Family Secrets

Sander Kellan POV

"Sander, she's yours."

Tobias' words ring out in my head. I have a daughter I didn't know about. I know that she isn't Naomi's and I don't know how to tell my boys. I loved my wife, but we got married young and both made mistakes. I know I'm at fault, but I'm not the only one. I shake away the painful memories of my late wife. I pull out my phone and call one of my private investigators.

"I need you to find out everything you can on Monica Lawrence."

"Of course, sir. I assume to keep everything confidential."

I grunt my approval before hanging up. I think back to the couple of nights I had with Monica. She was my secretary fifteen years ago and I had fired her after a moment of weakness caused me to have an affair with her. She was a pretty girl with long black hair and blue eyes. I never should have let those two nights happen. It ended up with an even more broken marriage and a teenage daughter. I know that I will take her in without a doubt. I don't know her story or where her mother is, but I'm sure we can work out something. I want to know my daughter. I'm sure she will be like a breath of fresh air compared to the five sons I have. The vibrations of my phone bring me back to reality.

"Yes?"

"Sir, Monica Lawrence has been dead for nine years. Drug overdose. She had a daughter with her, but after that, there is no trace of her. We found a couple school records that reported a young girl named Cal Lawrence. However, those were only for a couple of years and no one really remembers her."

I thank him before hanging up. I feel a slight pain knowing that Monica is dead, but it's more so because of the pain I'm sure it caused my daughter. Cal. I say her name aloud and I'm pleased with the sound. I wonder if it's a nickname. It's an odd name, but I'm used to unusual names.

Knowing the information I do now, I decide to call Tobias and tell him to bring her home. The phone barely rings before he picks up the phone.

"What are you gonna do, Sander?"

"Bring her home. Will you be able to bring her to me?"

"I'm sure I can, but there is something you should know. The reason I found her was because she threw herself off a bridge. She's beaten pretty badly. I can't get her to talk though."

I feel my blood run cold. Someone hurt my baby. Not only that, but hurt her so badly it drove her to suicide. My grip on my phone tightens and I hear Tobias calling my name.

"Bring her home, Toby."

I hang up and run my hands through my hair. I need to tell the boys. They aren't going to take it well. They loved their mother so much, and aren't going to be happy to have a half sibling. Hopefully her current state will sway them. I've raised my sons to be respectable. They know not to raise a hand on a woman. I call all my sons to my office and let them know we need to talk.

My oldest enters first followed by my other four. They all take a seat and wait for me to start. I run a very structured household ever since their mother died. I demand respect, but I know it goes both ways. I give my boys everything they need and I'd like to think that I've been a good father.

Clearing my throat I look down on all of them and try to figure out the right words.

"I just found out I have a daughter. She will be coming here to live us within the week. I expect you to treat her with respect."

They all nod their heads, but I see the gears in their mind turning.

"She isn't mother's is she?"

My oldest, Rai, speaks up, and I just nod confirming him. I see Pyrrhus stand up with a ball of flames circling his clenched fists. He has always been the most hot tempered.

"You cheated on our mother? How could you?"

He voice is laced with malice and anger. The boy doesn't know the whole story and I'm not sure if I should share it.

"Sit down and calm down now. Yes, I had an affair. It happened twice with the same woman, and apparently she gave birth to my daughter. Your sister."

I see the glares of the boys and their strain to keep themselves in check. I know I messed up, but so did their mother. I'm not the only bad guy.

"Don't you even think that I was the one starting the affairs. Your mother had her fair share."

I see Pyrrhus jump up again, but this time the flames engulf both of his arms stopping at his shoulders.

"Don't you dare talk about our mother that way."

"ENOUGH!"

I demand while I slam my hands on my desk. My outburst caused the books on my shelves to come flying out causing them to rain on the floor. I slow my breathing disappointed with myself. I rarely loose control of my abilities.

"The discussion is over. You may leave."

They all nod their heads as the make their way to the door.

"Zephyr, will you ask the maids to prepare the guest bedroom on y'all's floor?"

I ask my second oldest before they all head out earning a glare from Pyrrhus.

"The one next to my room?"

His eyes are almost glowing with how mad he is. I simply nod at him letting them they are dismissed.

My daughter hasn't even arrived yet and she is already causing a ruckus in the house. I shake my head realizing that she already is causing me a mix of emotions. I hope I keep the boys in check and her safe. I can't bare to think about how she will look when she gets here. Maybe I should've told them about their sister's condition.

Cal POV

It's been two days since Tobias brought me to the hospital. Two days of refusing any and all examinations and counseling. I refuse to tell anyone anything. I won't be going back where I came from and I don't want anyone to know what all I've been through. I see Tobias walking into my room with a duffel bag.

"Well, looks like you can get out of here. I noticed you didn't have any clothes so I picked up some things for you. I'll be taking you to Tennessee to live with your father and brothers."

He smiles big at me unaware that my blood just ran cold. I feel my heart start to pound. I'm going to live with men. I don't even know what to think. I knew I had a father, but my mother made it very clear that he didn't want me. I had no idea about brothers.

Tobias tosses the duffle bag onto my bed asking me to get ready to go. Once he leaves I put on a pair of black sweatpants and a gray hoodie. They are bit smaller than the clothes I'm used to wearing, but they are still way too big. I roll up my pants legs and put on a pair of tennis shoes. I go into the hospital bathroom and try to tame my long hair. I manage to get it into a messy bun on the top of head, but when I look into the mirror I see the bruising on my neck from the men's hands and mouths. I quickly pull it back down and look at my face. There isn't any bruising on it. He always made sure my face stayed safe to keep me pretty. He loved my face and hair although he despised my gray eyes. He said they made me look dead. I try to push back the memories of my past. No need in thinking about it because I'm about to have a new start. Well, I hope so. I need to figure out more so I know if need to ditch Tobias before we get there.

Once I'm ready to go, I make my way into the hallway and see Tobias filling out paperwork. He waves over to me as he finishes.

"Alrighty. You're good to go. Ready?"

I nod at him and follow him out. I hop in his black Charger. I don't know much about cars, but I can tell that this is a recent year and very nice. He pulls out of the parking lot and gets on the road. We drive for about an hour in silence listening to the GPS lady tell us where to go. I can't help looking out the windows. I wasn't allowed outside in the past two years so this ride is like a breath of fresh air. Clearing my throat, I peer over to Tobias.

"I have brothers?"

He smiles over at me and nods his head.

"Yep. Five of them. Want to hear about them?"

Five males. Six including my father. I feel my hands start to shake, but I manage a smile and nod at him. I listen as he goes on to tell me about them.

"Well Rai is the oldest. He's twenty-five, and he works for your father. He's very structured and stern, but we get along pretty well. Then there is Zephyr. He's twenty one and taking some college courses. He's a whirlwind of fun though. Family jokester for sure."

I watch him as he chuckles thinking about Zephyr. So far they seem to have weird names, but I'm not one to talk.

"Then you have the twins, Caspian and Pyrrhus. They are about to be eighteen and seniors in high school when August comes around. They are complete opposites, just you wait. Caspian is a nice guy and really goes with the flow, but Pyrrhus is a firecracker. He's got a bit of temper, but a good heart. And then there is the baby, Silas. He's a good kid, but tends to rock things up at the house. He's got good roots though, just a bit of a handful. He just turned sixteen which makes you the baby now."

He grins down at me and I can feel the love he has for them. They must be close.

"What about my… er… father?"

I'm not sure what exactly I should call him. Dad seems too cozy for a man who didn't even want me. Father makes me acknowledge him as family.

"Sander is a good guy. We were best friends back in high school, many years ago. He runs a lot of businesses. He has a train of gyms and hotels, and he is very successful. Your family has a lot of money, kid."

I shrug at him. They aren't my family, and they will probably get rid of me as soon as they can. No one wants me, but the people that tend to keep me around aren't ones I want to be with. I try to calm my breathing as memories threaten to come up. I've yet to really process all the trauma I've been through, and I don't think I'd survive it if I did. I prefer to keep everything buried, because I can't be disgusted with myself any more than I already am. Reliving those memories will do nothing for me but remind me how used and broken I am.

The next four hours go by pretty fast as I listen to Tobias tell me about my "family". Apparently they have a huge house and a lot of money. Sander is excited to see me and the boys are bit apprehensive, but Tobias assured me that everything will be great. I don't believe him though. He told me about how Sander and his late wife, Naomi, had Rai when they were seventeen, so Sander is still pretty young considering he has a twenty-five year old.

"So I take it Sander and Naomi didn't have the best marriage?"

Tobias looks at me confused.

"I mean I'm proof of that right? I wouldn't be here if they did."

"Huh. Well, I don't know about that, but I'm sure you could ask your dad about it."

I nod at him although I have no intention of asking. I have no intention on getting close to any of them. They will only be disgusted when they get to know me, and I can't handle anymore pain.

I notice that we have been surrounded by trees for a while. We seem to be in the middle of nowhere which is odd for me since I've always been in the city. Soon we turn off on a private drive, and I see the shape of a huge house in front of me. It's practically a mansion. Tobias parks the car and gets the door for me.

"Welcome home, kid."