LACY

"What does it say?" I ask.

Adam opens his phone, and hands it to me. The white background is almost blinding me, drowning out the black letters.

25% DNA.

For each brother, we share 25% of our DNA. This test shows they're my half-brothers, their blood runs through me like my blood runs through them.

Now, of course, this could very well be forged. I've observed my brothers long enough to know that they are important people.

There's the obvious fact that I was brought to this state through kidnapping, and there isn't even a peep about the missing Lacy Clark on the news, but there are men everywhere.

Men in black hide away in the trees surrounding estate, always waiting and watching. They're the only ones here besides a weekly cleaning crew and my brothers.

It'd be hard not to notice them, only a fool wouldn't.

Yet, it makes me wonder what they do for a living. How are they so important, so prominent that they can kidnap a girl from a decently publicized family without consequence?

When I first met them, they said the people from the Meetings were after me. This I already knew, it was not a shocking revelation.

But how did they know?

What exactly are my brothers involved in?

It can't be anything legal, for certain. They're clearly hiding something from me, like the something that the Clarks hid from me before I could be useful for them.

Either way, I need to find out.

Even if this test is faked, I'm important to these four men. So important they actually forcefully stole me so I had no choice but to be stuck with them.

I need to find out who they are working for—or if they aren't working for anyone, what they run. I never truly figured out what the Meetings were, and that is a downfall waiting to occur.

Knowledge is power.

Resources are key.

And I'm sure they have plenty of resources.

James slides right next to me, and looks at the phone, bringing me out of my thoughts. He practically squeals in my ear.

"How could you ever doubt me, lil sis? Hey, now that we're on better terms, what do you say about nicknames? CeCe? Lace? You can call me 'best bro ever.'"

I smile slightly. Just slightly. It's hard not to with his wide grin and gleaming jellyfish eyes. "Whichever one is fine, James."

He frowns. "I don't think that's a nickname, CeCe."

"CeCe!" I hear him cry. I try to turn back around, but Mum won't let me. She keeps dragging me away, to a small yellow car.

I hear more crying, then yelling. I hear him yelling it over and over. "No! No! Don't take my CeCe away from me! Please!"

Mum shoves me into the car. She looks down at me, the rain falling down makes me think she has tears in her eyes.

"I don't wanna go, Mummy," I tell her. "I don't wanna go."

She strokes my hair, and closes the door of the car. This car smells funny, like it's rotten. I turn back, and look out the window.

The rain is so thick I can't see anything. But I can still hear the screams as Mummy drives the car so far away I can no longer hear 'CeCe' anymore.

"What's wrong?" James ask.

"Nothing," I say, quickly. "Nothing's wrong at all."

~~~

The fresh air is cool against my skin, the sound of the waves bringing my mind at ease. The most at ease I can be with four men staring into my soul.

But that's every girls dream, innit?

If it is, it really shouldn't be. Especially under these circumstances. Shady half-brothers who have no problem kidnapping you and covering it up? No.

I take a sip of my tea. "This tastes good," I say to relieve the tension at this table. I don't like the silence, the staring, the tension.

It's too much like living at that angelic-looking, marble-cut mansion in Mayfair. It brings out too many bad memories.

Too much silence.

"Which tea is your favorite? Just for future references," Liam asks, a soft smile on his lips. "And what do you like your tea with?"

I shrug slightly. "I'm not picky. I like all tea. It's my favorite drink." Brits like their tea, I suppose. I wonder why Americans don't.

I've heard them mention "the other Rhodes". The American Rhodes—part of our elusive extended family, is what I've heard from eavesdropping.

I don't know why the British Rhodes and the American Rhodes don't talk to each other. Maybe it is because of tea. How can I be so certain?

Liam nods, smiling. "Very well. Good to know."

"Do you like your bedroom?" Adam asks. "There are many spare bedrooms in this estate. Feel free to take any one of them."

I shake my head. "No, my room is nice."

"Feel free to shop for decorations if you don't like how it's decorated right now. You haven't spent anything on the card I gave you."

"I don't really need anything."

He nods. "Alright. Just, don't be afraid to use it. Our family has more than enough money for some bedroom decor."

I nod slightly. "Thanks."

My brothers—well, mostly James and Liam— keep asking me questions, Adam speaking from time to time.

Thomas doesn't talk much, he just leans back in his chair, watching me with some sort of content presence around him.

When the sun begins to set, and everyone goes back inside, I turn back around to face my brothers before retreating to my room.

"Can I join tomorrow, maybe?" I ask.

"Yes! Duh! Of course, my lovely little CeCe!" James immediately peps up, and the rest nod, even Thomas, who's leaning against a doorway.

I smile. "Ok."

~~~

I sit on the bed, flipping through a first edition volume of The Secret Garden I found in the library. Moonlight pours into the room, lighting the pages.

The door creaks open, and Liam steps inside. I immediately straighten up, unsure whether or not he'll be mad that I'm still awake at this hour.

He smiles at me. "I didn't think you'd be awake. I was looking through my office, and I found this," he holds up a book, but I can't see well with just moonlight.

"Oh, um, thank you."

"I'm just going to leave it here. I thought you might want to see it," he explains, setting the book on a table. "Good night, CeCe."

The moment he closes the door, I practically hop off the bed, my socks making me slide on the polished, wooden floor of the room to the book.

I hold it close to my face to see the writing scrawled on the front of it. The Family Rhodes, 1985 to 2000.

With the photo album under my arm, I walk back to the bed, and sit cross-cross on it, opening the dusty book.

A pregnant woman, who I instantly know is my mother, standing by a window, the sunrise illuminating her round stomach and smiling face.

My heart stills at the sight.

My Imogen, December 1995. Who wrote that under the photo?

Quickly, I flip to another page. I can't see my mother right now. It's too soon. It's too much. I still don't even know how I feel about her.

I see baby pictures. Baby pictures of me.

A smiling baby. Little princess, 1996.

Four young boys and a little toddler standing in front of this house. The best Rhodes, 1999.

I flip to the first pages of the book. My brothers' baby pictures and mine. Their stunning mother, Larissa. My mother, Imogen.

Our father. Harry.

Their childhood and my first four years on these pages. I close the book and put it in the drawer of my bedside table.

I don't close the curtain, letting the light fall on my face as I close my eyes. Tears fall down my face, yet I don't feel sad.

I have a family.

———

Hello, loves!

Some more family bonding. For quite a few chapters of this book, at least the early ones like this, I really just plan on fluffy family stuff.

Of course, there will be action/drama later on in the book, so stayed tuned! But for the moment, the British Rhodes desperately need bonding.

Also, I'm not sure about a love interest since Lacy is only fourteen. But what do you think?

What did you think of this chapter?

Vote and comment!

Au revoir,

Eva