The Secrets We Keep

The Thirty-Third Chapter

Hayden

After that ordeal with Johnson, Reyes comes over to us. She asks Nathan to join her first, and the two head to the interrogation room together. 

My leg starts jumping up and down and I think both Christopher and Damien are too stuck in their own thoughts to be irritated by my actions. 

It feels like forever that Nathan's in that room with Reyes, and by the time he comes out, he looks even more pale than he did before. 

I think he's going to walk back over to us. I have my neck craned over my seat, watching his every move, desperate to know what he was asked but before he can come our way, a dark-haired woman in a fur coat stops him. 

"Who's that?" I ask out loud and both Christopher and Damien turn to see what's caught my attention. 

Nathan's looking at me as this new woman approaches. His eyes seem pleading like he wants me to read something into his look but I can't. And then he's looking away, his lips moving as the woman takes off her shades to talk to him. She seems displeased with him but before I can make more of their connection, they walk outside into the putridly sunny day. 

"That's his mom," Christopher says and his eyes are not kind as they take in her elegant figure. In fact, I would bet the expression in his eyes is almost hostile. 

"The movie star," I say, seeing it now. She has that old Hollywood look to her. Effortlessly elegant and maybe a bit aloof. One thing's for sure, despite the similarities between her and her son, they don't look overly close. My eyes narrow as I watch them walk outside to an expensive car parked over two spaces. There are no shared looks between them or reassuring smiles. No comforting touches or hand squeezes. 

No, the two just walk stiffly side by side until they reach the car. Before Nathan slides in, he looks up and his eyes meet mine through the floor-to-ceiling glass window. I don't know what he wants from me so I just nod and hope that's enough reassurance for him. 

"They don't look particularly close," Damien admits, his eyes narrowed on them. 

"You two should mind your own business," Christopher says abruptly. We turn to look at him, not quite offended by his statement. "Just because you two have parents who would kill for you, doesn't mean everyone else has that."

Before either one of us can defend our nosiness, Reyes is back. The woman moves with the stealth of a ninja and I startle when she's suddenly in front of us. 

"Damien, you're up," she says and he stands up slowly to follow her already retreating form. 

I want to give him a thumbs up or tell him good luck but I don't know if either of those are appropriate things to do in this situation. 

"Nathan's been trying to talk to you," Christopher says once we're alone. My eyes leave my brother's back to stare at him. "Apparently you guys had a falling out or something. I think I'm going to need a diagram to keep up with where you two are together on any given day."

"Weren't you just the one telling me to mind my business? Maybe you should follow your own advice, Christian," I say and he sighs. 

"I guess I deserve that, Aidan," He says and props his chin on his fist. "But in all seriousness, throw the guy a bone or something. I think you overreacted." 

I swivel my body to look at him, the audacity of this man. "First of all, how I react to any given situation is none of your concern. And secondly, did you forget that you handed my phone to the station just yesterday? How the hell am I supposed to know he's been reaching out? Why wouldn't you remind him of that?" I demand, my voice raising just a tinge.