Chapter 54
FIFTY-FOUR
SIENNA
When we stop making excuses for bad behavior and the truth is brought to light, darkness loses its power.
Ironically, this realization hits as I step out of the dark and onto the well-lit path, prepared to finally open up to my brothers.
Not just about Ezra, but about everything.
For so long, I thought I was protecting the people I love by keeping the pain I’d suffered locked up inside me.
It’s only now, after Noah’s revelation about hockey, that I understand that hiding the hard truths doesn’t protect people.
It keeps us from truly connecting. Had I known how Noah felt about his career, we could have worked this season to help him be more present with Ollie.
Hell, the team probably needs to figure out how to do that for other players too.
If we want to keep good talent, that is.
Of course, none of this is my problem anymore.
Once I bring the truth to light, I can step aside and let someone else come up with a solution.
It’s time for me to move on. I’m done living my life based on the directions of others.
Going forward, no one will have a say in my choices. Except Noah, and only because our lives will be so intertwined that all the decisions we make will affect one another. Because one day soon, I hope to be his wife.
“What’s going on?” Beckett asks, his brows pulled low.
Aiden’s serious expression looks so foreign on him. “Everything okay with Harry?”
I wave a dismissive hand. Noah stayed back to give me the time to talk to them.
“Yeah, we’re great. We’re actually—” I shake my head, garnering the courage to rip the Band-Aid off. “The truth is, we didn’t just start dating.”
Brooks frowns. “What do you mean?”
“We met six years ago.”
“Holy fuck,” Aiden crows. “You’ve been dating for six years?”
My oldest brother slaps the back of his head. “Duck.”
Aiden glowers and rubs at the spot. “The kids are gone.”
“When we’re in public, we use the word. Besides, this is a park. It was built for children and families.”
Aiden shrugs sheepishly. “Sorry.”
Beckett nods at him, then turns back to me. “Go on.”
“No, we haven’t been together all this time. But when we met, our connection was instant and it was strong. When you brought me on as CEO, we reconnected.”
“And you lied to all of us about it?” Aiden’s dark eyes are almost black in the dim light along the path. “He”—he waves a hand wildly at my boyfriend—“lied to all of us?”
“Don’t,” I warn, my voice sharp. “We did what we thought was best for the situation. I…” I duck my head, struggling to put an explanation into words.
“I didn’t believe we could have this. I wasn’t in the right headspace after Paris.
” I glance at Beckett, my heart thumping a little harder against my sternum.
“I signed a deal with the artists who lost their money. I did it to protect our family. And I promised I wouldn’t design anymore as long as they didn’t come after Langfield Corp. ”
Gavin links his fingers on the top of his head and blows out a loud breath. “What?”
Brooks blinks rapidly, turning to our biggest brother. “Did you know about that?”
I step forward. “He didn’t—”
“Yes,” he interrupts.
The single word almost knocks me off my feet. “What?”
He nods gently. “You wanted to fix things on your own. I respect that. So I tried to stay out of it.”
“Tried?” I question.
“Sienna.” He drops his hands to his sides. “You were born to be a designer. I appreciate your effort to protect us, and I’m blown away by your strength. And until we found the funds that Xander had stolen, I didn’t interfere. I promise.”
“Wait, Garreth—”
His lips kick up on one side.
Dammit. He knew about him all along too.
With a quick shake of the head, he silently assures me that he kept the information to himself.
Tears spring to my eyes again. Dammit, do I love him even more in this moment.
“So you knew all along?” I ask softly.
He nods.
“Can we back up to the part where she and Noah lied to us?” Brooks grouses.
I wince. “I’m really sorry.”
“He should have told us,” he argues, his voice laced with hurt. “We were best friends.”
“Enough,” Beckett snaps. “She’s our sister and he’s your friend. You should be happy about this.”
Brooks puts his hands on his hips, suddenly looking even bigger. “Happy they lied to us?”
“Happy she’s happy,” Beckett retorts. “If I remember correctly, you hid a relationship from us all as well.”
“Right, and Gavin was pissed about it,” Brooks grits out.
“Yeah. Gavin, who also hid a relationship.” Beckett eyes Gav, then turns his scrutiny on Aiden. “You had your own secrets too.”
“Pot meet kettle,” Gavin says, though his tone is light and his eyes shine with understanding.
“Exactly,” Beckett says, straightening. “We Langfields do what’s necessary for the ones we love.”
“Or in order to make them fall in love,” Gavin teases.
Beckett shrugs. “I don’t feel the slightest bit bad about how I won over my wife.
I have five beautiful children and the love of the only woman I ever wanted.
That kind of love is all I’ve ever wanted for all of you.
I want you to be happy,” he says, turning to me.
“So yes, I interfered with the settlement you made in Paris. You built that company all on your own, and you deserve to go back to doing what you love. I’ll probably interfere again if I think I can help.
” He eyes each one of us. “That goes for all of you. I only want you to be happy.”
“You can’t be a decision-maker when it comes to his contract,” Gavin interjects.
Thank god for that. If he hadn’t interrupted, I’d be a puddle on the path right now.
I wince. “About that…”
He gives me a sad smile. “You don’t want the job anymore, do you?”
“No I don’t. But that’s not the issue we need to discuss. Ezra is the problem,” I admit, my voice shaky. “He—”
Beckett lets out a low growl. “What the fuck did he do?”
“I thought we don’t say fuck,” Aiden mutters.
By the look Beckett gives him, his joke didn’t land. He knows it too as he holds up his hands and backs up a step.
“He’s trying to blackmail me,” I blurt. “He wasn’t happy when you appointed me CEO.”
“What do you mean he’s blackmailing you?” Brooks is the one growling now.
“We’ll kill him,” Aiden says, his tone pure venom.
Beckett holds a hand up to silence them. “What happened?” His voice is clipped. Deadly.
Cheeks burning, I swallow past the lump in my throat. “He saw me at Allure.”
“What’s Allure?” Brooks and Aiden ask in unison.
A weight the size of an anvil presses on my chest. God, I don’t want to have to explain it.
“Consider it handled,” Beckett says.
“Wait, what is Allure?” Aiden whines.
Gavin gives a firm shake of his head, effectively ending the conversation.
If only it would really end here. The guys will probably google it when they get home. God, this is mortifying.
“You aren’t mad?” I whisper to my two oldest brothers.
“Oh, I’m livid,” Beckett says, “but not at you.”
He holds out his arms, and I rush into his chest, seeking comfort from the man who’s always had my back.
The tension slowly eases from my body as I cry against his chest. “I’m so sorry.”
He rubs comforting circles on my back. “I’m proud of you. You have nothing to be sorry for. Ezra, on the other hand, will pay.”
The air shifts, and awareness settles in my bones. And then I’m guided into another set of arms. As Noah hugs me, rocking slightly, a hand lands on my shoulder. Then a figure moves in closer. Before I know it, I’m enclosed in the biggest, warmest group hug.
I allow myself a moment to soak in their love and comfort and encouragement, then I clear my throat and straighten, pulling myself together. “I’m good.”
Noah’s blue eyes catalog every inch of my face. “You sure?”
I nod. “Yes. Let’s go relax. I’m done allowing the negativity to steal my energy.”
As I pass Brooks, he gently grasps my arm. “I’m sorry.”
With a smile, I pat his hand. “He’s your best friend. I understand the shock.”
He runs a hand over his face. “Yeah, but Beckett was right. We do what we have to for the people we love. And you love him, huh?” He surveys Noah, who’s settled a hand on my hip protectively.
I peer back at the man in question. “Yeah, I love him.”
“And I love her,” he says without looking away from me. “More than anything.”
Brooks nods. “Good.”
“I say we go back to the house and make s’mores.” Aiden drapes an arm over my shoulders and jostles me lightly, silently confirming that we’re okay.
I chuckle. “Yeah, that sounds better than cigars anyway.”
As we approach the fire pit, we discover another person has arrived. When his identity registers, my spine snaps straight.
Noah tucks me into his side protectively. “What the fuck is he doing here?”
“Shit,” Gavin curses, “I invited him.”
Noah’s breaths come out as huffs, as if he’s a bull ready to charge. But he stays put, waiting for me to lead.
I turn to him and rest my hands on his chest. “Can I handle this?”
Eyes falling shut, he dips his chin.
I scan my brothers. They all wear masks of anger, but no one moves. Beckett gives me the slightest nod, silently encouraging me to handle the situation.
My chest is tight and my heart races, but I manage to pin a smile to my face as I stride straight toward Ezra.
The move does the trick. When he notices me, he breaks into a cocky smirk, clearly believing I’m playing along with his stupid game. “Hey, Ezra.”
His eyes light up. “Hi, Sienna.”
“We were just talking about you.”
He gives me a surprised smile, then glances at the guys. Clearly he’s too vain to realize they’re throwing him death glares. “Oh yeah? What about?”
I tilt my head. “I was telling them how, when they brought me on, you were worried because I didn’t know much about hockey. You gave me a little shit about it, didn’t you?”
His gaze snaps to mine and he gives his head a shake. “I don’t know what you mean. I trust your brothers, and I trust you implicitly.”