Wronged

? 15 ?

She steps in the middle, looking overwhelmed and stressed. "Are you two brother and sister or not? At least by blood, Anna." She shoots me a pointed look when I pry my lips open, and I snap them shut, looking at the ground. I clench my jaw angrily, not wanting to admit it.

"Yes."

"Okay," she sighs. "Now we can start having a real conversation. Let's start with, why is this Dakota guy in our house?"

I cross my arms and send daggers through his skull. "My guess is as good as yours."

Dakota sighs. "Can we just all go sit somewhere? This is going to be a long talk."

Nico nods his head toward the living room. "Over here."

We all walk over to the couches and recliners, taking a spot. Dakota sits on a two person loveseat, and I take a position farthest away from, in a one-seated recliner. Nico and Hayley cuddle up on the largest couch.

"Okay," Dakota says, leaning forward on his knees with his elbows. His hands clasp in front of him, dangling in between his legs. "To explain to you guys, I am here to talk to my sister about personal matters." He looks at Nico and Hayley. Then to me. "Anna, I know Nico because we work for the same guy."

My heart thumps in my chest loudly, and I try my best to breathe. I want to tell him that his boss is also my forever person, but don't. He doesn't need to know anything about me.

Does Aiden know Dakota's my brother? Did he just never tell me when we spent those two days together? I hold back a scoff. He probably did. The sonofabitch is untrustworthy, as I assumed. I mean, of course he's untrustworthy. If he's sleeping with another girl named Amanda, that should prove it.

Hayley's eyes widen and she looks at me, thinking the same thing. I glare and shake my head. He doesn't need to know. She gulps but nods reluctantly, leaning back into Nico. He also takes the message.

"So what? You said he had requirements that meant you had to leave as a result?" I deadpan.

Dakota nods grimly. "I'll explain that to you. It might not make you like me anymore or heal our relationship, but I'm hoping it at least gives you a reason as to why I just up and left."

I purse my lips. "You're right. It isn't going to fix anything...but I do want a reason."

He nods and then sighs in relief. "Thank you for wanting to listen to me. Now that I left, I can start sealing the cracks in-"

"You didn't leave," Nico scoffs. "You betrayed Aiden. You were fired, and you're going to have to watch your back."

Dakota glares at him, face looking extremely similar to mine when I do. "I did what I had to do to get out of there. Anna is my priority."

Psh. Is he serious? If I were his priority, I would've never gone through any of that trouble. Any of that torment.

"There could've been another way to see your sister," Hayley says quietly, kind of angry. "You didn't have to be disloyal to Aiden."

"You have no idea, Hayley. So just shut up, alright?" Dakota growls.

Nico immediately stands up, eyes dark. "Do not talk to her like that. Especially fucking in front of me." His tone is menacing, so much more different than what I'm used to hearing. My eyes widen a fracture, but I regain composure instantly. Woah.

Dakota takes a deep breath. "Look, there was no other way to see Anna. They don't just let people leave the...job." He glances at me hesitantly, and I give him a weird look. "I had to get fired to leave."