Read Online Rise and Shine (Shine On Series, Book 2) by Allison J. Jewell - Free Book Online

you.”
    Silas stepped forward, his chest against her back. “That’s not true anymore. I take care of her now. Your family missed their opportunity when she was a child. Emmie is a grown woman. She’s my responsibility now. Mine.” The not yours was left unsaid but they all heard it.
    Gabe didn’t know how to feel. He felt guilty that she’d been alone. Angry that he’d been lied to all these years. Annoyed with Silas and his attitude.
    “Fine,” he said, rolling his eyes.
    “And I appreciate the thought Gabe, really.” Emmie stepped forward and squeezed his arm. “As awful as this is… part of me is glad to have family. I always wanted a brother. We’ll work this out.”
    Gabe nodded and walked out onto the open lobby.
    “You okay?” Silas asked.
    Emmie laughed. “I guess as okay as can be. I just…” she trailed off, lost in a vision of her mother. “Ma was always so good to me. She was the best mother. I wish you could have known her.” She paused and thought for a moment before she added, “How could she have been with a married man? And all these years. She never told me I had a brother.”
    Silas said nothing; he just listened, trying to put all of the pieces together. He slipped the photograph in his jacket pocket when she leaned in to hug him. There had to be more to this than she or Gabe knew. There was a missing piece to this puzzle neither she nor Gabe had thought of yet. Their emotions were too closely tied to see things clearly. But he could see it… he would find the answers.
    Emmie looked up at him as a tear escaped her eye. “I just always thought my mom was the light you know. The one good thing I could count on to shine through the darkness.”
    “Em, she was a good ma to ya. I can see her goodness in you because I know you sure as hell didn’t get it from that Ronnie. Just because she made a mistake doesn’t mean she was bad. Stop casting stones so quickly. Take a breath, let this settle in. We’ll figure this out.”
    Emmie nodded. He was right. Who was she to start casting stones? She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of Silas. He pulled her in close and lifted her chin with his hand, planting a soft kiss on her lips before he led her out into the lobby.
    “There you are. Pop sent me to look for you. Everyone’s already meeting. Oh, hey Emmie,” Trick said, jogging up to them.
    “I’ll have to get caught up later. Tell him I had to take care of something,” Silas said.
    “You want me to tell him you won’t be there… He’s gonna blow his lid. You know that right?” Trick asked with wide eyes.
    “And he’ll get over it. I am sure I already got the gist of it last night. Just find out what they need legally. That’s all I’m interested in right now,” Silas said.
    “Silas, I’m fine. Go to meet with your father,” Emmie said.
    “You are not fine,” he argued.
    “I’m fine,” she shrugged.
    “Emmie, you are a horrible liar,” he said with a cocked eyebrow.
    “Look. This isn’t great news but trust me, I’ve been through worse.”
    For some reason that statement didn’t provide him much comfort. But, he knew it was true. He sighed because he knew she was going to win this argument.
    “Okay…” he said. “Meet me here at noon. We have plans.” He gave her a crooked smile.
    Emmie forced all of her energy into returning the smile as Silas walked away with his brother. Emmie headed outside. The cool and crisp November air was just what she needed.
    **********
    When Trick and Silas entered the room their father frowned. Being late was not acceptable. For once Silas didn’t care. He focused his attention on the man sitting across from him. He wasn’t sure he would be here. Marco Del Grande didn’t always attend their meetings. He was merely a banker.
    “Glad you decided to join us, Silas,” his father chastised.
    “Sorry Pop. Had to take care of something.” He gave a pointed look to Marco. Gabe was sitting on Marco’s right.
    His father