ADAM

I never thought that I would lay eyes on my sister again. I never thought I would see her crystal clear eyes, or see her golden hair.

Her mother, Imogen, better be glad that she's dead, or else she'd be begging for it by the time I was done with her.

Even though Lacy and I only share a father, I see her as my full-blooded sister. The missing piece in our family.

I didn't think I'd ever see her again. I've watched her from afar all these years, but I was never able to take her from her mother, no matter how much I wanted to.

Imogen Clark was always of an unstable mind. My late father's biggest mistake was marrying her, especially knowing her past.

But he claimed it was love. He promised me everything would be fine. And that mistake almost ruined our family.

Only three years later, the American and English Mafias broke their centuries-old alliance and my little sister was gone.

It feels surreal to have her back in this house, in this home. Her presence adds an air of security and warmth that was absent before.

Albeit, I know she doesn't want to be here. I know she doesn't understand the measures I took to bring her here safely. But she will, soon enough.

My only concern is to gain her trust. It breaks me, and I know it breaks my brothers, that she treats us like we're the bane of her existence.

We really have no one to blame but ourselves. If we'd brought her back sooner, we could've coaxed her to coming with us willingly.

Instead, we waited. We waited for the Clarks to die and then we waited even more for Lacy to become settled in with the Johnsons.

We waited so long they caught whiff of her existence. They realized she was still living, walking, breathing. So, they were going to go to her. Take her.

My brothers and I had to take her first. No matter what measures, we knew we had to take her to ensure our beloved sister's safety.

I glance out the window of my study, and see Lacy and James outside the manor, looking out at the ocean, which is close to the manor.

To gain her trust, I've decided to let Lacy venture out of the manor. Partly to make her like us more, and also because there are guards around the property.

If my sister wanted to run, she wouldn't get all that far.

And to my surprise, although I told her she could go outside on her own, she decided to let James come along. Though I did hear him begging her to let him come with her.

I take a step away from the window and go back to my desk. Liam stands on the other side of the room, going through family record books kept on the bookshelf.

Even though Lacy lived with us in this manor for four years before her departure, my father was never actually able to add her to the family tree because of her birth.

At the time she was born, in the 1990s, the world of the mafia was different, and the American and English families were kept to different values.

Imogen and my father weren't married at the time of Lacy's birth— mainly because of Imogen and her constant cold feet— so Lacy was labeled as 'illegitimate' and unable to properly join the family.

Now that times have changed, and I couldn't care less what the my estranged American relatives think, Lacy will become the daughter of the Rhodes family.

Liam pulls out the family registry book, which contains all of the names of the English side of the Rhodes family, going back to 1870.

"Father would be happy, if he was still around. He always was guilty about Lacy never being on the family registry," Liam sighs, looking at the blank slot Lacy's name will soon fill.

I glance up from my paperwork. "Perhaps if our father made better decisions, he'd still be here to witness his daughter's life. All of his children's lives."

My father became a deranged man later on in his life. He was overwhelmed with regret and guilt, which led to his fated downfall, all starting the moment he met Imogen Clark.

I turn my head, and see Lacy and James now by the trees showing the property lines of the manor. James is up in a tree, and Lacy has the most disgusted look on her face.

A smile graces my lips.

This family has some hope.

~~~

Dinnertime tonight has the same atmosphere as its had every other night we've brought Lacy home. A tense, silent tone.

Lacy sits beside James. Liam and Thomas sit across them on the other side of the table. I take up the head of this long table in this old estate.

The only sound is the clanking of the silver cutlery on the porcelain plates. The smell of the dinner placed before me barely penetrates my senses.

I'm too focused on gazing at the golden-haired girl sitting at the table, pretending to cut her food and never bringing it to her mouth.

Silent rebellion.

I know she ate today, so although I'm mildly concerned at her lack of interest in the food in front of her, I'm keeping my mouth shut. She already doesn't like us.

The moment she's eaten about a quarter of her food, yet cutting and moving it around on the plate to make it seem she's had more, she looks up.

"May I leave?" She asks, looking at me.

I nod. "Of course. You don't need to ask, Lacy."

Lacy simply nods stiffly and leaves the dining room. I hear the stairs creaking as she makes her way to her room, and the soft sound of her door closing.

"She still hates us. But she likes me the most. Did you see? She sat beside me at the table. I'm her favorite brother!" James squeals excitedly. "You three have to step up."

Thomas narrows his eyes. "She doesn't hate us," He snaps. "She just needs time to get used to us. Soon enough, I'll be her favorite and you'll be forgotten."

James rolls his eyes. "You don't even talk to Lace. You just sit there and glare and brood and sulk. I actually talk to her." James has a smug smile on his lips.

I stand up, leaving those two to argue about our sister's favorite brother. Liam follows after me. "Are you giving Lacy her mobile back?" He asks.

I nod. "She's probably worried about her friends and her previous foster family. It's wrong to keep her locked up in this manor forever. That'll get our relationship with her nowhere."

Liam smiles sadly at me. He pats my shoulder as he walks past me down the hallway, and K turn on my heel and walk up the stairs.

I make my way to my sister's bedroom, which is placed down one hallway, on the right of the corridor. My brothers and I didn't want to put her deep in the estate, for fear she'd get lost.

Before I can bring my fist up to the door to knock, it cracks open. Lacy stands there, looking up at me, her brows knitted together and her shoulders stiff.

I smile at her, and reach into my pocket, taking out the small, black mobile that's been locked up in my study for the past week.

"You can have it back, love. Catch up with all your friends." I hold the phone out to her, at her wide, surprised eyes.

She stares at the little thing in my outstretched palm for a few moments before taking it. "Thank you," Lacy mumbles before closing the door again.

I smile.

Baby steps.

———

Hello, loves!

Thank you for being so patient with me, and dealing with how long it took me to get this chapter out to you!

I'm going to try to do weekly updates, but we'll see how that goes!

What did you think of this chapter? What do you think of Lacy's brothers and Lacy herself? What are your thoughts on their dynamic?

Vote and comment!

Au revoir,

Eva