Hudson (Anderson Billionaires #4) - Melody Anne Page 0,29

the center. They were heading out soon for an around-the-world adventure.

Joseph looked over to Hudson who was inhaling a cheeseburger while listening to Brandon tell the story of a dog pushing his owner into the water when he didn’t want to play fetch anymore. Hudson choked on his food as he laughed. Joseph had plans for Hudson. It was going to be fun to watch.

He turned and gazed at Crew, who was unusually quiet. Something was going on with Crew, and none of the brothers seemed able to get through to him. Joseph would figure it out. He’d have done it already if Katherine hadn’t gotten sick and he hadn’t gotten involved with a Special Ops operation. Joseph had been consumed by the stress of it all. Now with his wife forcing him to live his life, the best way he could keep from driving her crazy was to meddle in his nephews’ lives.

This newest branch of his family had come with some drama — and some much-needed answers were going to be given in just a few minutes.

Damien Whitfield would be there soon. He hadn’t warned the boys of what was to come.

He cleared his throat.

“I’ve asked you all to be here today because we’re meeting with someone I think you’ll want to know,” Joseph said.

“I thought it was to congratulate us on a job well done,” Hudson piped in. It was good to see he wasn’t as mopey as he’d been a few weeks earlier. Something had happened that had displeased his nephew.

Joseph smiled. “Yes, you’ve all done very well on this project,” Joseph said. They’d been working on it for years, and it was finished for now. Lucas had begun building a senior facility, but Joseph wasn’t sure what his next big project would be. He might focus on smaller things for a while since he had his wife to care for and a special ops group that was already performing miracles.

“The man joining us in a few minutes is Damien Whitfield,” Joseph began again. If he sat there joking with these men and then broke the news, they might not be too happy with him. “I’ve always been a man who likes to rip off the bandage, so here we go.” He looked each one of them in the eye before standing up. “You’re about to meet your brother.”

Utter silence met his words. He could see the various reactions from each nephew. There was disbelief, shock, anger, and in Crew’s case, a blank expression. Before he could add more, a man walked forward, his face showing nothing of what he might be feeling.

“Hello, Joseph, you told me to meet you, so here I am,” Damien said as he approached.

All five brothers turned and stared at this man as he stood next to the table. There was no doubt of a similarity in appearance. Damien had the same eyes as Finn, the same chin as Noah, and the same wide set shoulders as Brandon. Damien didn’t know they were his brothers yet. Joseph wanted to tell them all on the same day. No one said anything as a tense silence encircled them.

“Sit down, Damien,” Joseph said after shaking his hand and taking his seat again. “This isn’t a short story.”

Damien looked as if he wanted to argue, but he let out a breath and took the last open seat at the table. He didn’t say another word, just folded his hands on top of the table and waited.

Finn pulled a bottle of beer out of the bucket filled with ice and drinks, and slid it in front of Damien. It was a show of friendship Joseph was thrilled to see.

“You’ll need this,” Finn said. Then all eyes turned to Joseph as they waited to hear what he had to say.

“This took me a very long time to get worked out. I’ve had four private investigators looking into it since your mother called me,” Joseph began as he looked at each of the men, including Damien.

Damien’s brow furrowed. “My mother has been dead for a very long time,” he said. “I’ve come to terms with my childhood and the demons she faced. I’ve let that go — or at least I had until hearing of this new situation.”

Joseph had to give Damien a lot of credit because he had no problem looking each of these men in the eyes. That showed a lot of who Damien was. Joseph truly loved him and hated what he had to tell