Lost Until You (The Sorrentino Brothers Series Book 1)

by Grant, J. R.

  What if these people shunned me away, or told me I wasn’t worthy of their love? Now that I knew how much I looked like Phyllis and Landon, it was going to be hard to just forget about them. My life wouldn’t be that simple.

  We were seated on the couch, focused on the television, when the door slammed, followed by loud stomping.

  “Landon? Phyllis?” a guy yelled in a groggy tone.

  Oh, God. What if…..what if that was Pat?

  My insides froze, my muscles tensed, and I could feel my heart rate triple in speed.

  I lifted up my head and saw a guy who was taller than the Sorrentino boys, which said a lot, because they were all freaking huge, walking across the living room. He stopped in front of us and crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Who in the hell are you?” he asked, staring directly at Brix.

  Brix jumped up but tried to remain calm. You could see fear written all over his face.

  “I’m, Brix, sir,” he said politely to Pat.

  I had never seen this side of Brix before. He had never acted like this. This was a different guy standing in front of me.

  “Why are you in my house, Brix?” the guy asked in an earthshattering tone.

  “I..uh..Stone…Stone’s in another room with your wife. You should probably see him first, sir?” Brix fidgeted with his hands.

  The guy stared intently at Brix, and then at Brax, skipping over me. Thank you, Jesus. He was one scary old man. He turned on his feet, storming out of the room, leaving a fearful spirit behind.

  “Dude, I’m about to say fuck it and call a cab home. This is fucking nuts!” Brix stated, letting us know how pissed he really was.

  I couldn’t blame him one bit. I was ready to go myself. If that man was Pat and he was really this mean, I didn’t know if I could handle talking to him, more or less getting to know the guy. I’d had too many bad apples around me growing up. Enough to last a lifetime.

  I was glad I listened to Brax this afternoon and left Savanah home. Had she been here to see the evil on that man’s face, I was almost positive she would’ve cried into next week. He was too scary for even me to want to be around.

  Having enough for one day, I stood up from the couch. “I think I’m ready to go.”

  Brax saw my face full of fear and pulled me into his arms, kissing the side of my head. “Just wait, baby. I’m sure Stone will be out soon. If not, we’ll go sit in the truck.”

  “But…” I shook my head, looking at the door. “I don’t want to be here, B. I’m ready to go.” I grabbed his hand. “I just want my daughter. I want to be home where I feel safe.”

  I released his hand and leaned down to grab my purse. The guys stood up and followed me to the front door. We made it to the end of the hallway, when I heard someone call my name.

  “Jazz?”

  I shifted on my toes and glanced toward the steps, but no one was there. I moved around the corner, checking in the piano room, but there wasn’t anyone in there, either. Brix pushed his way around Brax, opening the door. Brax and I followed his lead outside and I couldn’t thank God enough for the fresh, cold air. For an hour, I had felt like I was suffocating, like I was going to die with the thick tension around me.

  I was never good around angry older men. It was a fear I was pretty sure I would have for the rest of my life. Living with foster parents who yelled and screamed over anything they possibly could would put the fear of God in you. It wasn’t something I wished upon anyone.

  No one should be that angry. There was too much in life we ought to be grateful for. And being alive was one of them.

  We made it to the truck and Brax opened the door, waiting for Brix to climb inside. He lifted me by the hips, helping me inside the cab, and then leaned in toward me.

  “You okay?” He brushed the hair away from my eyes, kissing my mouth.

  I held my arms around his neck, needing to feel his touch. I knew my husband loved me more than anything in the world, but at that very moment, I needed to be reassured. I needed to feel wanted, needed, because, after everything that just went down, I was feeling extremely insecure.

  Brax walked to the driver’s side and climbed inside. He turned on the ignition, cranking up the heat.

  “Man, this is some fucked up shit,” Brix stated, releasing an aggravated breath. “What in the hell was that dude’s problem?”

  I laid my head back and closed my eyes, trying to make myself calm down. I was five seconds away from hyperventilating. I couldn’t do this to myself. Not here and certainly not now.

  “No joke, cuz. What was his problem?” Brax agreed.

  “Don’t know, dude, but I swear to God, if that prick says another fucking word to either one of us, I’m going ape shit on his old ass.”

  We sat there in silence, unsure what to do next. Brax thought it was best for us to wait it out, but I didn’t have a good feeling about what was going to happen next. He continued holding my hand, rubbing circles around my palm, trying to calm me down. Yet nothing was working.

  I sat there wondering about Landon and if he was Peyton’s brother. Did Phyllis and Pat have Landon after Peyton died or was he older? He looked young, close to thirty-seven maybe. I soundlessly add up the years and figured out that Peyton would have been forty this year. I bet the Lander’s were an emotional wreck when she passed. I couldn’t imagine what they went through.

  Thinking about it all sent chills down my spine. I focused on my breathing, taking long, deep breaths, praying Stone would hurry up and get out here. I needed my daughter. Savanah and Brax were the only two who could help me right now. I just wanted to go home, sit in the recliner, and hold my baby girl. That was it. And maybe we could try this again when everyone calmed down.

  I was sure catching the Lander’s off guard wasn’t the best idea now that it had happened, but I was human. I had never done this before. When Tanya mentioned it to me, Brax and I talked, thinking it would be best if we just showed up. I guarantee that if I had called instead of going there, Phyllis or Pat would’ve hung up on me. They seemed to be those kind of people.

  Forty-nine minutes dragged by when a knock sounded on the window, scaring the shit out of me. Brax sat up and rolled the window down. I didn’t dare look over. I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

  “You doing alright, Jazzy?” Stone peeked his head inside the cab, wanting to check on me.

  I turned and faced him, as tears streamed down my cheeks. I shook my head and asked, “Can we go home now? Please?”

  Brax opened the door and then stepped outside. He and Stone talked then Stone got in the cab and sat in Brax’s seat. He took my hand and kissed my palm. He had done that for years after watching Brax, when he was trying to calm me down, which, unfortunately, had been too many times to count.

  “It’s all out in the open,” Stone whispered softly. “They want to meet you. Would you be willing to go back inside?”

  I covered my face and sobbed into my hands. I couldn’t do this. I was too bent up about it all. Everything that happened earlier didn’t sit well in my chest.

  Stone wrapped his arm around my shoulder, sliding me toward him. “Shhhh…I got you. Nothing’s going to happen,” he tried to reassure me, but the damage had already been done. There was no way I could face those people again. I felt like an idiot showing up unannounced.

  My door opened, the cold air swooped inside, as Brax tugged me away from his friend and into his arms. I didn’t know how to feel or what I should do. I came all this way, looking for answers, wanting to meet my family. But now that we were here and I had seen what type of person Pat was, I was fearful of what was to come.

  “Jazz?” a voice called my name from behind my husband. I lifted my head, spotting Phyllis, Pat, and Landon standing on the sidewalk beside the truck.

  Brax released his hold around me and then turned around. He grabbed my right hand, while Stone continued to hold my left. This time I was able to get a good look at Phyllis. Her face was red and blotchy, and you could t
ell she had been crying for a while. I looked at Landon next to her, a smiled forms at his lips. He made eye contact with me and lifted his hand, waving me over to them. I risked the chance, allowing my eyes to travel over to Pat. And in that very minute, I noticed tears running down his face.

  Was this really happening? Obviously, these people were upset and wanted to talk, but at the same time, I was freaking the hell out. I didn’t know how to control my emotions any more. I closed my eyes and pinched my leg, making sure this was really real. That they were really calling my name.

  I knew I sounded like a broken record, but I couldn’t help it. I have waited all of my life to meet them, and today, my wish had finally come true. When I felt the pull on my thigh, I knew I was, in fact, not dreaming. I released Brax and Stone’s hands, zipped up my coat, and climbed out of the cab. Taking a deep breath, I walked over to the Lander’s, stopping on the grass a few feet away.

  Phyllis covered her mouth, sobbing into her hands. Pat wrapped his arm around her shoulder, comforting her the best way he could. Seeing how we put them on the spot, I couldn’t fault them for their sketchiness. I probably would have felt the same way, too.

  Landon was the first to step out, stopping directly in front of me.

  “When I first got a good look at you, I had a feeling we were related. But seeing how it’s been so many years, I didn’t want to jump to conclusions.” He smiled again, and a sense of peace washed over me. “You look so much like my sister when she was your age, it’s crazy.”

  Now it was my turn to sob. I looked at the ground, trying to keep my emotions in check, but it was impossible. Brax, Brix, and Stone rushed to my side to make sure I was okay. I lifted my hand, asking them for a minute, so I could take it all in. They respected my wish, keeping still behind me. I wouldn’t expect anything less. I was surprised the three of them didn’t follow me out there to begin with.

  My guys.

  They were always there for me no matter what was going on. Whatever I needed, they never let me down. None of them. I couldn’t be more thankful to have each one of them by my side.

  “Jasmine?” Pat muttered, pulling me from my thoughts. He reached for his wife’s hand, and together, they made their way over to me.

  “I’m sorry for earlier. When my son called,” he said, nodding his head toward Landon. “He made it seem like four people were up to no good, standing in my house.” Pat let go of his wife’s hand and held out his arms.

  “Can we start over and be formally introduced? I feel awful for the way I had treated you. All of you.”

  Without thinking twice, I launched into his arms. Pat wrapped his arms around my back, keeping me pressed against his chest. His cries echoed through my ears, my sobs matching each one of his. We stood like that for a good couple of minutes before I released my hold around him and then took a step back.

  “I’m Pat,” he reached his hand out toward me. “I’m your grandfather. It’s good to finally meet you.”

  I gave him my hand, not knowing what to say. I couldn’t stop all of the emotions I was feeling.

  “Hi…hi, Pat.” I giggled. “I…I’m Jasmine. You can call…call me, Jazz.”

  His grip was firm, but loving, letting me know he was sorry for everything he had done earlier.

  “I’m sorry,” Phyllis whimpered, interrupting our greeting. “I told myself if this day were to ever come that I would be strong. Instead, I’m over here crying like a baby.”

  We all chuckled. I knew the feeling. Being strong was one thing, but when you had spent years wondering about something so important to you and then it finally happened, a whirlwind of emotions took over. I couldn’t fault her for that at all. She was human just like the rest of us.

  I was next to reach my hand toward her. Phyllis shook her head and pulled me in for a hug instead. “Hugs, honey. That’s what your grandma gives.”

  Hearing her words made my knees become weak. My body swayed back and somehow I lost my footing. Just as I was about to hit the ground, Brix reached out and grabbed a hold of me, refusing to let me fall.

  I was crying so hard that my husband moved in and lifted me up off my feet, carrying me to the front porch, setting me down in the chair. Everyone gathered around us, while the Lander’s apologized to the guys.

  Phyllis squatted down in front of me, placing her hands in mine and said, “Welcome home, honey.”

  In that very moment, my heart stopped beating. This couldn’t be real.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Brax

  When I was finally able to calm Jazz down, I carried her inside the Lander’s house, setting her on the couch. Brix and Stone stayed with her while I ran out to the truck and grabbed her purse. Jazz asked me to call and check on Savanah while I was out front, so I did. I needed a few minutes, anyway, to regroup.

  “Hey. Is the baby okay?”

  “She’s great. We just ate dinner and now she’s playing with T while I clean up the kitchen.”

  “Good. We shouldn’t be that much longer.”

  “How is she?” Kelly asked.

  I leaned against the truck, running my fingers through my hair. “She’s all right now. It was fucking crazy earlier.”

  “What happened?”

  “Too much to talk about now, Kel. We’ll be home soon. Make sure Savanah’s in the bed by nine.”

  “Will do, B. Make sure our girl’s okay. I don’t like to hear this wasn’t a good night for her.”

  “Yup. Later.” I shut the phone down and went back inside.

  As I walked through the foyer, Landon stopped me and placed his hand on my shoulder.

  “Hey, Brax. You got a minute?”

  I nodded my head, following him into the dining room. He pulled out a chair and sat down. I took a seat on the other side of the table, eager to get back to my wife.

  “Before you go back in there, I just wanted to say thanks.”

  “For what?” I looked at him confused.

  “Let me reiterate. My parents...they’ve had a hard time dealing with my sister’s death for a while. It didn’t help that Pey forgot to mention she was pregnant, so when she ended up dying, it was a shock to us all.”

  How did Peyton’s family not know she was pregnant?

  “We knew she used to see some guy off and on back in high school, one my parents didn’t approve of, but that relationship had been over for quite a while. So when she passed, it was a huge surprise. I was off at college and had to come home, throwing away my career so I could take care of them. My dad’s business went under, and Mom was admitted to the hospital numerous times for nervous breakdowns. It was bad, man,” Landon expressed, as he rested his elbows on top of the table.

  “You guys coming here tonight was definitely something we all needed. I can’t thank you enough for bringing Jazz. I’m sure my parents will extend their gratitude before you all head home, but I wanted to be the first to tell you, so you weren’t caught off guard.”

  “Thanks, man. I don’t know what to say. It’s like we’re all getting shit passed on to us that we aren’t expecting…wow.”

  “Tell me about it. It definitely hasn’t been exciting, but now with Jazz here, I’m hoping she’ll decide to stay in touch. We could use some sort of life around here, if you know what I mean.”

  This was crazy. With everything I gathered from Stone, my biggest fear was coming here and them turning Jazz away, not giving a shit what had happened to her over the years. But this…I was speechless.

  Landon stood up, pushing his chair under the table. “Let’s go in the living room. I bet your wife is wondering where you are.”

  I grabbed Jazz’s purse, following him through the house. Landon stopped at the entrance of the living room. As I made my way inside, Jazz lifted her head, looking up at me. Her face was still a little pale and her eyes were practically bloodshot, but the smile on her face was enough to give me some sense of peace.

  I walked around Landon, passing Brix and Stone seated on the recliners, and
sat down on the sectional next to my wife. She turned toward me and kissed my cheek, then reached out for my hand.

  “Thanks for joining us,” Pat eyed me from across the room. “Jazz was just filling us in on her story, where she was raised and all. So, how did you two meet?” he asked with a simple smile.

  Jazz didn’t hesitate and dove right in, telling her grandparents how we became a couple. I sat back and listened to the three of them talk like no time had ever been spent apart.

  I was so fucking proud of my girl. Things might not have gone as planned earlier tonight, but I was glad they turned around. For her sake, anyway. Jazz deserved the world, and I would do just about anything in my power to make sure she had it. My only stipulation was that she didn’t get hurt in the process. My girl had been dragged through the mud for so long that when we said our vows, I promised her a new life. And come hell or high water, I was going to give her all of the happiness she missed out on, and make up for lost time.

  I peeked at my phone and noticed it was already ten o’clock. We still had an hour ride home. Jazz saw me checking my phone and stood to her feet.

  “Thank you for having us. Stone worked really hard trying to find you two.” She looked at Stone and winked.

  Phyllis got up, stopping Jazz from leaving. “Before you go, I have a picture I wanted to give to you. It’s not in that pile, I’ll have to run upstairs and grab it. Do you have a minute?”

  “Sure,” Jazz agreed with a smile that made me proud.

  “I hope you decide to stay in touch now, Jazz. Phyllis and I would love to meet that precious daughter of yours.”

  “Me, too,” Landon said, interrupting his father.

  “Brax and I will be happy to bring her by. Just tell us when and we’ll be here.”

  Phyllis came back into the room, heading straight to where we were standing. She handed Jazz a picture of Peyton and some guy standing in what looked to be a park.

  “Here’s another one of Pey, but I want you to keep it. You’ll probably have better use for it than we will.” Pointing to the man in the picture, Phyllis continued. “This is your father. His name is, T.J. He and Peyton were a couple throughout high school. They had been split up for quite some time. I guess we were in the dark about the fling those two carried on when she finished college. It was a surprise to us all, really, even though it shouldn’t have been. Peyton Ann loved that boy something fierce.”