"It's nothing," Brooks reiterates, putting his hands out in front of him while giving a pointed look to the people standing behind me; my father and my dad. He thinks whatever comes out of his mouth next will set me off.

"Do I look like I'm a fucking horse?"

"What?"

"The way you're putting your hands out in front of you, like I'm a spooked fucking stallion, would suggest you think I am A— a horse or B— about to get freaked out by whatever shit it is you're going to say. I'm going to go with B. So, out with it already."

"It's about your sister," his face is completely void of any emotion which has me tilting my head to the side slightly, trying to read him better.

"What about my sister?"

"It's not for me to say and it's none of our business." This is a side of Brooks I haven't seen. He's being calculative, careful with me, reading me just as I am him.

"She's pregnant," Braxton blurts out, "Adri is pregnant."

"What?!" My father and dad shout out simultaneously behind me.

"It's why she doesn't want me going," Braxton continues but my gaze is still on Brooks.

He didn't flinch or look surprised, no, his face is still just in a fixed mask of nothingness. He doesn't want me to read him. Because they're lying. He's lying to me.

"Let's go ask her then."

"She's pissed at me," Braxton says and that I know he's being honest about.

"That's fine. You all can stay here. I'll go talk to Adri myself." Without waiting for anyone to respond I turn around and begin making my way toward her bedroom where she's been holed away for the past few days.

"Torey, wait—" Brooks' hand tries to grab my arm but I tear it away.

I spin around on him and get right in his face. "No, I don't think I will wait. I don't like being lied to," the words were a low growl, just for him but he still shows nothing. I grab ahold of his shirt and pull him into me forcefully before leaning down to his ear with a menacing whisper, "when she tells me she isn't pregnant, because there is no way Adri wants kids, she never has, you are going to tell me what the fuck is going on in explicit detail. Not only that but you will owe me the biggest fucking apology for lying right to my fucking face." I let him go with a harsh shove backward, making him stumble into my two parents.

I make my way up the stairs as quick as possible, feeling the four of them close behind me. It doesn't matter because I'll reach her first. When I'm at her door I don't even mind the guard, I just walk right past him, opening the door to her room. I shut it but before I can lock it Braxton barges inside.

"What in the actual fuck?!" Adri yells at the two of us. "I don't want to see either one of you pricks right now, thank you very much. So please, turn your sorry asses around and get the fuck out!"

"He found out," Braxton blurts out at Adri, making her cock an eyebrow. "You know, about the—"

"No, no, that's enough out of you," I interrupt. "I want to hear it from my sister herself."

"The fuck?" She looks between us both. "What the fuck did he find out about? Pretty sure my brother knows the two of us are bangin'."

Words I never wanted to hear my sister say.

"No, the other, major life-changing thing that I supposedly am not supposed to know." Her brow knits in confusion and I know, know that I fucking know, she has no idea what we're talking about. I round on Braxton but before I can open my mouth the other three make their way into the room.

"Congratulations!" Brooks belts out which has me glaring in his direction but he's looking at Adri with a 100-watt smile. "I know he probably pitched a fit but having a baby is so exciting!"

"Yeah, we're so happy for you, Adriana," my father adds, looking genuine. "Wolfie will love having a cousin."

"Oh," my sister murmurs under her breath. She's looking at Braxton with a cold stare now. "You told them about that? I told you not to say anything to anyone until after your little 'expedition'," she air quotes. "You know, the one where you all could die."

"It's my fault, really. I walked in on a conversation between Braxton and his brother." That I believe is the truth but the source material of the conversation— not so fucking much.

"Adri, you have endometriosis," I deadpan. "The likelihood of you getting pregnant is slim to none."

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" That comes from my dad who gives me a rough shove from the side.

"I'm just saying. It's a fact. She's known it since we were teenagers." I look back at my sister who is now just staring at the floor. "Am I wrong? It's one of the reasons you used to sleep around so much. You knew you couldn't get pre—"

"I'm going to ask you to shut your fucking mouth before I shut it for you," Braxton steps in front of my sister defensively. Oh, he's pissed. "Apologize. Right fucking now."

"Well, if you'd all stop playing this charade then I will."

"It's okay, Braxton." Adri walks around to the side of him, eyeing me, Braxton and then my father before landing back to me. "You want the truth?"

"Please and thank you."

"The truth is that I didn't want him to say anything about it because I know that I don't want to raise a child with an absentee father. I don't want to be with a man that chooses trips that may take his life over us, our potential family." Those cold greys go straight to the man she'd inherited them from. "I don't want to have a child with a man who can't be there for them. One that chooses his work over his family." Her gaze flicks back to mine. "No, I don't think I could stand being with a man like that. So no, I don't think I want to have a child with one. Which is why it's none of your fucking business what is or isn't inside of my body." She whips around to assess us everyone else, "any of you, for that matter."

"I— I need to..." My father chokes on his words. "I need to get some air," he finally manages, taking his leave from the room abruptly.

"That was fucked up, even for you," our dad says, shaking his head at her.

"You're the ones who came into my room and berated me on subject matter that should only be between Braxton and me." He doesn't say anything else before taking off out of the room. "And you," she rounds on me, "you have no right to throw my business around like that."

"Well, it's not like—"

"I suggest you shut the fuck up and get out of my room, Tor, before I claw your fucking eyes out." Those words are the most threatening I've ever heard her before.

"Show me the test." Because I still am not one-hundred-percent sure she's not lying. "Show it to me and I'll leave."

"She doesn't have to show you shit."

"You know, Braxton, if you want to keep all of your teeth then I suggest you butt-out."

"Get the fuck out of my room!" I don't. I stick one hand out that Braxton smacks away.

"Stop it," Brooks grabs ahold of me before I can punch this asshole in the face. "Let's go. They clearly have some talking to do, and even though you think otherwise, you are not entitled to anything in this situation." When I go to protest Brooks shuts me down with a hard look and, "you have done more than enough damage here tonight. That's enough." His grip tightens on my arm as he pulls me toward the door, albeit with my feet dragging.

"Let go of me."

"Gladly." Brooks practically shoves me away from him once we're in the hall before taking off.

"Where are you going?" I hurry my footsteps to catch up with him but he doesn't answer, even when I'm right alongside of him. "I asked you where you're going."

He doesn't stop just quickens with, "far away from you— that's where."

"Why?"

"Because that—" He swings an arm in the direction of the room we'd just been in, "that was not fucking okay. You don't give a shit who you hurt because you're a selfish prick. You may as well have physically assaulted your sister with what you said and, in turn, your father! What is wrong with you?!"

"I—"

"You know what— I don't give a shit." He waves a hand in front of him, discarding my words before taking off again.

"Brooks, come on." I manage to keep pace with him.

"No. I am so done with your inability to feel anything for anyone else but yourself." He takes the steps with me right behind him. "Torey, I'm serious, leave me the fuck alone."

"No."

He's out the front door, heading toward the guest house. He's in and out before I make it past the front door. He's holding a set of car keys which I try to snatch from him but he moves stealthily around me.

"Brooks stop."

"Fuck off." He opens the door of the car.

"I thought you were lying to me! I know you are. Even if it's not about that. You are keeping something from me. I can feel it. I know it. Have you forgotten that I have spent the last several years of my life beating the shit out of people to get answers? I know when people are fucking lying to me!" The last part was screamed out in exasperation.

Brooks slams his car door before leaning on it, "and what? You think you can just do that to your family?"

"What?"

"Manipulate and abuse them with your words. Is that something you are going to do to your family— treat them like they're one of your hostages? You're going to treat them with that same level of disrespect? You going to treat me with that level of disrespect?" That has my mouth snapping shut. "Yeah, I don't fuckin' think so. What kind of father—"

"Don't..." I caution in a menacing growl. "Do not go there."

"What kind of man would do that to his own family?"

Father. What kind of father would do that to his family. Meaning he doesn't think I'm going to be a good father. The insecurity I'd already been feeling about that threatens to choke me. Because I know I won't be a good father. I mean, for fuck's sake, my first twenty-four hours alone with my kid and he's kidnapped. His mother kidnapped. And me— well...

My hand clutches my abdomen at the memory.

"Shit. Torey, I'm sorry."

Dani's words from back at the Harvey Watch play in my head. Why she'd given our son away. This disease. He'll have this fucking disease that I have, like her father has.

They're both right. Her and Brooks. I'm going to be a shit father.

A/N:
It's been a while since we've heard from Torey. How're we feeling about this chapter?