Between us

Chapter 29

"Sorella, how are you doing?" Lorenzo asked and gave me a hug. 

"I'm alright, just tired." I answered with Riley in my arms. 

"We came to check on you last night but you were asleep, which is obvious because I heard the delivery was quite the spectacle." Leonardo said and I chuckled. 

Ryder helped me to get of the boat and we walked to the big black SUV. There was a chauffeur waiting and I smiled gratefully. We're still in Germany, but at least we're away from Dominic. Or so I hope. "Where's Lucy and the others?" I asked when I didn't see them. 

"They reached here first, and they're at Noah's place." He answered and we got inside the van. The twins joined us and we drove off to Noah's house. 

"How did you survive, Ryder? You got shot and Stacey gave you an overdose, so how-" 

"After you got taken, Black Badger's men came to get me and made it look like I died, I mean, I would've died if they didn't come on time." He shrugged and held my hand. "They had to make it seem that I was dead, so that the plan could work. Somehow a man found out about Dominic's business and wanted to put a stop to it, so he caused the big fire. And in that exact moment, you called Noah and our suspicions were confirmed that you were here." 

"Does Isabella and Gabriella know that you're alive?" 

"Mhm. They found out recently." He said Lorenzo called Isabella. 

I cried when I heard their voices and I promised to see them soon. We hung up and soon we made it to Black Badger's house. 

My heartbeats increased as I wondered why he wanted to speak with me. Ryder noticed and gave my hand a supportive squeeze. "It'll be alright." 

We walked inside the huge house and was greeted by Noah. He had blonde hair and hazel eyes. He looked at me with care and gave me a side hug. Surprised, I returned the hug and felt strangely safe. 

"I'm Noah Richwald, or Pierce, my English surname, as you prefer it." He said with his thick German accent, and my brain stopped functioning at 'Pierce'. Before I could wonder, he turned around and behind him a man stood. My heart stopped. 

"This is Black Badger, my boss." Ryder said but I could barely hear him when he took Riley from me. 

This man, he's the same dark haired man with mom in the picture. He's 'JP'? Then it all made sense. James Pierce. My real father. Black Badger is my father? I looked at Noah. And he's my half-brother. 

"I see you've already connected the dots, Charlie." His raspy voice spoke and I nodded slowly. "Let's talk in my study." 

Ryder looked slightly confused an walked behind me. He doesn't know, then? 

"You look just like her." He said with a longing look on his face. 

"Why didn't you save me from Hawk when he killed her?" I never expected this to be my first question, but for some reason I wanted to know. 

"I swore on her life, and I never break my promises. But I've always kept an eye on you." He answered patiently. 

"You son of a bitch." Ryder finally spoke up and James smiled. "You're her real father, that's why you asked me to always keep her safe, right?" 

"Yes, Storm." He looked at me again. "We have all day, ask me anything dear." 

                                                                                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

We spoke for the whole day, and Ryder never left my side. I found out that James was only trying to stop Hawk from conducting dodgy business, but he chose the cowards way out and sold me off to Dominic. I also found out that Nana knew everything, and that she accepted him long ago. Apparently my 'older' brother's name is Blade Pierce and Noah's only a year younger than me. The confusion of the surnames were also cleared. Richwald was their mother's surname, and Noah only wanted to honor her last wish and kept her last name instead of Pierce.