Where It Ends

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IT WAS TOO LATE FOR ELI'S WARNING. By the time Dax rushed back into the main funeral hall, a man seemed to be talking with my brothers. Eli seemed torn between staying with me or going with Dax.

"I'll be right back, okay?" Eli said softly and ruffled my hair before following after Dax. Theo gave me a warning look, as to say I shouldn't follow after him, but I ignored it. It's not like I wanted to meet my dad. But after sixteen years of never having seen him, my curiosity got the best of me.

I went out to where the rest of my brothers were. My ribs were still killing me, the pain growing almost unbearable, but my curiosity was stronger. When I finally got close enough to see the man's face, I stopped in my tracks at the sight. Him. It was the guy I noticed earlier, but this time I examined him closer. He looked to be late forties, early fifties. His hair was short and graying, and although he looked to be an inch or two shorter than Dax, he looked stronger and more rugged, as if he worked outside for a living.

I know I had seen him before, but where?

I shoved away the thought for now, instead focusing on the conversation at hand. The man, who I assumed to be my father, shifted his attention from Axel and Mason to Dax.

My father had this... look on his face when Dax stood in front of him.

"Dax, my boy. What have you been up to?" my father asked with a harsh smile, putting his hand on Dax's shoulder and holding it in a firm grasp. Too firm.

"Just... work," Dax said, clearly uncomfortable. But there was something else, the way his eyes darted around the room as if he was looking for an escape. I'd never seen him act like that.

I tried focusing more on his body language, maybe to try to see if I could help him, but my brain couldn't seem to do what I wanted.

While I was looking, I swayed slightly. Hopefully no one noticed.

"It is really good to see you, Dad," Mason smiled. Axel and Sam had matching expressions. I wondered how long it had been since they've seen him if they were even happy to see him at a funeral.

Anger and pure disbelief rushed through my veins when I remember what Benji told me about our father. He was talking to his kids like nothing was wrong when in actuality, he was too busy being a deadbeat alcoholic to raise them. Not that I was any better with the whole alcohol thing. Sure, I probably have an issue. But the only person that my habit affects is me, because I refuse to turn into my mother. It's something I've always been scared of... and now, I guess I was scared of turning into my father too.

Our father returned the smile until he looked in my direction. Our eyes met.

"Oh my God. Genevieve?" our father said suddenly, finally letting go of Dax's shoulder. I didn't fully register what he said.

"She goes by Evie," Dax said quietly. Hearing my name slightly pulled me out of the trance.

"Evie... wow, look at how you've grown up. I remember when you..." My father stopped himself, and suddenly, I realized where I recognized him from. My eyes widened, and he noticed this too. I kept my mouth shut, but suddenly I was no longer thinking of him. My ribs burned with a fiery agony they never had before, my head was spinning, and I began to sway again, but there was nothing to cling onto.

"Evie? Are you alright?" Theo asked with concern. But the world had already turned black.

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DAX'S POV

Thus far, the worst day of my life was when my little sister got taken away. For the past fifteen years, throughout all the shit I've gone through, nothing has been more devastating. The idea that I would ever have to face anything worse than that never came to mind.