Broken Knights (Gifted Academy #4) - Michelle Hercules Page 0,29
I’m actually in a private airport. I’ll text you the address.”
Fifteen minutes later, Mom’s dependable suburban car stops in front of the small waiting area of the airport. I get up, hoisting my duffle bag over my shoulder, and step out before she has the chance to exit the vehicle. She does anyway, circling around the car to engulf me into a mama-bear hug.
“Morpheus, darling. I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you too, Mom.”
She eases off, holding me by the arms to look up at my face. “You’ve lost weight. And you haven’t been sleeping much, have you?”
“I couldn’t sleep during the flight.”
“What about the shadows? Are they—”
“They’re under control. Come on. You can ask me all the questions inside the car.”
“Oh, okay. I stopped by your favorite fast food restaurant and got you something to eat. You must be starving.”
“Yeah, I could eat.”
I circle to the back of the car to put my bag in the trunk, then slide into the passenger’s seat. Mom is already behind the steering wheel, holding a greasy bag in her hand. The smell of fries and burger fills my nostrils, making my mouth water. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until now. Eagerly, I take the bag and dig in.
“Why did you have to stay in Hawk City longer?”
I swallow the big lump of bread and meat in mouth first, buying myself a few seconds to think about what I’m going to say next. I’m determined to get to the truth, but now that I’m about to do it, I find myself tongue-tied.
“I had to meet someone.”
“Are you going to elaborate on that?”
I keep staring ahead, not daring to glance at her when I reply, “I met my brother.”
“What?” she shrieks, taking her eyes off the road to gawk at me. The car begins to veer toward the next lane, straight into the van occupying that space.
“Mom! Watch the road.”
She swerves the vehicle back to her lane and doesn’t speak for a couple of beats. “You can’t spring something like that on me while I’m driving. I’ve always suspected Tarek had affairs, but I didn’t know about children.”
I whip my face to her. “Are you saying he was cheating on you?”
“I never got solid proof, but the signs were there.” She sighs heavily, her shoulders sagging. “I can’t blame him. I was the one who was unfaithful to him first.”
A torrent of emotions crashes against me all at once. Here’s the opening to talk about my biological father, but my brain is stuck on the things Tarek, the man who was supposed to be my dad, did to Mom and me throughout all the years.
“Why didn’t you leave him?”
“Divorce him? You know that’s not an option in our family, Morpheus.”
“That’s such bullshit. Why stay married to a man who doesn’t respect you? Who physically abuses you?”
“He hasn’t touched me since the last time you visited.”
“Oh, kudos to him,” I reply bitterly.
“Let’s not talk about your father.”
“He’s not my father,” I grit out.
Mom lets out a loud exhale, but at least she doesn’t try to defend him. “You said you met your half brother.”
The shadows are churning inside of my chest, reacting now to the rage within me. I’m still so fucking mad about this whole deal with Mom and her husband. I can’t believe she’s put up with his shit all these years for the sake of appearances.
“Yes, but I didn’t mean an offspring of your husband. I’m talking about the real deal.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean, Mom. My biological brother, the son of the man who… sired me. I also caught a glimpse of him. My father. You need to tell me who is.”
She doesn’t speak for a long while, and I let her stew on my words without pressing her. I’m not leaving her side until she confesses everything. I’m done staying in the dark about my heritage.
Finally, she signals to exit the highway, but we’re nowhere near Gifted Academy. I see then she’s heading for a rest stop. Good. It’s not safe to drive while having this conversation.
“He made me swear I’d never reveal his identity to anyone, not even you,” she says.
“My father did?”
“Yes. And I agreed, gladly. I didn’t want anyone to know.”
“It’s too late now. While meeting with my half brother, we were both transported to the island of horrors.”
Mom stares at me wide-eyed. “You went back to that place?”
“Yes. The island god brought us there for punishment. You know he marked us