Chapter 17

After the confrontation between Brooklyn and my sister, they shared info about Paul, or Chris as Maria and I knew him, and even Nora was brought into the conversation. Brooklyn didn’t stay as long as I wanted her to, but I knew she wanted to be there for her friend, so I drove her back. I parked against the curb, and waited for her.

“Sorry about this,” she murmured, looking over at me. “But I think I need to tell her about this, now.”

“You didn’t tell her before?”

“I was still thinking it over. And I guess a part of me hoped Paul…or whatever his real name is, would call her and tell her everything, but I don’t think he has. She’s going to need me, so I don’t know when I’ll be able to see you again.”

I sighed, already having guessed that much. It was regretful, because Brooklyn didn’t have a lot of time to stick around. I wasn’t sure if there was a possibility of me moving out to California, not unless we opened up a company branch there, and even then, it would take a lot of maneuvering before I could go and stay there. Before I considered that, I was going to try and ask Brooklyn to stay in New York with me.

The only reason I hadn't yet, was because I was afraid she wouldn’t be willing to give up the life she had for me. Cali was all the way across the country, and even though the fastest flight could take about five hours, it would still be a hassle to move back and forth. So, I was holding back for the moment, but I knew, when it came time for her to leave, I wasn’t going to be able to let her go.

“You can go in and see her,” I said, giving her an encouraging smile. “It’ll be tough on her, but she’s always been strong. She’ll get over it.”

“She was really serious about this, though,” she said worriedly. “I mean, she was going to marry the guy, you know?”

“He was probably tricking her, the same way he tricked my sister. Once she knows everything, it’ll hurt, but she will try to forget about him. I don’t know Nora that well, but I do know she doesn’t waste thoughts on people that don’t deserve it.”

Brooklyn sighed as she pulled off her seatbelt. “Let’s hope it’ll be that way this time. Sorry for holding you up. You probably need to go and stay with your sister, too, huh. I can't believe he would go after someone so young. He’s the same age as me and Nora, so he should be seven years older than her.”

I chuckled at her disgruntled look. “There are people in relationships with a bigger age gap. But don’t worry, I’m not going to let him off just like that. I’ll make a few calls around and try to find him. Maria said she came back with him from California, but she’s not sure where he is right now.”

“If you find that guy, give him a punch in the face for me,” she said with a small grin, then took off her seatbelt and jumped out of the car.

I watched her go then started up the car. I pulled away from the curb and headed for home to take care of my sister. Maria was strong, so she couldn’t be so distraught, but that didn’t mean she would be okay.

If I find that bastard, what he’ll get from me is a kick in the crotch, I thought ruthlessly.

Thinking of any man taking advantage of my sister this way totally pissed me off. It already had because I was sure they’d slept together already. Maria may be twenty-one-years old, an adult that could make her own decisions, but she was still my baby sister. She was barely ready to start dating, let alone sleeping with men and making plans for marriage. I was hopeful that, with this event, she would be wiser next time.

On Wednesday, I still had to go to work, but I made a bunch of calls to collect information on the guy. I also tried to find him, but I couldn’t. Around midmorning, I made a call to Maria who told me she couldn’t get ahold of him. A text from Brooklyn told me Nora wasn’t even trying, willing to forget the entire thing even happened. Nora and I had never been close, but I figured I would have to talk to her sometime. So I told Brooklyn to meet me for lunch and bring Nora, and I would bring Maria.

I set out a little early. It was a restaurant close enough to walk, and I locked my office behind me as I left. About twenty minutes later, I was walking into the restaurant. I frequented the place often, so it was easy enough to get a private room, and then I went in to wait for the others to arrive. Ten minutes after I arrived there, the women came in. Both Maria and Nora were dressed in black and looked like they were mourning.

“Please, seat down,” I said, standing up. “Someone should come over to take our orders soon.”

Nora frowned at me and didn’t sit down. “Why don’t you just tell me what it is you want to say,” she said, her voice rough. “I’d rather go home and back to bed than be here.”

Her voice was completely flat. I wouldn’t say she was heartbroken, she was probably still in shock from what happened. I turned to look at Brooklyn, who nodded in understanding and guided Nora over to a seat.

“Just sit your ass down for a minute and listen up, okay? It won’t kill you, you know. He’s treating us to lunch, it’s not like you to refuse, Nora.”

She hesitated a bit, but with a sigh, finally sat down.

Maria, in comparison, was much more composed. Though her mood was dark, she moved to sit beside me, looking subdued, but there was fire in her eyes. It made me breathe a sigh of relief, because I’d been worried my baby sister would take things hard, even knowing her personality wouldn’t allow for it. Brooklyn sat between Nora and me, and a moment later, a waiter came into the private room.

We looked over the menu and placed our orders, the three women sounding like they couldn’t be bothered about what they ate. Then the waiter left the four of us alone.

“You had something to say,” Nora said after a moment of silence.

All three of them turned to look at me, and I took a deep breath.

“I made a few inquiries and I found some information that…none of you are going to particularly like.” I frowned, not sure how to say it delicately.

Maria, sensing my indecision, patted the back of my hand. “Just say whatever it is. I’d like to have this over and done with as soon as possible, please.”

“All right,” I said with a sigh. “So, here’s the thing. This Paul, or Chris, technically neither name is his real name, but he’s used Paul the longest, so let’s go with that. He is definitely not who he told you he was.”

“I could figure that much out on my own, Abe,” Maria said with a roll of her eyes. “Tell us something we don’t already know.”

I pursed my lips. “What none of you know, is that this Paul has several other names and he’s been with other women in relationships that usually get cut short just before the wedding.”

“He’s a con artist,” Brooklyn muttered, catching on.

“Exactly,” I said darkly with a frown. “And when I find him, I’m going to break every bone in his damn body for messing with my sister.”

“So have you found him already?” Maria asked, looking eager and a little bloodthirsty. “Leave a few bones for me to break, too.”

I sighed. “There’s just one little problem. I think the guy must have figured out it was best to cut his losses and run. He’s done a disappearing act. Just before, though, he transferred some funds from the both of you. Someone is still tracing where those funds went.”

Nora paled a little, and Maria’s face tightened. Right then, the door opened and the waiter brought the food in. there was a deadly silence in the room as the food was set on the table. I wasn’t sure they’d still have the appetite to eat, but the moment the waiter was out of the room, they fell on the food like starving beasts.

I raised an eyebrow at the odd behavior, but dug into my own food. I would find this Paul, eventually, and when I did, I was going to wring him dry and leave him by the roadside for the vultures to finish him off.