Uncharted (Unexpected Book 3) (20 page)

I shut Dad’s bedroom door. He finally succumbed for the night. A bucket of cement weighs me down as I take one step and then another toward the kitchen. I grab a bag of frozen peas and head to the living room where Maeve sobs. Dad can’t remember who we are—he barely remembers Mom—and accuses us of everything. From stealing his favorite snack to breaking into his computer to steal his software. Not the first time we’ve been blamed for something. However, tonight he hit Mae. A slap across the face that split her lip and broke our hearts.

“Here.” I hand over the bag with a paper towel. “Press it lightly on your lip.”

The doctor told us we are no longer capable of caring for our father. His mental abilities are not the only ones deteriorating, but his physical ones are too. He needs licensed caregivers and nurses around the clock. Yesterday he threatened me with the lamp. Today it was a slap, and we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. His security is at risk. Dad has run away several times. We’ve found him in only a matter of minutes, thanks to some gadget Mason Bradley made that locates Dad immediately.

“Mae.” I cuddle her on the couch, rubbing her back. “We’ll find a way. The money… I promise.”

“He can’t remember us. It’s as if we’re dead to him.” The sobs increase and I join her. I can’t be the strong one tonight. We’re losing him and losing the battle. We swore that we’d care for him and make sure he’d stay sane— never miss a medication, an appointment, or therapy. Unless we didn’t have money that week to cover the therapy. But nothing has been enough. We lose a little bit more of him every day. “He’s going to die before I do. This is Mom all over again. Pria, I can’t do it again.”

She can do it, and both of us will rise above for another day. We have to. At least temporarily, because the time for her to die will come. Unless the odds differ, because even though the statistics say that she’s a walking time bomb, there’s the possibility that life might throw yet another curve our way and take me away from her. Like it did with Mom and Dad.

“Is that your ringtone?” I nod and pick it up from the coffee table.

“Yeah?” I wipe my tears as I answer the phone.

“What’s wrong, babe?” AJ’s concern is like a consolation coming from the other side of the phone.

“Nothing. What’s going on with you?” Maybe another day and another time I’ll be in the mood to discuss my father. Tonight I want to forget the shit that’s hitting the fan.

“Your dad?” That woman is too insistent.

“Yeah, he had a bad evening.”

I hear Mason’s voice behind her. “Do you want us to come over?”

“No, we’re fine,” I lie. We’re anything but fine.

“Today, I’ll let you get away with that
I’m fine
bit.” There’s a chuckle and I wonder what’s funny about the situation. “I have an offer for you that won’t solve world hunger, but maybe some of your problems. Come by the school tomorrow afternoon. One of the family businesses is in trouble and we need to rebrand my brother.”

The laugh coming from the other side of the line lightens my mood. This should be interesting, as I’ve never met either one of her brothers before…or any of her family.

Suddenly I remember that I don’t have time to take on new clients and I can’t lose a friendship because my game is off. “Wait, I can’t take on more clients.”

“Yes, you can. Tomorrow, let’s say threeish. Don’t make me hunt you down. Love you.”

The line goes dead, and I want to hop in my car to go over there and tell her she’s crazy and I won’t do it.

Mae sets down the bag and shakes her head, having been listening silently. “Do you think they’ll pay well?

“You can’t do this on your own.” I tilt my chin toward Dad’s bedroom.

“With that money, we can hire a male nurse who won’t run away. If I have to fight my father again, I’m going to cry myself to death.” I toss my head back on the couch, close my eyes, and clear my mind. “Go and just hear her out, then you can decline the job.”

This is a waste of time. I don’t need a new job, but I suck on my lip and smile at my lovely friend who never ceases to amaze me. She has more perseverance than anyone I’ve met before. AJ texted five times today to remind me she’d be waiting for me. My firm isn’t doing great—who am I kidding? It’s sinking and I need a major boost.

The personal accounting I do is dead this time of the year. From mid-January to mid-April I have a steady string of customers, but after I’m done with their taxes, they don’t remember my name until the next year. If only my expenses would operate the same way, I wouldn’t need charity from my friend. Ever since we met, her husband has found me shit to do for his company, and has given Maeve a full-time remote job.

“Look, I can’t live with the anxiety of not being able to do my job because Dad is having a bad day.” I come clean, because I can’t lose her friendship over this. “One thing I hate is to be flaky, and I will be. There’s no guarantee I can show up on time, or send what’s needed to wherever it’s required. Now you’re offering me two more big clients. Can you say crazy?”

“Crazy,” she repeats. “Crazy and perfect, Ana. You’re the answer to bringing him back. If you can go head-to-head with the director of the FBI, and my husband, you can take on any guy.”

While doing a consult job at HIB Securities, I spotted Mason and another guy having a heated conversation in the middle of the hallway. People gathered around, and I pushed them inside Mason’s office where I lectured both for their lack of professionalism. It turned out the guy was some big wig from the CIA; not the director of the FBI. However, I can’t correct that fib.

From that moment on, Mason has been sending any issue that requires extra ironing my way. Now Ainsley is offering me yet another way to fix my problems while I help her with some major issues that her parents are having with one of their companies. Plus some damage control to the image of her brother. On the other hand, AJ requires help with the music school that is about to become a school of arts. It grew so fast that they’re adding a building, more classes and more teachers. She quit her position at the pre-school.

According to her, she needs help with bookkeeping and other management details. But I won’t accept it.

Shut up, we need the money.
I chide myself.

Mae would agree with that. We can’t afford me being picky and carrying my pride around. Three nurses had quit in the past month because of Dad being so difficult to handle. If we had the money, we
could
hire a male nurse to help.

“You’re going to regret this, AJ,” I assure her, because there’s no way I can control the chaos inside my head anymore. I’m about to snap and not in a good way. “But don’t fire me when you do, please.”

Closing my eyes for a few breaths, I channel my motto.
“Life is about how you look at it, how you feel, and your attitude toward it.”

I think back one more time as I imagine how different my life would’ve been if a certain person had called years ago. He’d be with me, helping with Dad, and telling me that no matter what, I had his support.

“I’m here for you, Ana, I promise.”

I pull a tissue from my purse and pat dry the tears. Messy makeup isn’t going to make a very good first impression. Meeting one of her brothers for the first time isn’t necessarily important, but making a great impression is always my ultimate goal.

Of course, I then hug her. To this day, I have no idea where Mae and I’d be without her and her husband. Mom promised I wouldn’t be alone. So far I’ve encountered amazing people who have helped us get through. She was right.

“Well, bring me up to date. What is it that your brother does?” I straighten up and gather my wits and my notebook.

“Better yet, let me take you with me to meet him.” She heads out of her office and signals me with her hand to follow.

We walk through the hallways of the school, dodging the children who are walking or skipping to their classes. Then we head outside.

“You want me to drive?” I point to my vintage RAV4 and she shakes her head. “There’s nothing wrong with it.”

“We’re going across the street.” She points to the brick building I avoided looking at when I arrived. Years ago I stood outside of it twice, but to my better judgement I decided to head home. “That’s the place I’m talking about. My father’s record company.”

“No, it can’t be.” I’ve known her for a long time. I consider her a really good friend—best friend—but I’ve never met her family. Only her husband. Maeve joins us sometimes and we do mostly girl stuff. “That’s Decker Records.” I point at the building, making sure we’re talking about the same place. “You’d be…a Decker. The triplets?”

I go mute. She’s a Bradley; not the sister of the Decker’s, who’s always mentioned but never shows her face.

“This won’t work, AJ.” I touch the base of my neck, where the hairline meets the skin, and rub my scar from that backstage experience. “If you had told me who—”

“Hey, Papi.” She yells from where we are at a tall man who is walking toward the same place we’re heading. The same green, mesmerizing eyes as AJ, and a wide smile. He changes direction, and after a few strides reaches us. He hugs my friend, who embraces him back. I’m back inside the Twilight Zone. “I’m glad to see you.”

“Sorry, where are my manners? Chris Decker.” He introduces himself, extending his hand. “You must be the famous Ana.”

“Who?” I swear I heard him say Chris Decker.

That man is a famous musician, with a peculiar family. A husband and three children—including JC Decker. My shallow breathing is making my fingers tingle. I try to control myself. I can’t work for her or either one of her brothers.

“Why didn’t you tell me your parents are famous?” My casual tone comes out as an accusation. “You said your name is AJ Bradley.”

“Married name. Is everything okay?” She studies me, trying to decipher why I’m behaving like a mad woman. “I don’t meet people and say, ‘Hey, AJ Decker-Bradley, child of the famous Gabe and Chris Colthurst-Decker, sister to the spawns of Satan.’ No offense, Father. No one reacts the way I want if I do.”

Yes, I would’ve reacted in a calm and appropriate manner.

By staying miles away from her.

“Later, it never came up during our conversations,” she continues. “Hi, how’s life. By the way, my parents are famous and so are my brothers.”

I can’t believe I didn’t put two and two together.
Anyone can be a music teacher and have two brothers, Pria.

My heart is pounding and I want to disappear. Maeve’s words come back to me.
“You’re one of a million women who’ve slept with him. If he ever sees you again, he won’t recognize you. It all happened years ago. Eight or nine. Not even I remember.”

I do. It was in September, ten years ago.

“If you’re going in to see Jacob, then I’ll come back later, baby girl.” Mr. Decker hugs AJ and kisses her forehead. “Nice to meet you, Ana. I’ll see you around.”

No, let’s not go in and see Jacob, please.

Stunned by the revelations of the afternoon, I walk like a zombie. My brain knows what I have to do, so my body continues its way through the sliding doors and climbs the stairs. And as AJ opens the door, I see a perfect male ass as it thrusts toward me, and then the desk. This sight, combined with moans and sound of skin slapping against skin, make me spin around.

My eyes. My teenage heart. What a cruel way to see him for the first time in ten years.

AJ follows suit, placing her hands on top of her eyes and shaking her head.

“He’s disgusting,” she whispers before yelling at him.

After a back-and-forth banter between brother and sister, a petite, skinny girl with colorful strands on her platinum hair walks out of the room, and Ainsley advises her about the STDs she might now carry. I decide I’m leaving. But I don’t, and I hear the entire conversation between them.

“Ana,” AJ whispers. I turn around and arch an eyebrow, and she introduces us.

In my mind, this moment would never happen. Not in a million years. Jacob Christian Decker and I live in different dimensions and the portal to jump from one to the other broke years ago. Adrenaline pumps through my veins. The rush of excitement, panic, and hurt for that girl who never got the call swirls around my body, creating a dizzy spell.