had he, and they all had to eat that now. But at the same time . . . Jesus Christ, he was related to all these people. What did that mean to him? He didn’t have the faintest fucking idea yet.
He just nodded, suddenly not knowing what to say or do. He could hear his heartbeat roaring in his ears. Everyone was looking at him.
“Are you okay?” Tess asked.
He nodded again. His throat had closed up, so he just looked at her.
She went to him, gently put her hand on his forearm, looked right into his eyes, and murmured, “Sit down, Nick.”
He let her nudge him into the empty armchair and stared at his hands. His mind whirred, but it was blank. Just white noise in there.
Tess crouched in front of him, watching him, almost protective. “Talk to us. Your head must be spinning.”
He shrugged, but met her eyes. “Ten days ago, I was just Nick Martell, a Miami cop, doing my thing.... I knew who my family was, who I was. . . . I guess it all just hit me.” He raked his hands through his hair. “This whole thing is so fucked up, I don’t know where to start.”
“I’m sure it’s overwhelming,” she said.
“It’s a shock for all of us,” Dane said.
Dane’s voice gave Nick a jolt, a small rush of irritation. Nick glanced at him. “Oh, I’m your brother, so you can talk to me now? How nice.”
“I was wary of a stranger claiming to be a part of my family,” Dane said. “I won’t apologize for that. My family’s been through too much, especially recently.” His voice was calm, but his blue eyes glinted with steel. “However. Especially, yes, seeing as you were right—and the fact that I believe you when you say you’re not after anything but the truth—I’m sorry if I came off like a dick. And would like to start over.”
Nick sighed. Maybe a drink would have been a good idea.
Charles took a seat in the other chair as Tess took hold of Nick’s hands. Her gentle touch startled him. She hadn’t stopped looking into his eyes; even in his fog, he recognized she was clearly trying to soothe and support him. “There’s so much I—we—want to know about you,” she said softly. “I hope you’ll let us.”
“And if you don’t,” Pierce said from where he sat, “that’s cool, too. You made it pretty clear you don’t want to know us, and given the reception you got the other night, we can’t blame you. Isn’t that right, Charles?” His jab wasn’t lost on anyone.
Nick couldn’t help but grin. He liked Pierce; he couldn’t deny it.
“I owe you an apology,” Charles began.
“Save it,” Nick said. “You made yourself clear.” He stared right back, not giving an inch.
Charles’s eyes blazed behind his glasses. “This family has more money and power than most people could ever dream of,” he hissed. “And I’ve been at the number-two gatekeeper position for my entire life. I will protect my family to the ends of the earth. It’s what I was born to do.”
He huffed out a breath and a muscle twitched under his eye. “On top of everything else I’ve been dealing with, I had a strange man walk into my home and announce he’s my long-lost brother. With the added bonus of he has serious leverage over me: he’s the match that could save my son’s life if it works. So tell me, Nick.” His eyes narrowed and his voice sharpened. “What the hell would you have thought, in my shoes? How would you have reacted? I’d love to know. Because you know what? I’m willing to bet your reaction wouldn’t have been that much different from mine.”
Nick’s jaw set tight. He hated to admit it, but he got it. Of course he did.
“Please try to understand all that,” Tess said, still crouching before him. “We’re sorry we offended you—we really are. But it was a huge shock to us too.”
Nick nodded and gave her hands a squeeze. “Get up before your legs fall asleep.”
“You obviously don’t do yoga. I’m fine.” She grinned and rose as gracefully as a ballerina, then went to retake her seat on the couch beside Pierce. “We’d like to get to know you, Nick, if you’ll allow us to. I certainly want that.”
“Seconded,” Pierce said.
“Thirded,” Dane said, raising a hand. “Is that a word?”
“No,” Tess said with a grin.
“I just made it one, then,” Dane proclaimed. His eyes set on Nick. “Give us another chance.”
“Tell me what you know,” Nick said, almost as a challenge. He looked around at all four of them. His gut hummed, wanting to believe them . . . but he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more, that something wasn’t being addressed.
“What do you mean?” Dane asked.
“I mean,” Nick said, “you’ve all had two whole days to do your homework on me. You got the DNA test rushed—thank you, money and power. You probably know more about me than my best friends do.”
“I’m not going to insult you by denying it,” Charles said. “I did an extensive search on you. Yes, I now know plenty of things. Facts. But we don’t know you.”
“That only comes from you,” Tess said.
Nick wondered how and what they’d found. Then something hit him. His eyes rested on Charles. “Wait. You likely did your research on my mother too. Right?”
Charles gave one cool nod.
Nick’s heart rate started rising and his fingers clenched. “You will not contact her. Under any circumstances. I want her kept out of this circus, if it turns into one. You hearing me? I’d say she’s been through enough.”
“I never even thought to contact her,” Dane said. “Why would we?”
“To corroborate the story,” Nick said. “To find out more about whatever happened back then.”
“I am curious to hear some of those details,” Charles admitted. “So yes, I had thought to contact her. But if you want us to leave her in peace, I’ll do that. As a show of faith to you. How’s that for trying?”
Nick’s breath caught. Damn. Charles had thrown down the gauntlet.
“Nick,” Tess said. “No one wants to hurt your mother.”
“Your father will.” Thinking of what his mom could be in for now from that man . . . it made Nick’s blood boil. “If he’s as ruthless a bastard as she thinks he is . . . I want your word that you’ll all leave her alone. If you have questions, ask me and I’ll ask her. But I don’t want this touching her.”
“I understand your concern,” Charles said. “You have my word. But your concerns about my father—”
“Are valid,” Pierce interrupted. “C’mon, man. He’s right, and you know it.”
Dane nodded. Tess frowned and looked at Charles; the agreement in her eyes was crystal clear.
“I think it’s pretty obvious,” Nick said tightly, “that my mother never wanted anything from any of you. She’s had twenty-nine years to come forward if she did.”
“That’s clear,” Tess said. “Absolutely.”
“The fact is,” Pierce said, “if she raised you on her own, she is entitled to something, I bet.” He looked to Charles. “Don’t you think?”
“You’re not hearing me,” Nick pressed. “Keep your money. She wants nothing to do with anything Harrison. And I don’t either. For now, while I’m here, not being treated like a criminal in your midst would be great. Let me get to know my nephew while I can. That’s all I want. A little time with Myles.”
Charles’s eyes widened. “Of course you can get to know him,” he said softly.
But Dane shifted in his seat, leaning in. “A criminal?” He sounded offended. “That’s a little harsh. You’re saying that’s how we made you feel?”
Nick spat without hesitation, “Your words, not mine. I showed up on your doorstep to blackmail you, remember?”
Dane sighed. Charles leaned toward Nick and said, “I was trying to apologize for that before. You cut me off, remember?”
Nick slid him a withering look. “Let’s get something straight. I’m a lot of things, but I’m not a liar. I believed in honesty and justice long before I became a cop, and now that I am one, I take that even more seriously. So for you to imply otherwise? Yeah, it cut deeper than you realize. You all crossed a dangerous line with me.”
Silence fell over the room. The four siblings looked to one another. Nick felt his heart thumping a little harder than usual. Man, this whole thing had him off his game.
“I’m sorry, Nick,” Tess said. “I really am.”
“Me too,” Pierce said.
“I’m sorry too,” Dane said.
“Same here,” Charles said.
“But you’re still wary of me,” Nick said.
“We don’t know you!” Dane stressed. “You don’t trust us or know us yet either. We got off on the wrong foot. So . . . we all just need to take a deep breath here. And maybe, over time, we can all get to know each other and that’ll change.”
“He has no intention of staying,” Charles said, eyes on Nick. “He said so last night. He wants to do the procedure, then go back to his life and leave us all behind.”
Tess’s eyes widened. Nick actually felt bad for a second.
“That’s his right,” Pierce said. “Um, hello. The guy just found out a week ago everything he thought he knew about his family isn’t true. How about we give him some time to get used to the idea? A little slack, and backing the hell off?”
“Since when are you the voice of reason?” Dane said, incredulous.
“Since I’ve been in his shoes,” Pierce said pointedly. He looked around at his three older siblings. “I spent a lot of years feeling like I was the enemy in my own family. And I kind of was. Damn, your memories are short.”
Tess grimaced and grabbed Pierce’s knee to squeeze it. The other two went silent. Interesting. Nick stared at him. “I really need to hear more about that some time.”
Pierce grinned. “You got plans tomorrow night? We’ll go get some beers if you’re game. I’ll tell you allllll about it.”
Nick laughed. “Yeah, why not. I’m game.”
“Excellent.” Pierce’s cheeky grin widened into a smile. “I have soccer games all day, so I’ll have dinner with my wife and kids first. But then I’ll pick you up at your hotel. How’s eight o’clock?”
“All right.” Nick looked at the other two men. Dane looked amused. Charles looked . . . perplexed. He arched a brow at Pierce.
“Try not to smear us too hard,” Charles murmured, then sipped his drink.
Pierce laughed. “It’s okay, Chuckles. You’ve more than made up for it since.” He winked at him, then picked up his dark beer bottle from the coffee table and drank.
“So . . .” Nick said. “I’d like to see the papers with the test results, if there are any.”
“Of course.” Charles got to his feet and strode to the small table in the corner. He withdrew a manila envelope from its one drawer and brought it back to Nick. “Here’s your copy of everything.”
“Thank you.” Nick opened it and gave the papers a quick scan. Yup, no doubt. There it was in black and white. Holy shit. He looked back up to see all four of them watching him. “Wow.”
“Yeah,” Tess said, and he could feel the waves of warmth she emanated his way.
He tried to smile at her, but as it hit him, he looked to Charles. “So who gets to tell the old man the big news?”
“That will be me.” Charles sat again and took another sip of his drink.
Pierce cackled with dark glee. “Please let me be there. Please.”
“You’re such a troublemaker,” Dane laughed.
“Oh, c’mon,” Pierce said. “I want to see his face. His head’s gonna fucking explode.”
“Maybe he’ll deny it,” Nick pointed out.
“He can’t!” Pierce pointed to the papers Nick held. “BOOM!”
“It’s going to be . . . interesting,” Charles conceded.
“He could have another heart attack,” Tess murmured. “Anyone thought of that?”
Pierce clamped his lips shut and shrugged.
“She’s got a point,” Dane said.
“I had thought of that, actually,” Charles said. “But he still needs to know.”
“You want me there when you do?” Nick asked. “I don’t really care either way, so it’s your call.”
“Um . . .” Charles looked around at all of them. “I really think it’d be best if I just tell him first and let him absorb it. Then, we can set up a meeting. It’ll be soon.”
Nick nodded. “Okay. Let me know.”
Dane got to his feet. “I’m ready for a stiffer drink now.” As he strode to the wet bar, he asked, “Anyone else?”
Nick drew a long, deep breath. The whirring in his head had stopped. That was something. But he still felt like an outsider here. He wasn’t ready to just throw down and hang out with the gang. Something inside him pushed, making him edgy. He got to his feet. “Maybe I should get going.”
“Nonsense,” Charles said. “Stay a while. I’m sure you have plenty of questions. We do too. Maybe we could all talk for a while. Unless you have somewhere to be?”
Nick had to grin. “Man, you’re crafty. And pushy, too.”
“He’s got your number already,” Dane chuckled.
Nick drew a long breath. He didn’t feel right here. The whole thing was a total head trip. But . . . these people were okay. He could give them a chance in his head without them knowing it, still keep them at arm’s length and protect himself. And why not? Getting to know them a little better, on good terms, and asking direct questions was quicker and easier than digging on the Internet. “I guess I can stay for a little bit. And I’ll take you up on that beer now.”
* * *
Two hours passed quickly. The five of them talked and talked. Nick heard about all his nieces and nephews, Tess’s husband and his brothers’ wives; some of what it was like growing up as a Harrison; a little about the family company, Harrison Enterprises, which Charles now ran; and about each of their individual careers. They, in turn, asked Nick a million questions, wanting to know everything about him, from his childhood and family to his career and his hobbies.
Lisette came and went, bringing snacks for them all. She thanked Nick for coming to play with Myles the night before and said that he’d loved it, prompting Nick to ask if he could again. Charles was quick to say yes to that, and it wasn’t lost on Nick.
Ava, Thomas, and Charlotte came in for a few minutes for a proper introduction. The young teens looked so much like their father. Ava, confident and sharp, acted like they were old buddies already; Thomas was more wary, cautious, a slightly awkward thirteen. Little Charlotte, not yet six, automatically climbed onto his lap for a hug hello, a trusting and sweet soul with her mother’s warm brown eyes. Nick was more moved by that than he wanted to cop to.
Overall, Nick had to admit that while they all were still being somewhat careful around each other . . . it wasn’t a bad evening. His new half siblings were interesting, funny at times, and whip smart. People he could respect. And they really were trying, he could tell. He gave them credit for that.
At nine, he got to his feet and stretched. He didn’t want to overstay his welcome, and he had a lot to process. He needed to be alone to do that. “I’m gonna get going,” he said to the group. “But thanks for an enlightening evening.”
They all rose too. “I’m going to tell him tomorrow,” Charles said, obviously referring to their father. “I’ll let you know afterward what transpired.”
A shiver skittered over his skin, but Nick only nodded.
“So . . .” Charles held out his hand. “Truce?”
“Working on it,” Nick said, but shook his hand firmly.
Tess moved in; she was so tall, he practically looked her in the eye. She kissed him on the cheek. “It’s been a true pleasure. Thank you for staying.” She smiled, and it was genuine. “This was lovely. I hope you think so too.”
He got a little choked up at that. He nodded. “Better than I thought it’d be.”
Her smile widened, a hint of triumph. “We’re not a bad bunch.”
“She’s the best of us, though,” Dane said.
Nick glanced at her with appreciation. “You own these guys, don’t you?”
“Always have.” Her eyes sparkled at that. “Knew you were smart.”
He patted her shoulder. His newest sister was an impressive woman.
“Dude.” Pierce leaned in, and they shook hands. “Eight tomorrow night. What hotel is it, again?”
“The Parker,” Nick said. “In Great Neck.”
“I’ll be there. Don’t stand me up.”
Nick chuckled. “First round’s on you.”
Pierce smiled. “Game on.”
“I’d ask to tag along,” Dane said, “but another time.” He and Nick shook hands. “Saturday nights, I have a standing date with my lady.”
“Enjoy that, then,” Nick said.
“Do you have a girlfriend back home?” Tess asked, as if it’d suddenly occurred to her to ask.
“Me?” Nick said. “No. Single, and fine with that.”
The words were just out of his mouth when Amanda appeared at the doorway. “I’m leaving now, Charles. Just saying good-bye. Myles is asleep. He’s fine.”
“Thank you so much, Amanda.” Charles went to her and squeezed her shoulder. “Have a wonderful weekend. We’ll see you on Monday.”
Nick couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her buttery hair was down, loose and pretty around her shoulders, and her scrubs today were lavender over white. She looked pretty and competent and adorable, and he wanted to devour her.
She caught his eyes across the room and gave him a little grin. “Hey.”
“Hi. I was just leaving,” he said in her direction. “Wait up—we’ll go together. I’ll walk you to your car.”
“Okay.” She smiled, and something flared in his chest. He finished his good-byes and walked to meet her in the foyer.
Lisette was there, holding their coats. Amanda shrugged into a puffy turquoise coat, the kind he’d seen a lot so far while in New York. He thanked Lisette for her hospitality, got his leather jacket on, and followed Amanda out into the night. It was very chilly now, a little blustery. He zipped up his jacket as they walked side by side down the front steps.
“I didn’t know you were here,” she said.
“I was summoned by Charles,” he explained. “The DNA results came back. Congrats, Harrison family—like I told them, it’s a boy.”
Her eyes flew wide. “Whoa. And wow, they had that done fast.”
“Guess that big money helps sometimes.” He shoved his hands in his pockets as a soft wind ruffled his hair and made hers dance around her shoulders. “So we had a little family get-together. Played Twenty Questions. More like Twenty Million.”
She peered up at him in the dark. “You okay?”
Warmed by her thoughtfulness, he smiled. “Yes. Thank you.” He eyed the lined-up cars as they reached them. “Which one’s yours?”
“You have to ask?” she said with a laugh, moving to the older Honda Civic. “The only one that wouldn’t cost a year’s salary for me.”
“Aha.” He grinned again. Their eyes met and held.
“Thanks for walking me to my car,” she said. “Very gentlemanly of you.”
“I try. Besides, it was nice to see you.” He wanted more. It was a pull; he couldn’t think of any other way to describe it. He was drawn to her as if with magnetic force. Do something, a voice whispered in his head. C’mon. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Maybe,” she hedged, but her eyes twinkled.
“Are you seeing anybody?”
She blinked but said, “No. Why do you ask?”
“Because I was curious.” He met her growing grin with a matching one of his own.
“Ah. Well. No, I’m not.” Her chin lifted the tiniest bit. “Are you?”
“Nope.” His heart rate kicked up a notch. They looked at each other, the wind swirling around them, carrying the heavy, salty scent of the Long Island Sound.
“You doing anything right now?” he asked.
“No. I was just going to go home.”
“Wanna get a cup of coffee first?”
She bit down on her lip. It made his blood race. Then she smiled. “Yeah. Sure.”
“Great.” He smiled broadly, his heart lifting. But then he stopped short. “Um. Thing is, I have no idea where the nearest coffee place is. Shit. So much for smooth.”
She laughed. “I know where to go. Wanna follow me?”
His eyes held hers as a rush went through his entire body. “Yes, ma’am.”