Author's Notes:
All characters in the story are 18 and older. This is a story about incest between a brother and a sister. If that's not what you are here for, I suggest you not read any further. Also, to understand what is going on, I recommend starting from Chapter 1 if you just found this story.
I would also like to thank Writersblock22 for the edits and rush of getting this back to me.
Sorry for the extremely long wait between chapters. I really am. The last year has been one of the most challenging times of my life. From the accident to rehab (twice), I'm finally feeling myself again. Well, somewhat. My pinky on my left hand still doesn't respond as I would like, but it's slowly improving. Most of all, I would like to thank everyone who reached out to me during my time away. Your support and comforting words are what made me want to finish this and not quit. Thank you all again!
To all my readers and followers, I hope you enjoy it.
Happy reading!
Chapter 4
"This is he. Who is this?" I asked, not recognizing the man's voice.
"It's Matt."
"Where's Annie?" I demanded.
"I don't know, but...."
"How in the hell do you not know? Where's my Dad? Tu es imbécile" I cut Matt off, furious that he was the one calling me back, not knowing where she was.
"Je ne suis pas un imbécile. Calme-toi et laisse-moi t'expliquer.," Matt replied, startling me.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to call you that. Please explain," I said, switching back to English. Matt's French was clearly better than mine, but I was impressed with myself for understanding what he said without processing it.
"She was granted a paid sabbatical and left yesterday on her way back to Paris."
"How is she even able to travel abroad?" I asked.
"She mapped out a route of countries that would allow her entry--some by plane, others by bus, car, and train. I reviewed the route she emailed me before she left, and it shouldn't take her longer than a week to arrive in Paris."
"Give me her phone number," I asked aggressively.
"It's 609-555-1212. Call me back after you talk to her," Matt rattled off the number so fast I almost missed it.
"Ok, bye," I hung up the phone and dialed the number immediately.
"Hi, it's Annie. I'm sorry I can't answer the phone right now, but if you leave your name and number, I will return your call. Thanks," her cheerful tone wasn't present, as in her previous recordings, but just hearing her voice gave me hope.
"Annie, it's me. Please call me back as soon as you get this. My number is +33 2 9 55 22 11 11. I love you so much," I hung up just before I broke down. It took another ten minutes before I could compose myself enough to call Matt back.
"What did she say?" Matt asked, answering the phone.
"She didn't answer. I tried calling her back a few times, but she must not have a signal," I lied, not wanting him to know I was so distraught for not reaching my sister.
"She'll call you back as soon as she gets the voicemail, I guarantee it," Matt spoke confidently and matter-of-factly. "I see that you've been learning some French."
"I've been staying busy, trying to keep my mind occupied. It's definitely been a stressful few months. Sorry, I couldn't call."
"Don't worry about that. You went through hell, and I can't even imagine having to go through that. I'm just glad you're out," Matt sounded sorry for me.
"What?" I asked.
"Just so you know, nobody other than your Dad, me, and Bryan know about you and Annie. When your Mom called and told Bryan what you and Annie were up to, he came straight to me with the news, and that's as far as it went," Matt sounded happy for us. "You still have your job, by the way, and you have been getting paid this entire time."
"That's cool, but did you say 'you're glad I'm out?" I asked to double-check that I heard him right.
"Yes, out of jail. Didn't you just get out?" It was Matt's turn to sound confused.
"I haven't been in jail. I never went. They had to release me because they didn't have the staffing or a place for me to go. I've been staying with the doctor who cared for me in the hospital. Wait, Annie thinks I'm in jail?"
"Yes, that's what they told her when she called the station. Why didn't you call?" Matt asked in bewilderment.
"I didn't have her phone number. Otherwise, I would have," I said defensively.
"Ummmm," the way Matt hummed really got under my skin.
"I DIDN'T HAVE HER GODDAMN NUMBER, MATT!" I yelled. "Or a way to get a hold of her. How could I just call her? " I said while trying to take a few deep breaths to try to calm myself.
"You could've called headquarters. They would have transferred you to her," Matt responded tentatively.
I dropped the phone with the realization. How could I be so stupid? I wasn't old enough for the tightness in my chest to be a concern, and since I hadn't taken a breath in what felt like five minutes, I went with the assumption that it was a lack of air causing the pain in my chest.
"Alex, are you still there?" I barely heard Matt's voice come through the phone's speaker in my lap.
"Yes, tell my Dad I will call him back later, and thanks for flying up. Thanks, Matt, talk to you later," I said and hung up the phone. My previous anxiety wasn't even in the same realm as what I was feeling now.
"Fuck, fuck, fuuuuck!" I screamed out. The destructive rage that coursed through my veins was a new feeling for me, and I despised it. I had never felt so disgusted and embarrassed with myself in my short life. Even if they weren't there to witness it, the Paris police were victorious over me. I had let the anger and animosity I had for them control me and my thoughts.
"Alex, what can I do to help you?" The soft voice of Belle's carried up the stairs.
"Just a minute, please," I replied, holding back the tears. The tantrum I just threw was most likely the culprit for the attention I was receiving from Belle. She wasn't one to pry or ask questions, but she would offer an ear to someone in need.
Finally able to control myself, I headed to the main house to let them know I was okay.
"Alex, veux-tu nous rejoindre pour un verre de vin?" Arthur asked, holding up an empty glass and bottle of wine.
"Oui je voudrais," I replied.
Over the last month, I enjoyed sitting with them on the patio and having a glass of wine. The air was still cool, but the sun kept it pleasant--nothing like the Florida weather I had experienced over the past four years. Wine wasn't my drink of choice, hell, it wasn't even my eighth drink of choice. If I had to put it on a scale, I would place it last. The often bitter flavor that seemed to linger in your mouth entirely too long was an acquired taste, and that's what I had done since sitting with them in the courtyard. Being the only alcohol I could get my hands on helped me appreciate the aroma much faster.
"Sorry for the outburst earlier," I said after unconventionally downing the entire glass of wine.
"Alex, please don't apologize. We certainly understand that you've been under an eminence amount of stress. I'm saddened that your call wasn't what you hoped for, but if we can assist you in any way, please let us do so," Arthur said.
"There's nothing that can be done. The Paris authorities told Annie I was in jail, and over the past couple of months, she has been planning a route to get back to Paris. With the travel restrictions the way they are right now, it will take her a week to get to Paris," I sounded defeated.
"When she arrives, we will go and retrieve her immediately, I promise," Belle said, flustered on my behalf.
"I know, it's not that," I reassured Belle. "I'm pissed with myself for not thinking. When I talked to Matt today, he's the guy that referred me to my job. He asked me why I had not just called headquarters and had them transfer me to Annie. I can't believe that I had not thought of that," just repeating the words reignited the anger. "Fuck!" I cursed out.
Not wanting them to see me cry, I swiftly popped up from my chair and darted back to the apartment. I needed to be alone. The hatred I had toward myself had a greater intensity now that I had time to process my ignorance. Just looking in the mirror sickened me as I paced the floor throughout the house.
"Hello?" I answered the phone in a panic, having run across the flat hearing the phone ring.
"Hey, Alex, it's Dad. Have you connected with Annie yet?"
"No. Have you?"
"I haven't either. From what I've been reading online, it can be difficult to connect to cell towers. The fix seems to be restarting your phone until it finally connects or jumping onto a local wifi," Dad stated.
"Dad, I'm so disgusted with myself, I really don't want to talk on the phone. I know it's not your fault, but it seems everyone I speak to just has more sense than I do, and it's discouraging."
"If you need to talk, please call me. She'll call soon. Love you, son," I could hear the sincerity in my father's voice.
"Love you too," I said and hung up the phone.
She didn't call soon, and I panicked just a little more with each passing day. It was killing me inside to know she was out there alone and heading to a place I hadn't resided in quite some time. By the end of the week, I was in full meltdown mode and had completely isolated myself from everyone, including Matt and my father. How I was still functioning on the ten or eleven hours of sleep was a mystery.
"Alex, I brought you something. Would you like me to bring it up or leave it on the stairs?" Belle asked from the first riser.
"Please, just leave it. Thank you," I said, managing to keep my voice from cracking.
"If we can do anything, please let us know. Also, everything will be okay," Belle waited for me to respond, but I never did, and she left after a few moments.
I wasn't in the mood to eat, but having not eaten all week, the aroma of her homemade soup caused my stomach to growl. Only able to last another two minutes smelling the bouillabaisse, I made my way down the stairs and grabbed the large porcelain bowl. After searing my lips with the first taste, I sat impatiently, waiting for it to cool down. My hunger intensified with each passing second until I could wait no longer and started in. The first several spoonful's were torture, but I managed to eat the entire dish in minutes.
"Man, I needed that," I said aloud, flopping down in the recliner to let my food settle and hoping for a slight rush of energy. It was just after midnight, and even though I needed the nourishment and calories, they did very little in giving me any extra boost. It only accelerated my body to shut down and forced me to sleep without knowing.
"ALEX!" Arthur shouted, causing me to roar back to life and jump from the recliner.
