Bloodlines

*Joseph* 

I looked at the woman in front of me. Was she trying to tell me she was my sister? I didn’t have siblings. My mother had no other children. I remember when she was very sick before the end, she was telling me everything she held inside of her. She would have told me if she had another child somewhere. “I don't have a sister.” I said harshly. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a photo.  I didn't want to see who was captured in it. “Let me guess. You are a baby, and I am the smiling toddler looking up at the camera, with a huge smile on my face. Sorry lady, that wasn’t my childhood.” I rolled my eyes, “I am not interested.” She reached the photo to Zeus instead. “No, asshole. It’s me and our father. I don’t have any of little Jo...” She started to say my name out loud again and Zeus put his hand up to shut her up. “What, you going to let your behemoth hit me?” She stepped back away from Zeus, but didn't finish her sentence. “No one is going to hit you lady, don't be so dramatic. Stop using that name. It isn't your right.” Zeus said, putting his hand back down. “Listen, I don't know who you think I am, or what you think you know, but I am not your brother.” I walked towards the door and the others reluctantly followed me. “You think what you want, Smoke. I know the truth.” Her words echoed through the room. “I will send someone to pick up the dress. You will be paid handsomely for it, so make sure it is ready for my bride.” Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes got wide. She couldn't believe I didn’t give her the reaction she was looking for.  

When we got to the car, Zeus looked down at the photograph he still held in his hand. “Why didn't you give that back to her?” I asked, infuriated by the site of it. “I think you need to see it brother.” He said in a quiet tone. He didn’t want to push the issue to hard. “I don’t need to see it.” I said looking out the window, and I didn't. Why would I want to see an old picture of some man and girl that were nothing to me. This is some kind of bullshit scam. She wants something from me. Money, a bribe, power, protection, or anything else she thinks she can get her greasy little fingers on. Even if she was my sister, why would she tell me that now. I don't need a sister. I have all I need with Sandra and my brothers. I don't need blood relation to have a family. I have built my own. Zues shoved the picture in his pocket. “Z, I am telling you to leave this alone.” It wasn’t a suggestion, and he knew it, but I knew Zeus. He would investigate it anyway. He would want to know who the man was. I couldn’t wait for him to use the excuse that he was keeping me safe. He wanted to make sure this wouldn't be a danger to me. I don't know how it could be. That shop has been there for a while. She opened it eight years ago. I vetted it, and I knew it was a legit bridal gown shop.  

I reached in my pocket and pulled out my phone. I needed to hear Sandra’s voice to calm my nerves. It rang three times before she answered. “Hello?” Her sweet voice filled my ear and calmed me almost instantly. “How was the florist?” She sighed deeply which worried me. I noticed her anxiety even if she thinks I didn’t. “It smelled like a funeral in there.” Her words were blunt. I couldn’t help but to laugh. “A funeral huh? Did you order my casket cover already?” I asked through my chuckles. “Not yet, but I got some pretty good design ideas.” I could hear Sophia giggling in the background. “You two sound like you are up to no good.” My accusation seemed to intensify the laughter. “We are having a nice time, except, Jay made some poor women leave the flower shop before we could go inside.” I didn't respond. She knew it was by my order by now, I know Jay would tell her. He tells her almost everything. “I just want you to be safe.” I admitted after several moments of silence. “I know. Well at least Sophia feels like royalty.” I could feel the smile growing bigger on my face. “She is with royalty.” This time Sandra busted out laughing. “I love you, boss.” I would never tire of hearing her say those words. “I love you too darlin.”

After talking to Sandra, I was feeling much better. Breathing and heart rate almost back to normal. Zeus had received a text message from the sister of dresses saying we could pick the dress off by tomorrow morning. He reached me his phone and I replied. I told her that He would be to get the dress by 8AM. She replied with a simple, “okay”. We walked back up into the city house which had all but been cleared out from the services now. It looked mostly back to normal. I used to live here all the time before the safe house. If that woman is my sister, why wouldn’t I know before now. Why would she not have come to me before? It was getting to me more and more as I thought about it. Finally, I told Zeus to follow me to the office.  “What was her name?” I asked, realizing I hadn’t even bothered to figure it out. “Rachele Lewis. She has owned the shop since it opened. She is from the city but was born and raised in Virginia. She came here after graduation. Lewis is her maiden name; she has not been married.” He pulled the photo back out of his pocket. “The man in this picture, Jo, you look a lot like him.” I took the picture but couldn’t get the courage to look at it immediately. I sat it down on the desk. “It seems you have done some research brother?” I said to Zeus with a raised eyebrow. We hadn’t been back to the house ten minutes. “I knew all of that before we went to the store, boss.” He shrugged, and I remembered I would never need an investigator if Zeus and Jay were around. I hesitantly looked down at the little wallet size photo sitting in front of me. The little girl was about two, smiling big back at me. The man was stoic, with a square jaw and dark hair. I couldn’t help but see the similarities that Zeus mentioned. The man in this picture did look like me. Was this my father? Henry walked in while I stared down at the little square of questions on my desk. “Did you find out who the crazy dress lady was?” He blurted out, causing burning to rise beneath my skin again. I looked up at him and his smile instantly faded. “She thinks she is my sister.” My voice was almost a whisper. “Damn.” Henry said sitting down in one of the chairs close to where he was standing. I grabbed the photo and gave it back to Zeus. “Find out who he is. I want to know everything.” Zues nodded and pulled out his cellphone leaving the room. Who was this man who looked like me?