Chapter 35

(Aaron) 

After Rylan left, I headed into my home office to get some work done. I still feel like shit for not being at the office with Quinn. He is still insisting that we stick to this work schedule until I am more stable. After my episode yesterday, I am more inclined to agree with him. 

I left him a voicemail asking him to come by sometime today if he could so that we could talk about it. He was the only one that could get through to me that day when we returned to base. He is the only one who saw how bad it really was for me.

While I was working, I also got an email from Charlie with the invitations to her gallery showing. It is Friday night. I almost forgot about it, and I am glad she sent the invitations today. After printing off the invitations, a bout of nerves hit me. 

I know Rylan was initially jealous of Charlie, or more aptly, what Charlie painted with me as her muse. I haven’t been nervous like this in years. Will Rylan dislike my friend on site, or will they become friends too?

The two women look so much alike that I was stunned when I first met Charlie. She looks like she could be Rylan’s twin sister, just like Rosalyn does. With her and Rylan being sisters, that is understandable. How the three women look so similar is something that is now starting to make me wonder. 

Could they be related? If so, then Rylan’s mother has been keeping a major secret.

I pick up my phone and call Mac to ask him to look into it for me. If there is anything to find there, he will find it.

“You want me to do what now?” Mac asks after I explain what I am thinking and why. 

“I sent you the pictures of all three women and Rylan’s mom. Look at them and tell me that there are no similarities. Charlie is two years older than Rylan, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be related.” 

I wait for him to do as I ask, all the while doing the same thing myself.

“Holy shit, man. Charlie and Rylan look more like twins than Rylan and Rosalyn. How the fuck is that possible with Charlie being British?” 

“The only thing I can think of is that Helena gave Charlie up for adoption just like she wished she had done with Rylan. I heard the way Helena spoke to her, and what she said was disgusting.” 

“Ok, I will look into this for you. Just prepare yourself for the backlash it may cause if what you believe is true.” 

Backlash for Rylan and Charlie.

“Will do. They are meeting for the first time on Friday at Charlie’s art showing. If I am correct, Rylan may get the same idea that I did when I first saw Charlie. I don’t want to hurt anyone by looking into this, Mac. Yet, if it is true, they all deserve to know.” 

“Let me look into this, and I will get back to you. It may take a few weeks, so don’t do anything stupid in the meantime.” With that, Mac disconnects the call. 

My mind wanders as I look at the pictures that I have laid out on my desk. I have a picture of all four women in question and a family photo with Rylan, Rosalyn, and their mother. I put Charlie’s picture next to that one, and she looks like she belongs in the group photo. 

Why didn’t I think of this when I first met Charlie in London? I mean, I did find her striking and thought she looked a lot like Rylan, but that was as far as it went. I may be wrong, and part of me hopes that I am.

Yet, I have a sinking feeling in my gut that I am on the right path.

Would Helena even tell Rylan the truth if she asked her outright? After meeting the woman only once, I have a feeling that she would try to lie. What would have made her give Charlie up for adoption? How did Charlie end up in England? 

My mind is running in circles with all kinds of questions when I hear the doorbell ring. I frown as I stand up from my chair to head out of my office to answer the door. Quinn wouldn’t ring the doorbell, so I am not sure who I will find when I open it. 

The glass on the front door is opaque, so I can only make out the outline of whoever it is. I open the door and let out a loud laugh at what I see. Quinn is standing on the front porch with Grace next to him. Their faces are painted like animals, and Grace is holding a large stuffed monkey. 

“We went to the zoo this morning on a school field trip, Uncle Aaron.” Grace says as she holds the stuffed monkey out for me. “This is for you.” 

I blink a few times in surprise, then I take the stuffed animal for her with a smile on my face.

“Come in,” I say as I step back from the doorway and motion for them to enter.

“Grace, go wait for me outside by the pool. Call your mom and tell her all about the zoo trip.” Quinn tells her, and she nods and runs off down the hall behind us. Once she is out of earshot, he turns to me with a frown on his face. “How bad was it?” 

I motion my hand toward my office, then walk away. He follows behind me, then closed the door once inside. I take a deep breath, then tell him everything that happened from the time I went to my appointment with Dr. West to when Rylan found me in my home gym. 

“You told Rylan what happened that day?” Quinn asks after I finish telling him my story.

I nod my head. “It was a fucked-up night. Between my PTSD drama and her dad’s bombshell, we were both emotional messes.” 

“Wait, what bombshell did her dad drop?”

“He is sick and is moving here for treatment. Additionally, he is divorcing his wife. That I will let Rylan fill you in on. Speaking of Rylan, I am taking her to an art show on Friday, and I have two extra tickets if you and Annie want to go.” 

“Who is the artist? I am sure Annie would love to go if she is feeling well enough. She gets tired a lot quicker with this pregnancy.” 

I glance over at my desk and all the pictures scattered over the surface. I walk over and grab the picture of Charlie that I got from her website, then I hand it to Quinn. After a few seconds, he looks back up at me. 

“Wait, is this the woman who painted that?” He trails off as I nod my head. “When you said she looked very similar to Rylan, I thought you just meant there were some vague similarities. Has she seen these?” 

“No, but I did send them to Mac.” 

“Why? Do you think there is more to this than just them looking like they could be sisters?” 

I return the picture that he hands back to my desk. “If there is anything there, Mac will find it. Until then, I don’t think telling Rylan anything about my theory would be a good idea.” 

Quinn nods his head, then looks down at his watch. “When is the showing?” 

I grab the two extra tickets that I printed out and hand them to him. “Friday night at seven.” 

He gives me the look I expected. Surprise and understanding cross his face as he takes the tickets and tucks them into the inner pocket of his suit jacket. When his phone rings, he holds up a finger, indicating me to stay silent. 

“Hey there, beautiful. How are you feeling?”

That must be Annora. I turn away from Quinn and gather all the pictures off my desk, then put them in a file folder. I put the file in my hidden safe, then sit down in my desk chair.

When Quinn ends the call, there is a frown on his face, and he does not look happy at all.

“What’s going on? Is Annie alright? The babies?”

“Yes, they are all fine. Annie heard back from Shawna’s parents today. They haven’t heard from her either and are now starting to worry.” 

Shawna, Annie’s best friend, did a disappearing act shortly after Quinn and Annie’s wedding in France. That was months ago, and no one has seen or heard from her since. I would worry too.

“Is this typical behavior for Shawna? I don’t really know her. I think we have said a total of ten words to each other since I met her.” 

Quinn shakes his head. “Not that I am aware of. From everything Annie has told me and from talking to Shawna herself in the past, this seems to be completely out of character for her. I am tempted to ask Mac to help if she stays gone much longer.” 

“If anyone can find someone who doesn’t want to be found, it will be Mac or one of his guys. What do you think could have happened to make her run?” 

He sighs, then looks at his watch again and opens the office door to listen for Grace. After a few moments, he turns back to me. The look of annoyance on his face makes me even more curious.

“I have a theory that I haven’t shared with Annie yet. With the twins, her new practice, and us all adjusting to our new lives, I just haven’t wanted to add more to her plate. I am trying to keep our lives at a low stress level as possible.” 

I motion with my hand for him to tell me his theory. My brain is already connecting some dots in my head as he takes a seat on the small sofa. If what we both think is the same thing, then I will not be surprised at all. 

“I think something happened between Shawna and Max at the wedding.” 

I chuckle as he rubs a hand down his face. “With the sexual tension coming off them during the rehearsal dinner is anything to go by, then I am not surprised. I noticed the way she looked at him, and he seemed to be as into her as she is to him.” 

“What? Really? I didn’t notice anything like that between them.” 

“Why would you? It was a very happy time for you, and you only had eyes for Annie. Love blinders is how I thought of it then.” 

He snorts back a laugh. “Love blinders, huh? How is that working for you now that you and Rylan are a thing? Springing Charlie on her without any kind of warning may backfire on you.” 

I shake my head because I know what he is saying is true. It could backfire on me, and I am prepared for that if it happens. “How should I even tell her about this shit? Just come out and say, ‘Hey, do you remember that artist that you got jealous of because of that erotic painting of me? Yeah, she may be your long-lost sister.’ How do you think she will react to that?” 

“Probably better than you think if you break it down to her just like you did with me and Mac. I would do that before Friday night so that she doesn’t feel sucker punched with it. Rylan is a smart girl; she will probably connect the dots pretty damn fast the minute she meets Charlie. Do your woman a solid and give her the chance to decide for herself if this thing has merit to investigate.” 

I hate it when he makes sense like this. “Fine, I will do it your way. I guess I will tell her later tonight.” 

“Do you still have group therapy tonight?” He asks as he stands up and walks to the door of my office. 

I nod my head. “It is a good group. I was nervous the first time going, but after talking to some of the men afterwards, it was easier the next time. There are a few of them that served when we did, but in different branches of the military.” 

“Good, keep going. When is the family session with Dr. West? Have you talked to your parents about that at all?” 

“No, I haven’t spoken to either of them since they left to go back home so that they can pack. I have been getting their house here ready for when they come back. I will schedule that session with West and them when they return.” 

“I am proud of you, my brother. Take all the time you need to heal. We will all be here for you as you progress.” 

I give him a nod as my throat clogs with emotion. Quinn gives me a wave, then leaves my office. I hear him call for Grace as he walks down the hall. A few minutes later, I hear the front door open and close.

The rest of the day is spent working. I sent Rylan a text message before I left the house to go to my group session. It was a simple one, telling her that I would see her afterwards and that there is something that I want to talk to her about when she gets to my place later. 

By the time I get to the small building where West holds his group sessions, my mind is tired from worrying about my girlfriend and this potential drama bomb. I clear my mind of all that as best as I can before I head inside. There isn’t anything I can do about it now, so I will deal with it later.

For now, it is time to deal with my own issues.

One step at a time. 

Day by day.

(*Paulson*) 

The minute I crossed the state line back into California, I took a deep breath and smiled. I am closer to that bitch now. Soon I will begin watching her every move. I want to catch her when her guard is down.

I will get what she denied me when she fought me off.

Rylan Danvers will pay for what she has caused. I lost my job and my freedom because of her. Her actions that night caused the others to find some courage to speak out against me. All she had to do was take it like they did and keep her fucking mouth shut about it afterwards. 

I want that bitch dead.

After she dies, I will disappear and never come back to California. 

Soon, bitch.

Very soon.