Autumn Haze

19: 'The one with the family meeting...'

I warily glance at Ryan Wilson, the man who is supposed to be dead, the man who abused the boy I loved.

He gives me a hard expression, 'Why the fuck have you brought me here?'

I swallow harshly as I glance towards Sammy, 'Because Brooke deserves to know the truth, she was devastated.'

'Her knowing just puts her in danger.'

'Well you put her son in danger.'

He sighs loudly as he rubs a hand over his face, when he lifts his head up his gaze stops on the refrigerator behind me, 'Whose ultrasound is that?'

'What?'

'Are you pregnant?'

'No...Luke's sister is pregnant.'

Ryan scoffs loudly, 'Lucas doesn't have a sister.'

I narrow my eyes, 'Yes he does, and they may not be related by blood but they love and protect each other as if they where.'

My eyes widen when Rocky walks into the kitchen with a deep frown on his face, massaging the back of his neck, 'Who the fuck is this guy?'

'No one.' Sammy squeaks out.

I nudge him roughly, 'He needs to know.'

'But what if he tells Scarlett.'

Rocky raises an eyebrow, 'Tell Scarlett, what?'

'Luke is missing, he isn't in New York and this man is his father who is supposed to be dead! He got himself into loads of debt, so he faked his death and now we think Luke has been kidnapped!' I blurt out slightly breathless.

Rocky laughs loudly as he glances around, 'That's funny, where's the cameras?'

'What?'

'You're pranking me right, where's the camera?'

I let out a shaky breath, 'I'm not pranking you.'

His expression drops, 'Oh.'

'Please we can't tell Scarlett until we know for sure, I mean there's a chance that Luke just took off for a few days.'

He nods slowly, 'I'm not going to tell her. But I do want to help.'

'What?'

He shrugs,  'Luke was one of the only guys at the boxing gym who actually tried to be my friend, he never gave up on me.'

A small smile work's it's way onto my face, 'He doesn't give up on anybody.'

Ryan rolls his eyes, 'Alright we get it, he's a good kid but we can't sit around swapping stories.'

'What do you suppose we do then?'

'Well we need to find out for sure where he is.'

My body freezes when I hear the front door open followed by familiar singing, my heart stops when Brooke is standing there with groceries in her hand.

'Hello!' She chirps before he gaze settles on the man sat at the island counter top, the bags in her hands follow to the floor.

Ryan lets out a small sigh, 'Brooke.'

Her entire body goes pale as tears fall down her cheeks, 'W-What? W-What's going on?'

'There's a few things that we need to explain to you.' He murmurs as he edges closer.

'Don't fucking come near me! You are supposed to be dead!'

'I'm sorry that you are so disappointed.' He mutters bitterly.