“You’re a guard though?” I question, not sure how things work, but I feel like guards don’t just become leaders.
Callum shakes his head. “I wasyourguard. Prior to protecting you, I led under Killian in New York. He sent me out here to monitor things months before your offering. I offered to stay when I realized how your father treated you.”
“Callum will be an outstanding leader.” Killian continues, “He cares for his people.”
“He is an amazing friend.” I smile up at him.
“Well, it seems we will be getting to know each other better. I think we should talk later about the Russian’s. There have been talks about backlash from the attack on their bar,” Kai tells him.
Callum smiles. “You wouldn’t know anything about that though, right?”
Killian stands, shooting Callum a look before turning to Kai. “How about you join me for a drink? Let these two have a chat.”
Kai frowns, looking between Callum and me. “Is there anything I need to know about?”
“Everything is fine. I just need a moment of Cleo’s time,” Callum says.
“It will be okay. Go.” I smile.
I watch Killian and Kai walk out of the room before turning back to Callum.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” he says, leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees.
“Okay…”
“I need you to promise not to get too upset,” he says with pain flashing through his eyes.
“What is it?” I whisper, my knee bouncing up and down from the anxiety rolling through me.
“Remember when I told you I found out the woman who gave birth to me had another child?” he asks as he rubs his lip.
“I do.”
“What if I told you I found her?”
I gasp. “You have a sister?” I squeal. “Oh Callum, this is fantastic! Where is she?”
“What if…” He pauses, taking a deep breath. “What if I told you I was staring at her.”
“Y-you…” I stutter. “Me? But how?” I ask, completely overwhelmed.
“Our mother’s parents put her up for marriage when she was sixteen with the clause of she wouldn’t marry until she was eighteen.” Callum looks down. “At the Gala, she met my father who was visiting from Ireland and attended with his cousins. The way he tells it, they spent two weeks sneaking around, and during that time they unknowingly conceived me.”
“Then what happened?” I ask, tears streaming down my face.
I look at him, really look at him for the first time. I see the flecks of red in his light brown hair and how his green eyes are just a shade darker than mine.
“Your mother contacted my father and told him. Like I told you before, my family convinced her to carry me to term and once I was born, give up her rights. She did and a year and a half later, she married your father. Five years later they had you.”
“Have you always known?” I ask, rubbing my chest.
“I found out about a year before I met you. I wanted to come sooner and introduce myself but at the time you looked so happy. I didn’t want to disturb your life,” he rasps, tears in his eyes.
“Oh, Callum.” I stand, walking toward my brother.
My brother.
