“Not now,” he said.
I walked toward him and stood in his face. “You take our sister to see her mother right now. She’s never laid eyes on her, at least not that she can remember, and she wants to see her.”
“It’s not the right—”
In a flash, Joe was on our father and had him in a headlock. “I’d like to see her as well. She’s my mother too. Take us to her. Now, you bastard.”
So much for Talon and me being able to keep Joe in line. But his demand was not unreasonable. After a pained look from Marj, Joe released him.
Our father rubbed at his neck. “She won’t know you. She thinks you and Talon are still little boys.” He turned to Marj. “And she thinks you’re a baby. She carries a doll around, believing it’s you.”
A knife hit my heart. Again, no mention of me.
Because I was not hers.
I attempted to swallow the lump in my throat that formed whenever I thought about Daphne Steel.
“Don’t care. You’ve kept her from us for twenty-three years, and we will see her now.” Joe hardened his lips into a thin line.
“All right,” my father relented. “I’ll take you to her.”
Joe gripped his shoulder. “I’ll hold myself in check for now. I want to see my mother, and I don’t want to upset her. But after that, you will answer to us.”
Brad Steel nodded with resignation. “Follow me.”
I nudged Talon. “You should go with them.”
“I’ve already seen her. Besides, she doesn’t know who I am.”
“Still, you should share this moment with them. With your brother and sister.”
“Thanks,” he said, “but I’ll stay here. With my brother.”
My eyes moistened, but I held myself together. No time to get weepy over Talon’s and my brotherhood. How had I ever thought for a second that my having a different mother would matter? It did matter, but it had not affected my relationship with my siblings. I was especially glad that Talon still felt bound to me by blood. He was still my hero, even though he most likely wasn’t the reason I’d escaped his horrible fate. My biological mother was.
Ruby walked out from the hallway, clad in a pair of gray yoga pants and a tank top. Even with everything else going on, the sight of her still made my groin tighten.
“Hey. I just wanted to change my clothes. I’m going back out.” She turned to Talon. “The older boy gave me a little nod when I talked to him outside. It’s not much, but it’s more than he’s responded to anyone since he got here. Slowly, they’re coming around.”
Talon smiled. “Good. I hate what they’ve been through. I hate it. I want to kill the people responsible, even though two of them are my father and yours.”
“I feel you,” she said. “Believe me.”
“How’s Juliet?” I asked.
“She’s better. As with the boys, it’s slow, but it’s steady. She’s eating more now, and those pups are like magic to her and the boys.”
“You know,” I said to Talon. “This place is huge. I bet we could bring all the women and kids here and get them healthy while we search for their parents.”
“I’ll mention it to Dad,” Talon said.
“Dad? Are you kidding? Dad’s been here this whole time. No, we’re going to take care of this ourselves. You’ll help, won’t you, babe?”
“Of course. But Ryan, this isn’t our house. It may look just like your house, but it isn’t. We can’t control what goes on here.”
“The hell we can’t.”
“She’s right, Ry,” Talon said.
I balled my hands into fists. “I have to get Anna out of there!”
“We will,” Ruby said. “Somehow. Believe me. I’m just as determined as you are.” She sighed, her eyes misting. “We won’t be able to save them all. My father told me that my cousin Gina had been sold. Sold like a fucking animal!”
I went to her and embraced her. “We’ll find her. We won’t stop until we do.”
She sniffled into my shoulder for a few seconds and then pulled away. “I can’t lose it. Too many people need me right now.”
“I know. I feel the same way. We’ll do everything we can, baby. I promise.”
She nodded, wiping at her eyes. “This isn’t like me. I’m not a crybaby.”
“Ruby, you’re about as far from a crybaby as anyone I know,” I said. “But this is getting to all of us. Why do you think Tal insisted we bring those two boys with us? They slowed us down, but he would not be deterred, and he was right to bring them. I wish I could have released Anna and the others. I wish…” Now I was choking up. We all needed to get hold of ourselves.
Footsteps alerted us to Joe and Marj’s return. Marj’s eyes were red and swollen. Joe’s face looked like it had been carved in white granite. Neither were good signs.
“Ruby, I’m glad you’re here and that you’re all right.” Marj gave her a quick hug.
“We’re all hanging in there,” Ruby said. “How are you?”
“Seeing my mother was a shock, but I’ll be okay. At least Talon prepared us when he called. We came for the truth, and you’ve promised to give it to us, right, Daddy?”
My father nodded, clearing his throat. “Let’s go to my office.”
I kissed Ruby quickly. “I love you.”
“I love you too. I’ll be on the deck with the others if you need me.”
I needed her. But this had to be done with my siblings alone.
I followed behind them to the office.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Ruby
“Miss Ruby!” Marabel greeted me. “I have wonderful news. The little boy finally revealed his name. It’s Donny, and his brother’s name is Dale.”
The older boy sat where I had left him, still playing with Bo. I walked toward him and sat down. His too-long sandy-blond hair blew into his eyes with the subtle breeze, and gray circles marred his sad emerald-green eyes. Bruises and scratches soiled his arms, making anger boil within me. But even so, he was an extraordinarily beautiful child. His beauty—and his brother’s—was probably what had made him a target. “Dale. That’s a nice name. Can you tell me how old you are?”
“He’s ten,” Donny said. “And I’m seven.”
The same ages as Talon and Ryan were when Talon was taken. Coincidence, obviously, but I was understanding more and more why Talon had refused to leave without them. Dale clearly wasn’t ready to talk yet, and while I knew I could pump Donny for information, I felt strongly that my place for now was next to Dale.
We didn’t talk. He just stroked Bo.
Juliet walked over to join us. She had also changed clothes and wore a black T-shirt and gray yoga pants. “I know they hurt you, Dale. They hurt me too. But we’re going to be okay now. It will just take time.”
Dale nodded slightly, just as he had for me before. Juliet was reaching him. I smiled. This would be good therapy for both of them and would give me a chance to speak with Donny.
“Would you stay with him for a little while?” I asked.
She nodded, stroking Bo’s soft head. “We should take the puppy down into the yard so he can play. Would you like that?”
No slight nod this time, but Dale stood, releasing the pup. He followed Juliet out onto the green grass.
Now was my chance to talk to Donny.
He sat next to Marabel. The other two puppies squirmed away from him and joined their brother and the others on the grass.
“Are you hungry, Donny?” I asked.
“Yeah. A little.”
“Do you think we could give him something to eat?” I asked Marabel.
“Just a little. I’ll get him something.” She walked into the house.
“Do you remember your last name?” I asked him. “Or your mommy’s or daddy’s names?”
“We don’t have a daddy. Just Mommy. Our daddy died when I was a baby.”
“I grew up without a daddy too.” Until I was fourteen, anyway. “Do you remember your mommy’s name?”
“Her name is Cheri. She has blond hair too. Our last name is Robertson. We live in Colorado.”
“Really? That’s where I live too.”