Complete Me (The Trust Me Series Book 4)

by K E Osborn

“I’ll clear my schedule.” She kisses me chastely and walks toward the door. “Oh, and Aiden,” Jeni says, turning the handle and opening the door as she looks back at me.

  “Yeah?”

  “You have lipstick on your mouth,” she teases, and those few words make me laugh.

  Jeni walks out as I wipe the lipstick away and sit at my desk. I love that she works here with me.

  I open the florist’s website I always use and arrange for Jeni to receive some flowers. After all, it is Monday. I pick a massive bunch of roses—a dozen beautiful colored roses for each of our children. I know she’ll love them as she does every Monday. I’m hoping she’ll assume I’ve forgotten because we’re back at work, seeing as the last few have been at the house.

  Here’s hoping Jeni is surprised by them.

  The meeting with the Johnsons goes well, and they have confirmed they will be using O’Connell Finance once again for their business requirements. It surprised me at how well I coped with seeing Brielle. I thought I’d be a bunch of nerves when I finally walked into her office, but I think Jeni’s little relaxing technique worked wonders.

  Even though I wasn’t nervous at the meeting with the Johnsons, I’m starting to feel those nerves when I look at the clock and see it’s quarter to two. Killian will be arriving soon, and I’m sure he’s wondering what this ‘family meeting’ is all about. Brielle doesn’t know he’s even coming. Well, not as far as I know, anyway, so she probably thinks it’s a normal business meeting.

  My heart starts to hammer in my chest as I try to think of the right words to say. Nothing I come up with seems right or fitting for what they deserve. I’m so worried I’ll end up with them hating or disowning me.

  I’ve called Jenson and asked him to stop by at two fifteen, which should provide me with enough time to tell them. Then he can discuss the legalities of our situation. He can organize with them how they want their assets to be shared between them if they think I don’t deserve them, which, of course, I don’t. I was not—am not—Niall’s son, and nothing will change that fact. I’m not an O’Connell, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they took this news badly.

  Especially Bree, I know she looks up to me, and I just don’t know how this news will affect her affections toward me. I’m still her half-brother, I know that, but things will be different. After all, Niall held her back because of me. If it weren’t for me being around, she would ultimately be running O’Connell Finance, so she has every right to be upset, and I am fully expecting it.

  A knock at my door startles me from my out-of-control raging thoughts. My heart leaps into my throat as the door opens. I look over, and it’s Jeni. My blood pressure drops back to normal, and I swallow hard as I sit on the sofa we made love on only a few hours ago.

  “Thank you for the flowers, as always, they’re beautiful…” Her smile falls a little. “Killian will be here soon. Do you want me to send him in when he gets here?” Jeni asks as she walks over and places her hand on my shoulder.

  “I don’t know, Jeni. I don’t know what to say or do. I can’t even think about anything other than the fact they’re going to disown me or hate me or some shit,” I mumble. “I know it’s all illogical, but I can’t help thinking it.”

  Jeni sits on the sofa next to me and gently rubs my back. I put my head in my hands and my elbows on my knees.

  “Aiden, they’re not going to disown you. They love you far too much to do that. Trust me, this is going to go better than you think it will. Your brother and sister are still exactly that… your brother and sister. Yes, you may have different fathers, but in the scheme of things, that doesn’t change anything about your relationship with them. Babe, stop stressing and just tell them what Mike told you. I’m sure they’ll be more worried about you than thinking about the fact you’re only half related. You know them. You know how they’re going to react in reality. You know that they love you. So. Just. Stop. Pull yourself together because if you show them how upset this makes you, then it will only upset them as well,” Jeni berates.

  It’s just the shock I need to pull me from the shit I am wallowing in. I’m making this all about me when I should be thinking about Killian and Brielle’s feelings. Obviously, this is going to hurt them too, so I have to snap myself out of it and pull myself together. “You always make me focus on what’s important. That’s why I couldn’t do this without you,” I say honestly, placing my hands either side of her face. I lean in and kiss her very softly.

  “Hey, big bro, still slacking off at work, I see,” Killian announces as he disrupts my kiss with my wife.

  Jeni chuckles and shakes her head. It’s great he’s in a good mood, I think that will somehow make things easier.

  “Hey, Killian,” Jeni answers. She stands and hugs him.

  “Hey, sis… I see you’re keeping my bro entertained at work. Dan told me all about your early-morning coffee delivery that turned into steamy office sex this morning,” Killian announces.

  Jeni’s eyes widen as she blushes.

  Fuck! Guess we were a little too loud!

  “Oh my God,” Jeni mumbles, then giggles.

  “Don’t worry, Jeni. We all know you two are horndogs for each other,” Killian jokes. He sits on the sofa opposite me.

  “How embarrassing,” Jeni exclaims as she sits next to me, and I lean back on the sofa and wrap my arm around my wife.

  “So, what’s so important it couldn’t wait?” Killian asks as Bree walks in.

  “Hey, Killian… didn’t know you were coming in today,” Bree announces as she sits next to her brother.

  Damn if my chest doesn’t tighten, and pain rips through my heart, making me gasp slightly. Jeni takes my hand and entwines her fingers with mine, then she nods.

  “Yeah, for some family thing Aiden needs to discuss with us,” Killian mentions as he pokes Brielle in the ribs.

  “Hey,” she chides with a slight chuckle.

  “Okay, so spill, bro. Why are we here? Are you conspiring some surprise for Mom and Mike’s wedding?” Killian asks.

  “No, I, um… actually found out something about Mike yesterday, and I thought it’s only right that I share it with you both at the same time,” I say softer than expected.

  “Aiden, you’re scaring me. You look petrified. Is Mike sick?” Bree asks, and Killian looks at me with a creased forehead.

  I shake my head. “No, no, nothing like that. It’s just that… well… Mike is… you see Mike told me… when…”

  “Babe, do you want me to tell them?” Jeni asks. I exhale and nod.

  “Okay…” Jeni exhales, “… so you both know that Mike and Callie were always in love, and yet somehow, she ended up marrying your father.”

  “Well, I knew they were always close, but I guess Mom never went into much detail about her and Mike’s relationship with me,” Bree relays, and Killian nods like he’s agreeing with her.

  “Okay, so the information we received yesterday is that before your Mom married Niall, she had a one-night affair with Mike,” Jeni clarifies as she squeezes my hand once.

  “Oh, Mom’s a cheater. Wow! I would never have thought that. Is that it? So that’s the bad news you look so worried to tell us? To be honest, bro, I’m not surprised at all. Didn’t you notice the way Mike always looked at Mom when we were growing up? I wouldn’t be surprised if they had a full-on affair the entire time she was married to Father,” Killian announces.

  “No, you don’t understand, Killian. Mom got pregnant just after she and Mike slept together—”

  “Eww, Aiden, thanks for the imagery. Now I can’t get the visual out of my head,” Brielle says, and Killian laughs.

  “Oh, great, thanks, Bree… now I have a visual of Mom and Mike going at it. Thanks, sis—”

  “Guys… stop messing around. We’re trying to be serious here,” I yell, and they both stop and look at me with a frown.

  “Think about it? Mom got pregnant just after her and Mike—”

  “Oh my God, do we have another si
bling we don’t know about?” Killian asks, looking confused.

  I shake my head, and Jeni squeezes my hand again, giving me the courage I need.

  “Well, I’m confused. What are you saying, Aiden?” Bree asks.

  I exhale and somehow find the strength I need even though I feel like I want to be physically ill. “Mom and Mike found out that Mom was pregnant, and it could only have been Mike’s baby. Nine months later… I was born.”

  Brielle gasps, and her hand shoots to her mouth as her eyes start to well with tears. Killian just sits there showing no emotion, and he wraps an arm around Bree.

  “So, let me get this straight? Mike is your father?” Killian asks, more like he’s confirming the statement in his head.

  The tears break through the barrier and fall down Bree’s face. I simply nod and try to fight back my own tears while Jeni squeezes my hand again.

  “Wow,” Killian responds.

  “So, you’re only our half-brother?” Bree mumbles, and I nod again.

  “Wow,” Killian says, again.

  “So, what does this mean?” Bree asks.

  I shrug. “I’m not sure,” I admit.

  “Wow,” Killian states for a third time.

  “You said that already,” I grunt.

  He nods. “I know, but seriously… like wow.”

  I exhale a rather loud sigh. “So, anyway, Jenson will be here shortly to talk about the legalities of it all—”

  “What legalities?” Bree breaks in.

  “Well, to do with you guys. You may want to contest the will or the ownership of this business—”

  “What? Are you crazy?” Bree asks, looking at me with wide eyes and a creased brow.

  Damn! She actually looks angry.

  “What?” I ask.

  Out the corner of my eye I see Jeni smirking.

  “You’re still our brother, you idiot! Why the hell would we contest anything? Especially the business? You honestly think I would take that from you?” Bree asks in an angry tone.

  I shrug. “I don’t know. I just wanted you to know all your options seeing as I’m not actually an O’Connell. Everything Father… no Niall left me, doesn’t really belong to me. Not now,” I confess, and Killian raises his eyebrow as Bree shakes her head.

  “Seriously? You’ve spent your entire life as an O’Connell. Just because your DNA now tells us that your father is someone else, doesn’t mean you’re not one of us, Aiden. You’re still as much my brother now as you were before I walked in here. And nothing… absolutely nothing is going to stop you from being my… no, our brother. Everything is exactly the same as it was ten minutes ago. Nothing has changed. Nothing, Aiden! So, stop worrying, and let’s just deal with it and move on... Yeah, Mom and Mike have some explaining to do. Well, actually a lot of explaining to do, but seriously, it doesn’t change the way I feel about you, and it doesn’t change a thing. Not for me, anyway,” Brielle says on the verge of tears again.

  “Me, too, bro. You’re the exact same person, and just because Niall isn’t your father doesn’t mean you didn’t work damn hard for what you have and what you got from him. You deserve everything he left you and more. He mistreated you for most of your life. You were virtually forced into this business, and I will not be contesting a damn thing. You’re my brother and even though you’re a douchebag, I still love ‘ya,” Killian teases.

  “Yeah, me, too. I love you, Aiden, and that’s never going to change. I’m just so damn mad at Mom for keeping it from you for this long…” She tilts her head. “How are you? Are you okay with this news?” Bree asks.

  I inhale deeply and exhale, not knowing what to say.

  “I think he’s still coming to terms with it all. Aiden was concerned that you two would disown him or think differently about him.” Jeni lays it all out there for me.

  “Of course, we don’t think differently of you! Like Bree said, nothing’s changed. The only thing that has changed is that Mike is your father. And believe me, I wish Mike was my father, too. So, basically, I’m fucking jealous of you,” Killian jokes.

  “Look, Aiden, please stop stressing about it. I know that’s easy for me to say, but the only reason I’m crying is because I know how hard this must’ve been for you to hear.” Bree wipes her face with a sniffle. “I’m sorry we weren’t there to help you through it, but we know now, and anything you need, you just have to ask. If you want more time at home with Jeni and the kids, you got it. I can handle things here, you know that. In fact, I insist you take off until at least after the wedding. Spend some time getting to know your real father and not just as a good friend but as a father and son. I won’t take no for an answer,” Bree exclaims with a smile.

  A warmth runs through me at the thoughts. “Okay, fine! But as soon as the wedding is over, I’m coming back to work. I’ve already had a month off,” I state, and she nods.

  “You know, now that I think about it, I’m not that surprised about Mike. He always doted on you, and you were clearly his favorite when we were growing up. It makes perfect sense now, actually,” Killian states.

  I know he’s right. I have always been Mike’s favorite.

  Bree stands abruptly and walks over to me. “Aiden, you’re my brother no matter what. Even if you had a completely different mother as well as father, you’d still be my brother. Got it?” She puts her hand out for me to take.

  Jeni lets go, and I take Bree’s hand and stand. She lunges forward and hugs me firmly.

  “Bree, you don’t know how much this means to me,” I tell her, and she squeezes me tighter.

  Killian stands and steps over and wraps his arms around both of us in a group hug. I chuckle, and Jeni stands and joins in as well.

  This went so much smoother than I thought it was going to go. I guess I wasn’t really being fair to my siblings. I know I was hoping deep down it would turn out like this, but I couldn’t help that nagging feeling in my gut that everything was going to change. When, in fact, nothing has changed except for the fact I can now spend some quality time with my real dad.

  We’re still locked in a group hug when Daniel coughs from the doorway. We all look over to see Daniel and Jenson standing there looking very confused. We all separate while Jeni and Bree giggle.

  “Hey, Jenson, sorry to do this to you, but looks like I won’t be needing your advice after all,” I say apologetically.

  “When you told me on the phone what it was about, I was fairly certain you wouldn’t need me either. I’m glad it turned out the way we all thought it would,” Jenson says. He walks across and shakes each of our hands, then turns and leaves.

  “So, wait… did Father know you weren’t his?” Killian asks.

  I shake my head and go on explaining everything Mike and Mom have told me.

  Daniel stays to listen, and he’s just as shocked as they were, but I guess everyone knows now, which is a relief.

  Well, everyone except Nana.

  That’s the one person I’m absolutely dreading to talk to about it.

  Needless to say, I didn’t get any work done this afternoon. I step out to Jeni’s desk as she’s finishing for the day, then we walk down to my sleek beast. I drive us home with a smile on my face.

  Jeni opens the front door, and straight away we hear one of the twins crying. Suddenly, I feel like I’m back where I belong looking after my family. It’s a comforting feeling.

  Marissa is busy washing bottles while Mom is rocking one of the girls in her arms, and Mike is cradling the other on the sofa. I have no idea where Brody is until I hear the pitter-patter of little footsteps running down the hall.

  “Daddy, Daddy, you’re home… I missed you,” Brody calls out. He runs as fast as he can toward me, and I bend waiting for the impact as he throws his arms around me. Picking him up, I rest him on my hip. “Hey, little man, were you good for Nana today?”

  Brody nods his head as I walk in and sit on the sofa next to Mike.

  “How’d it go?” Mike asks as Jeni walks over to chat
with Mom.

  “Better than I thought it would. Bree was a little upset, but basically about the fact that I was upset. She said it doesn’t change a thing. Killian feels the same. So that’s a good. How were the kids? Hope they weren’t too much of a handful for you both?” I ask, and Mike smiles.

  “Well, they’ve been great for me. Not so much for Callie. She’s frustrated that they fall asleep when I hold them.” Mike chuckles.

  “Yeah, well… Katie certainly seems happy where she is,” I say.

  Brody jumps off my lap and runs over to his toy box. I swear the kid’s constantly drinking energy drinks or something because he has that much get-up-and-go.

  “So, Bree ordered I that have the next two weeks off or until at least after the wedding. We thought it might be nice to spend some quality time together. What do you think about you, me, Mom, Jeni, and the kids heading up to the lake house to spend some time together? I’m not sure I’m over the shock of it all yet, but I’m working on it, and I think this may help,” I ask.

  Mike’s face lights up like I couldn’t have said anything better. “Couldn’t be more perfect. Sounds great to me,” Mike beams.

  “Where’s my other girl? I missed you, sweetheart,” Jeni calls out as she walks over to us. She takes her from Mike and kisses her head.

  “I didn’t know it was possible to miss three tiny people so much in the space of eight hours,” Jeni gushes as Charlie walks over greeting me with a smile and a wagging tail.

  The next day we pack our bags and head to the lake house. We asked Marissa to accompany us so she can help Jeni and Mom with the kids while Mike and I get in some male-bonding time. We take two cars to the lake house, unpack, and settle in for our stay.

  Mom has given Sarah free rein concerning wedding planning, including confirming everything for two weeks. I told Mom to expect some crazy extras to be added, considering she’s giving Sarah carte blanche on confirmation details.

  Charlie runs around the water’s edge, barking at the ducks on the lake and making Brody laugh with his antics. We all head out to the deck to enjoy the peace, tranquility, and a quiet drink. I sit on the sofa outside with Jeni while the girls take a nap.