Teagan had graduated top of her class from MIT only to open a print shop in our hometown. I was no one to judge, so I didn’t. She didn’t like to talk about her work either, but Riley worked for her part-time and the two had remained close. Most of my friends had fallen to the wayside when I’d started dancing, so in some ways, they were doing better than I was.
I returned to Vegas with renewed determination to get us all in a better place. I worked out harder and hired a choreographer who had experience with acrobatics. I already had a brand, but I needed to take it to the next level. My moves needed to do more than turn women on, they needed to gain the attention of a venue that would hire me when my current gig was over.
Over the next few weeks, I took my act to a higher athletic level and gained the attention of a talent scout. She offered me a lucrative contract to take my act internationally. I accepted because more money meant a faster track to reaching the goal of comfort for my mother and freedom for me and Riley.
When my Vegas contract ended, I flew home. In the humble kitchen that hadn’t changed a bit from childhood, I handed my mother my sign-on bonus, which was nearly enough to pay off her last medical bill. She cried and said she was so proud of me. Riley was proud as well, but she had questions. I could tell it bothered her that I’d accepted the job without telling anyone. It was an uncomfortable conversation that she tried to spin into a positive light.
That was Riley.
We had a brief, awkward celebration that ended with me asking them to keep my news to themselves. Riley saved me from needing to explain why by announcing that Teagan wanted to meet us for lunch.
Never had I been so happy to visit Teagan’s T-shirt shop. My relief was short-lived as soon as Riley burst through the shop door and said, “You have to tell Teagan, Kal. We should celebrate your good news.”
I groaned. “You just promised you wouldn’t say anything to anyone.”
Riley waved at Teagan. “Teagan isn’t just anyone—she’s Teagan. Come on. If you won’t tell her, let me. Please.”
I folded my arms across my chest. Teagan had spent enough time at our house that she felt like another sister, but I wasn’t ready for another celebration about something I wanted to put out of my head for a few days.
Teagan seemed to understand. She gave me a sympathetic smile and said, “Riley, if Kal doesn’t want me to know, that’s okay.”
Riley was too excited to do that. I shook my head. “Never tell Riley anything. She can’t keep a secret to save her life.”
Teagan made a pained face. “Speaking of secrets—”
Riley spoke over her. “Oh, come on. You seriously care if Teagan knows?”
I couldn’t begrudge her enthusiasm. Riley really was happy for me. We each had our own way of coping. If she needed to throw glitter on the unpleasant and celebrate to deal with it, who was I to tell her not to?
Yay, I’ll be stripping internationally now.
“There’s something I need to tell both of you,” Teagan added.
Frustrated, I threw my hands up in the air. “Fine. Teagan, a talent scout was at my last show and offered me an international gig. Her company wants to fly me around the world. I couldn’t turn down the offer—it’s enough to pay off the rest of what we owe for Mom and get Riley back in school. It looks like I’m in the big leagues now.”
“A headliner,” Riley said with pride. “But I’m not taking the extra money. We’ll talk to the hospital and see if we can get Mom’s next surgery on a payment plan.” She looked at me with a level of understanding only a twin could have. “I know you hate dancing, Kal, and none of this is what either of us wanted . . . but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be proud of your accomplishment. You’re making more money than any of your college friends with their fancy office jobs. And we won’t always be in this place. The doctor said this surgery might do the trick. We’ll pay that off and then both go back to school. Who knows, maybe I’ll find a job so good before that that I’ll pay for you to go back before me.”
She meant every word of it. I gave her a quick hug. “I’d never let that happen, but I love you for wanting to take care of me, Riley.”
She smiled up at me. “I’ve got your back—always. After all, you’re the only brother I have.”
Teagan interjected, “Actually, about that . . .”
There was something in her voice that pulled my attention from Riley to her. She looked nervous when she said, “Your biological father had five children.”
We all froze, and her words hung there in the silence.
I spoke first. “What are you talking about?”
“Mom said our father was dead,” Riley said, looking lost.
Teagan answered in a slow, measured tone. “He is, but he was with other women before that. He’s been dead for about twenty years.”
His death wasn’t news to me, but that he had other children was. “From the little I know about the man, I’m glad he’s dead. He’s the reason for our mother’s pain. No offense, but I want no part of a family reunion that revolves around him.”
Riley touched my arm. “Hang on, Kal. These people aren’t him.” She looked to Teagan. “Brothers or sisters?”
“One sister, two brothers. All older with children of their own.”
“That’s a lot.” Riley moved to sit on one of shop’s stools.
“I hear five is the perfect number,” Teagan added.
Not in my mind. “We have all the family we need,” I growled.
Riley directed her question to her friend. “How long have you known?”
“Not long, and at first I didn’t know if it was true. Then I spoke to your mother, and she confirmed that it was.” Teagan clasped her hands together. “She made me promise not to tell you, but I didn’t feel like it was something I could keep from you.”
Nodding, Riley said, “I can see that. I’ve asked her about him over the years. Any hint of curiosity would upset her. She said he was a very dangerous person from a dangerous family. I always wondered if we were related to the mob or something like that.”
“Something like that,” Teagan said, then quickly added, “I mean . . . nothing like that.”
I’d never wasted time wondering if we had family on our bio-father’s side. I ran a hand through my hair and said, “I don’t want anything to do with them.”
“I don’t if they’re dangerous,” Riley said tentatively. “Are they?”
“No.” Teagan didn’t look all that certain about that claim.
Riley turned to meet my gaze. “A sister and two brothers.” Her mouth rounded. “I’m an aunt. You’re an uncle, Kal. Maybe we should at least meet them.”
Oh, hell no.
“You already have,” Teagan interjected.
“When?” Riley stood. “How?”
Looking as uncomfortable with the topic as I felt, Teagan said, “Your father’s name was Antonio Corisi.”
His last name didn’t matter to me. None of what Teagan was saying did.
Riley brought a hand up to her temple. “So Judy Corisi wasn’t at the shop to design a logo for her father.”