Poison ivy

Ch13

ADRIAN

Adrian followed his dad all the way to New York City. When they got close to the address of Jesse's apartment Pavel pulled into an abandoned parking lot and he followed. Adrian got out of his car ready to confront his dad, but before he could say anything Abe handed him Rose's file. Confused as to why, his dad told him to look at the third page. Adrain opened up the file and went to page three. It was a picture and bio of Rose's mom, Irene Hathaway. Looking at the picture, floods of memories from his childhood came rushing back. He didn't remember much about his biological mom because she left right after he was born. But he did remember Irene, well he knew her as Janine. She was the only mother figure he had ever had. He was only three at the time, but he remembered asking where she was everyday after she left. When he saw the picture of Rose, it all clicked, his dad believed Rose was his daughter and Adrian's sister and they were there to "take care" of Jesse.

Adrian let his dad and Pavel deal with Jesse, did he get a couple of punches in? Of course he did, he wasn't going to let this guy think it was ok to do what he did to his sister. After Jesse was "dealt" with and a call was made to the local police about his whereabouts they were gone. Adrian was a mess all the way home, he didn't know what to make from all this. First things first he needed to know if Rose really was his sister. He had no doubt in his mind that she was by looking at her picture and her age, he just wanted confirmation.

When he got home he went straight to his closet and pulled out a photo album that was his dad's. It was pictures of his dad and Janine when they were together. His dad had thrown it away years ago, but Pavel had saved it and gave it to Adrain. Pavel knew that one day Abe would want those pictures as well as Adrian. Today Adrian was very thankful that he saved them. As Adrian looked through the photos he started to cry, he cried for the loss of the only mother he ever knew, for the sister he didn't know existed until now, the years his dad spent looking for her, and for that child that thought he did something wrong for her to leave him too. His fiance Sydney came home to find Adrian on the floor of their bedroom crying.

Adrian broke down again when he saw Sydney, she sat holding him and listened to the whole story. She, like Adrian, was shocked to hear he possibly had a sister he didn't know about. She was excited at the prospect of having a sister in law. She was strained from her family and her two sisters and wanted nothing more than a sister again. They spent the whole night talking about what this all meant and what he should do next.

Adrian knew what he wanted to do, he was going to find out everything he could about Rose. Adrian knew that Dimitri had been visiting and talking to her since the incident. He knew his dad wasn't going to be at the office today so he was going to use that to his advantage and talk to Dimitri.

Dimitri

"I need to know everything you know about Rose Hathaway." Wait, what??? That was not what I expected to come out of his mouth.

"Adrian, what is going on?" Ivan asked, beating me to the punch, I was honestly in too much shock at what he had just said. I was waiting to hear that something happened to his dad. Not for him to ask about Rose.

"Belikov, I know you've been visiting and talking to her. I just need to know what you know about her." Still, that didn't make any sense.

"Not to over step here, but why?" I wasn't just about to go telling him what I had been told by Rose in confidence. Adrian started to talk, but stopped himself and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Just tell them, they are going to find out sooner or later." Sydney said to him while squeezing his shoulders.

"I have reason to believe that Rose is my sister, well half sister." Just like that it felt like the floor beneath me had vanished. My head was spinning and I didnt know how to stop it. I sat down in the nearest seat to me, to get myself together.

"What makes you think that?" I could barely get that question out.

"This" He opened up a file on his desk and a photo album that I hadn't noticed.

He opened the file that I now recognized as Rose's. He turned to the page about her mom. Then he opened up the photo album and put them side by side.

"Just take a look." I scooted my chair closer to his desk to take a look. I had already gone through Rose's file very thoroughly so I knew what was in it. What I didn't expect to see was a picture of Rose's mom. She looked a lot younger, but it was her, standing next to Abe holding Adrian.

"After my mom split, my dad started dating Janine or Irene as she changed her name. They were together for about three years till one day she just up and left. That would have been a little over twenty- five years ago. Looking at Rose's birthday the timeline fits, that she was pregnant when she left. That and knowing her birth certificate is fake I believe she is my sister"

I'm glad I was sitting down because that was a lot of information to take in. Ivan kept looking at the picture then looking at me to see my reaction. I didn't know what my reaction was. I walked in here thinking that something happened to his dad and now I'm finding out Rose may be his sister.

"I don't know what to say Adrian. I can tell you she knows nothing about her father, her mom kept his name and everything about him a secret. She died of cancer leaving Rose with mountains of medical debt. She quit school to take care of her in the last year of her life and because of that she lost everything including her house." As I was saying all that I could see Adrian's face just crumble. I could tell he was taking it personally how hard Rose's life had been.

"Adrian,this isn't your fault. Look, yes she has had a hard life, but she would never want you to feel sorry for her. Rose is a very proud and independent person. She has overcome a lot and besides what happened with Jesse, she is doing good. She's not ashamed of what she had to do to get herself to where she is now."

"I don't know if that makes me feel any better."

"Adrian, if this is all true and she is your sister you had no idea. Sounds like her mom wanted it to be a secret so much so that she took it to the grave. I have no idea why she did it, but it's done and there is nothing you can do about it. There is no point in wallowing in the past, I'm not saying your feelings aren't valid. I'm saying if she is your sister you now have the opportunity now to have a relationship with her. She has no family but you could be that family. It's not too late."

"Damn, Ivan I didn't know you could get all philosophical."

"I like to keep everyone on their toes. But I'm serious, it's not too late, you can still have your sister in your life."

"Thank you, that's what I needed to hear." With all this information flooding in, I went back to last night and our meeting with Croft. I already had a suspicion that Abe had something to do with it, now I understand why. But I had to ask him anyway.

"I hate to ask you this and honestly I already know the answer. But did you and your dad have anything to do with what happened to Jesse?" He just looked at me and I knew the answer without him saying a word.

"The only reason I ask is because Croft called me and Ivan down to the station last night to ask where we were when it happened. No, he doesn't think we did it, he's suspicious of your dad. I just want you to be aware that Croft is on his tail. I'm not going to say anything to him, but I also don't want to lie to him. I don't blame either of you for what you did, and I don't think Croft will either, heck it took all I had not to do the same that night at the club. He deserved it."

"I'm not asking you to lie, I'll take care of Croft. And I am sorry you both had to be dragged into this. I know this may complicate things between you two, but I need you not to say anything till I know for sure she is my sister." Great more secrets I'm keeping from Rose. I hated this, so much was going on around her and she had no clue. If this was true her life was going to change drastically. I really liked her, but I didn't know if this was going to change our relationship. I mean we didn't have a romantic relationship yet, but I felt that's where this was headed. But keeping secrets was not the best way to start any relationship.

"Adrian."

"Look Belikov all I'm asking is you don't say anything till I get confirmation. If for some reason she isn't my sister I don't want to have dragged her through this. I want to meet her, get to know her, but won't until I know for sure. I'm not about to interrupt her life for nothing."

"Not to interrupt, but just how are you going to confirm she is your sister?" Ivan asked. I was thinking the same thing.

"I need her DNA and that's where you come in, Belikov." Nope, nope, nope not doing this.

"You're crazy if you think I'm going to get a sample from her."

"Now. I'm making this up as I go, but I think all it will take is just one strand of her hair."

"Adrian, I don't feel comfortable with this. It's a complete violation of her privacy."

"Belikov, please I need to know. I know you've been to her place, there is probably tons of hair just laying around. Get it from her hairbrush even. Heck you may have some on you that you don't even know. I wouldn't ask you if this wasn't so important."

"I get it, I have three sisters. But this goes beyond what I feel comfortable doing. I'm already keeping secrets from her. I don't want to add stealing her hair to the list."

"Ok so you have sisters. Let me ask you what you would do if you found out there was another one out there. One that you never knew about, but was right there in your same town. All that was standing in your way from knowing if she really is your sister is a DNA test? What would you do?"

"Adrian, I really do get it. I just don't want to violate the trust she has in me."

"I'll do it." Ivan jumped in. I tried to interject, but he kept talking.

"I know Dimitri will never do it and he shouldn't have to. But I can, just don't ask how."

"Ivan, no."

"I'm going to do it with or without your consent. I'm not going to involve you so you don't have to lie to her. I know you don't like any of this, but it needs to be done."

"You're right I don't like this at all,none of this." I hated all of this

HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING A GOOD HOLIDAY WEEKEND. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR STICKING WITH THIS STORY. THERE WILL BE SOME ANGST COMING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF CHAPTERS SO BUCKLE UP.