Book One: Chapter 6


    Julius and March pushed their way through the crowd in time to see Katherine p the boy bravely


    standing up for his sister. They stood in shock not only by her hostile behavior but also because of the


    boy’s appearance. His hair had a reddish tint and his eyes were a clear, vibrant green but despite that


    he looked enough like Jude to be his little brother.


    Who was he?


    “Security! Security!” Katherine’s shrill voice called out. “Get these heathens out of here!”


    Door security was already approaching before the summons drawn in by the crowd. They stared from


    Katherine to the children and back again not sure what the best course of action was. Katherine was an


    important guest but they had been given special instructions concerning the twins by the host of the


    event himself.


    “Well, what are you waiting for?” Katherine demanded while they hesitated. “These creatures are


    disturbing the guests. Get them out of here!”


    Before the brothers could react another voice suddenly thundered, “Don’ty a hand on their heads if


    you want to keep yours!”


    Everyone froze and idle chatter fell silent. The crowd parted making way for the formidable DaLair


    patriarch. His gray eyes were a storm of rage. Harming his grandkids was a dangerous gamble. The


    entire crowd felt the unbearable tension unsure of what was happening.


    No one knew what to expect until the little girl suddenly eximed, “Grandpa Gus!”


    Without hesitation the pair ran up to the ruthless business mogul. Augustus’s scowl instantly


    disappeared and he dropped to his knee to catch the exuberant pair wrapping them in a bear hug.


    “There are my little rascals!” heughed much to the crowd’s surprise.


    “We missed you grandpa!” the little girl said. “Why weren’t you waiting for us?”


    “I’m sorry sweetie. I got caught up with some business.”


    “That’s okay. We forgive you,” Aria said her tone almost patronizing.


    Augustus chuckled, “Where’s your mother?”


    “Looking for you. Mommy! Mommy! We found Grandpa!”


    The crowd moved aside allowing the elegantly dressed redhead to approach. She smiled at the twins


    saying, “I see that. Caden! What happened!”


    Macey rushed forward kneeling in front of her son studying the red mark on his face. The boy shrugged


    off his mother’s concern but exined, “That dragondy was picking on Aria and I told her to stop so


    she pped me.”


    “What dragondy?” Macey’s face darkened.


    “Her.”


    Caden pointed to the stunned Katherine.


    Ever since Augustus appeared and imed the kids as his own she had been left unsure of the best


    course of action. She was already among his least favorite people and couldn’t afford to irritate him


    further. Despite this she had raised a hand to a child he evidently favored.


    Should she beg for forgiveness? Maybe if she fawned over the children andplimented on how


    adorable they were? But why should she debase herself like that?


    Green eyes shining with rage Macey stood marching toward the blonde who dared ost her children.


    Reaching Katherine she offered no warning before pping her so hard Katherine stumbled back in


    surprise. Katherine stared at the furious woman in front of her. No one ever daredy a hand to her


    before but the woman in green offered no apology and showed no remorse.


    “If you every a hand on my kids again I promise you no one will ever find your body,” Macey dered


    before spinning around and marched back to her children who watched impassively as if this was an


    expected reaction.


    Over the years they had endured a few bullies mostly poking fun at them for not having a father. Rarely


    did the taunts be physical. The few asions when the line was crossed immediately brought out


    Macey’s protective side. School officials and parents soon learned never to anger her and mind other


    children’s behavior carefully when it came to the twins. Reaching her children Macey gently stroked


    Caden’s cheek before kissing him on the top of the head.


    Augustus cleared his throat, “Have you eaten?”


    “We had some hors d''oeuvres but they weren’t really good,” Aria said.


    “Well we can’t have that!” Augustus eximed. “Let’s head over to the restaurant shall we?”


    “Yeah!” the twins cheered.


    “So how was your flight?” Augustus asked taking Aria’s hand as he led the way while Caden sped


    his mother’s hand.


    “We don’t like flying,” Aria said. “It makes our ears hurt. I got a tummy ache and Caden got a


    headache.”


    “You know flying does the same thing to me. How did you like the vi?”


    “It’s great grandpa! We really like our room!”


    * * *


    From the moment the twins called Augustus grandpa and threw their arms around him Julius was


    frozen in ce, mouth open in shock. Even more surprising was his father’s reaction. Augustus


    showed no hesitation in embracing the pair. In fact his face was rapt with joy. It was clear he not only


    knew them intimately he also expected to see them tonight.


    And then she appeared.


    Like a ghost of the past Macey was suddenly in front of him. She was gorgeous wearing an elegant


    and simple gown that hugged her gentle curves. Its color highlighted her eyes andplimented her


    hair andplexion. There was a new confidence surrounding her making her even more alluring.


    When the kids called her mommy Julius almost copsed. He was afraid to move and break the vision


    in front of him. Watching her tender concern for his son’s hurt and exacting immediately retribution as


    only a mother could Julius felt nothing but pride and adoration. For the first time in six years he didn’t


    know what to do except that he didn’t want to look away.


    “Jules, did you know? Jules!”


    March clutched his brother’s arm pulling his attention away from Macey’s retreating form. Julius met his


    brother’s enraged gaze reluctantly. Without another word March dragged him away to a private corner


    away from prying eyes and curious ears.


    “Did you know!” March demanded. “Tell me you didn’t know!”


    “I—I didn’t…” Julius stuttered before taking a breath. “I didn’t…I didn’t find out until after she left. I


    found the pregnancy test in the trash.”


    March stood stunned by the news. The only thing holding back his rage was his brother’s obvious


    distress. Over the years Julius’s depression and desperation to locate Macey had only grown. At first


    March thought Julius had finally realized his feelings for her but now it was beginning to make more


    sense. It was not just Macey he was frantic to find.


    “Shit!” March cursed. “Julius…”


    “Why do you think I’ve been so desperate to find her?” Julius asked. “I know I messed up. Just the


    thought of her out there alone going through everything without me to support her…”


    “…Funny you should say that.” March said as a thought suddenly urred to him.


    “What do you mean?”


    “You don’t think dad…”


    Julius blinked slowly realizing what his brother implied. From the start it hadn’t made sense for a


    woman of limited means and no connections to simply vanish. As far as he knew both her parents had


    been only children and she didn’t have any family. But if their father helped her…Julius’s face flushed


    with rage. He spun around and burst out of the alcove tearing through the crowd unyielding to their idle


    gossip.


    “Who do you suppose that woman was?”


    “She was gorgeous.”


    “Do you think she’s some sort of secret daughter?”


    “I don’t know but the children called him grandpa.”


    He left the bar and headed to the restaurant. Julius stepped into the quieter venue. His eyes raked the


    interior untilughter drew his attention to a secluded corner.


    There he saw the DaLair patriarch seated at a table. Beside his father was his daughter crowned with


    the same riotous, red curls as her mother. Across from her was her quieter and more reserved brother.


    Though he offered little in terms of conversation his eyes sparkled with the same joy and excitement


    his more boisterous sister openly expressed. The red mark on his cheek was fading making Julius


    breathe a sigh of relief. Beside his son sat their mother.


    Macey was as beautiful as his exaggerated memory made her. Her gown was modest and offered


    ample coverage. He recalled she was ufortable in gowns that were too revealing. Even so the


    gown hugged her like a second skin highlighting her hour ss figure. Thebination gave her a


    demur yet alluring figure that tantalized his senses and earned her many admirers. He scowled at the


    other men ncing in her direction.


    He arrived in time to see the mmekueche they ordered arrive. With grace and elegance Macey


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    served his children, doting on them like a mother hen. Julius’s heart warmed. She had always been the


    caring sort. When they were younger he broke his arm earning her sympathy and attention as she


    cared for him the entire day like an attentive nurse.


    “Mommy, can I have parmesan?” Caden asked.


    “Of course.” Macey grabbed the shaker filled with the finally shredded cheese.


    Caden’s brow furrowed as it often did when he was trying to work something out. After a moment he


    asked, “Can I have real parmesan?”


    Macey chuckled knowing he meant he wanted a wedge of it to grate by hand and said, “I don’t think


    they do that here, baby.”


    Caden scrunched his face but nodded. Still smiling Macey gently shook the contents over his serving to


    lightly sprinkle on the cheese. Setting it aside she kissed his forehead as a reward forpromising.


    “Me too! Me too!” Aria chimed. “I want some.”


    “Oh do you?” Augustus picked it up prepared to follow Macey’s example.


    “I want to do it, grandpa,” Aria took the container in her hands, tipped it upside down and dumped


    almost half the contents on her slice.


    “Aria!” Macey gasped.


    “I like it this way,” Aria announced and proceeded to eat without a care in the world.


    Augustus and Maceyughed at the twins’ antics. Julius almost snapped in his eagerness to be closer.


    That was his family his father was entertaining. The family he had been searching for these past six


    years.


    “Brother, wait,” March grasped his arm and pulled him back. “Not here.”


    “Let go, March.” Julius red.


    “Now isn’t the time. Look do you want to scare them?”


    Julius breathed deep letting his rage settle. No. He couldn’t stand the thought of them fearing him. He


    couldn’t let that happen. Their anger he could endure if they were upset at his five year absence from


    their lives but not their fear.


    “Tomorrow,” March promised. “We’ll confront dad tomorrow. And he better have answers.”


    Julius nodded calming himself. His longing gaze returned to his family. After six years they were finally


    here. They were safe. They were so close. Tomorrow he would get his answers.


    Tomorrow.