Brother?

"What do you mean you're our brother?" Bas asks with me standing beside him trying desperately to pull myself together. I feel Cameron's arms wrap around my waist and I lean into him embracing his support.

"My dad is Jacob Maxwell and my mum is Kate Reynolds."

"That's impossible" I whisper and Brayden turns to me.

"How are old are you?"

"We are twenty-two" Bas replies.

"I'm thirty-one. Kate had me when she was seventeen. Dad's parents raised me until I was eight when dad came back and got me. Dad took me to live with him in London."

"So this Jacob Maxwell guy is your dad."

"He is our dad."

"No" I say stepping out of Cameron's arms and towards my so called brother. "Our dad left us when we were born. He left mum. We won't have a dad."

"He left to come and get me."

"None of this makes any sense" Bas says, "If we have the same parents why the hell wouldn't they stay together and just be a family."

"Kate never told you?" Brayden looks shocked.

"Told us what?" Bas and I ask together.

"Our parents are spies. They work for different agencies. It was dangerous for them to be together."

Spies! You have got to be kidding me!

"That is ridiculous" I say throwing my hands in the air.

"I'm telling the truth. Dad works for MI5 and Mum works for the CIA..."

"Worked for" Bas corrects him.

"What?"

"Mum is dead. She died almost a year ago" I say filling in the blanks.

"Are you sure?"

"Am I sure?" I say loudly. "Yes. I planned her funeral! Something I didn't particularly want to do but had to under the situation so yes, she is dead."

"I'm sorry" Brayden says looking at feet, "Look can you get this guy to untie me. I'm explain everything I promise. I have always wanted to meet you guys" I look at Cameron and he nods at John who unties Brayden. Brayden stands and walks over to me. He is about the same height a Bas. He holds his arms out to me and without a second thought I step into his arms. His embrace feels like home. Maybe he really is my brother. "Dad gave me the key to a safety deposit box and told me if he was ever out of contact for more than a month to empty the contents and use it find you guys and mum." Brayden begins to explain letting me go and stepping back to look at Bas and I. "Dad went out on assignment ten months ago, long assignments were normal. Six weeks ago he stopped checking in. Last week I went to the bank in London. The safety deposit box had a picture of mum, two phone numbers, a passport, a plane ticket to San Fransisco and an address. I got on the first flight and went straight to the address once I landed but the landlord told me you had moved to Boston so here I am. The phone numbers turned out to belong to you."

"This is crazy" I say sitting down in the closest chair.

"The reason I asked if Kate was really dead is because I started to wonder if dad's assignment was her. The time line fits, did you actually see her body?"

Bas and I look at each other. We hadn't seen a body. We got a call. Who called? I don't even remember who it was... they said mum had a heart attack. A lawyer called after that. They told us she wished to be cremated. Was all of this a lie? Bas seemed to be reading my thoughts. Nodding along with me. It must be twin intuition. Slowly we answer Brayden's question together.

"No" we whisper and Brayden nods.

The three of us sit and stare at each other before Cameron clears his throat. "What is it you do Mr Maxwell?"

"Please call me Brayden. I work for MI5 with my dad. I'm normally a desk jockey I don't get field assignments. I dropped everything though to follow the trail."

"This is a lot to take in... I just I don't know if I can do this" I walk straight out of the conference room. Trying desperately to get some air. It feels like my world is closing in around me. Is there actually a possibility my mum is alive? I have another brother. Maybe my dad was a drop kick who left... My parents are spies?! Not knowing where else to go I walk to my office. Cameron follows me and steps through my door before I have a chance to slam it. He immediately pull me into him. Pressing me against his chest. Not knowing what else to do I cry. I cry for my mum. I cry for my dad. I cry for Bas. I cry for Brayden. I cry because of all the information I missed out on. Cameron strokes my back and kisses my hair waiting for me to calm down. Slowly I stop sobbing into his shirt and my breathing calms.

"I'll do whatever I can Genevieve. I already have John and his detail looking for information about your mum and dad but in the mean time why don't you get to know your brother?"

Cameron's right. I pull back from him nodding. He takes my hand and walk me back to the conference room. Bas pulls me into a hug.

"Honey we will figure this out ok?"

"I know Bas."

Brayden steps forward, "I'm sorry about all of this Genevieve I wish we could have met under different circumstances."

"Me too. And please call me Honey."

😉😘