Family Secrets (Brannon House Book 2)

by Stacy Claflin

  A door opens, and my attention snaps in that direction. My mother walks out with a corrections guard. He nods my way, and she struts over, head held high.

  Mom sits across from me, and neither of us mention her orange jumpsuit or the cuffs on her wrists.

  I wait for her to say something.

  She doesn’t.

  I have so many questions, I don’t know where to begin.

  “How is Jack?” she asks.

  “Not locked up, that’s for sure.”

  “That isn’t what I asked.”

  “He’s doing great, considering he’s been unlawfully imprisoned for at least a quarter of a century. How long has it been, Mom?”

  She sighs and looks away.

  “He got a clean bill of health, both physically and mentally—no thanks to you. However, I do have to take him to counseling twice a week. But that isn’t surprising, is it? The good news is he can live in the house with Ember and me. We’ve been helping him redecorate his new room. He picked one near mine. Oh, and he has lots of interesting stories.” I lift a brow.

  Mom’s eyes widen, but she doesn’t say anything.

  “Did Claire know about him?”

  Still no response.

  I change the subject. “The police say there was no Billa.”

  She turns to me, her eyes wide.

  “That’s right. You lied to me about my brother killing a little girl. Why would you do that?”

  “He did. That’s why I had to lock him up—it was for his own protection. He wouldn’t survive a day in jail. I’m sure of it now.”

  I hold her gaze. “The police have no records of a missing or dead child named Billa. You just said that to rattle me. Are you trying to send me back to the facility?”

  Her brows draw together. “Better you than him.”

  My mouth falls open. But I pull myself together. “How did you keep him alive all those years?”

  “He had his bedroom, a fridge, and a bathroom. Not to mention all the TV he wanted.”

  “You were in the memory care facility for five years.”

  She gives me a knowing look. “And I’d been sneaking out the whole time. You know that.”

  “How?” My voice rises. I can’t help it.

  “Brannon money will get you almost anything you want. I’m surprised you haven’t figured that out yet. The owner was more than happy to look the other way for a price.”

  “Were you really scared of Richard? Or were you trying to avoid the slammer?”

  Mom narrows her eyes.

  “The police used the hair from a comb I found in Dad’s office to prove the blood on that knife on the third floor belonged to Uncle Jack. You killed him, didn’t you?”

  “You don’t know what it was like living with those men!” Her face reddens. “You barely got a glance of it living with your father. Multiply him by three and you won’t even be close to what it was like living under the same roof as him, your grandfather, and your uncle—three men who thought the world owed them simply because they existed!”

  “Why’d you do it? Why did you kill Uncle Jack?”

  She sits up straight, her mouth forming a straight line. “You planning on testifying against me?”

  “I want answers. I’ve been lied to my entire life. You owe me the truth.”

  Mom sighs, looks lost in thought for a moment. “He took advantage of me. Assaulted me. When I told him I was going to tell Bill, he threatened—”

  “Wait!” My mind reels. “Billa. My dad went by Bill at home. Is that a coincidence? Tell me it is.”

  Mom’s face contorts. “She’s his daughter.”

  The words are like a slap to the face. “What?”

  “Billa is your father’s daughter—but not mine.”

  I rub my temples. “You said she is his daughter. Are you saying she’s alive?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  My mind spins. “I was actually playing with my sister all those times? Not an imaginary friend?”

  “Half-sister,” she mutters.

  This can’t be happening. “She lived in the house, and you let me think she wasn’t even real?”

  Mom glares at me. “Keep your voice down.”

  “Is that what happened?” I demand.

  “She lived with us part time until her mother finally moved across the country. Then I told your father it was her or us. He couldn’t have both anymore. He picked us.”

  I press my palms on the table. “Billa was a living girl, and you sent me to a mental hospital because I insisted she was real?”

  Mom looks away.

  It takes all of my self-control not to shake the woman. “The police knew about Jack, but why not Billa?”

  “Your father was never listed on her birth certificate. I wouldn’t allow it. But he still paid the mother until the brat turned eighteen, and he got visitation until I finally convinced that wretched woman to move.”

  “You’re insane. You do realize that, don’t you?”

  “I wasn’t before I met the Brannon men.”

  Everything in me wants to storm out, but I need one more question answered. “Where does the tunnel end?”

  She turns back to me. “Out of all the questions you could ask, that’s what you want to know?”

  “It leads into my house, so yes.”

  “There are some caves in the woods, not far beyond our family cemetery. But after the collapse, I can’t imagine the tunnel will do you much good.”

  I lean closer to her. “No, it won’t. I had the hole filled in with dirt and replaced the grass over it. Also, the mirror has been sealed shut. Nobody will ever get in and out of the house that way again.”

  She shrugs. “It’s just as well. Given the charges against me, I’m not likely to see the outside of these walls in my lifetime.”

  I straighten my shoulders. “Even if you do get out, you’re never stepping foot inside the house again. You won’t see Jack either.”

  “You’d leave your mother to live on the streets?”

  “You’re resourceful. But like you said, it’s a moot point.”

  Silence settles between us before she speaks. “I suppose this is the last I’ll see of you too?”

  “You can count on it.”

  “Do yourself a favor and get a real job.”

  “I have a real job.”

  She turns and calls for the guard.

  “Wait. I have one more question.”

  “What?” Her forehead wrinkles.

  “Whose son is Jack?”

  She gives me an exasperated look. “Who do you think?”

  My stomach knots. “Did Dad know?”

  Mom shrugs. “He never said anything if he did.”

  “But you two named him Jack.”

  “He wanted to honor his dead brother.”

  The guard comes over and escorts my mom away.

  I watch as she disappears behind the door, and I try to take in the news. It’s going to take some time to process everything—if she told the truth.

  I’m barely aware of traffic as I make the drive home.

  Inside, the aromas of garlic bread and spaghetti sauce greet me.

  My mouth waters, but I’m not ready to see anyone yet. I head upstairs to shower off the prison smell. By the time I’m in fresh clothes, I feel much better. I dab on some quick makeup, pull my hair back, then head toward the stairs.

  Giggling sounds, followed by some muffled whispers. A door slams shut, despite the fact it’s too cold for any windows to be open.

  I don’t know what the noises are, but at least I know I’m not crazy. Billa was actually real. I didn’t imagine her, even though my parents let me think I did.

  My priority is enjoying the meal my brother and niece are cooking. After that, I’ll have to break the news about the third Brannon sister.

  To be notified about the next book, join my new release notification list:

  https://stacyclaflin.com/newsletter/

  In the meantime, ch
eck out another one of my books…

  Sutton’s life crumbles when her boyfriend, Kade, dies in a car accident — just before she learns she’s pregnant. She turns to his best friend, Anchor, for comfort, but their shared grief will give way to something more.

  https://stacyclaflin.com/books/the-only-things-you-can-take/

  Other Books by Stacy Claflin

  THRILLERS

  Alex Mercer Thrillers

  Girl in Trouble

  Turn Back Time

  Little Lies

  Against All Odds

  Don’t Forget Me

  Tainted Love

  Take On Me

  Danger Zone

  Lady in Red

  White Wedding

  The Gone Saga

  The Gone Trilogy: Gone, Held, Over

  Dean’s List

  No Return

  Brannon House

  The Perfect Death

  Family Secrets

  Standalones

  Lies Never Sleep

  Dex

  ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

  When Tomorrow Starts Without Me

  The Only Things You Can Take

  When You Start to Miss Me

  PARANORMAL ROMANCE

  Dark Sea Academy

  Mermaid’s Song

  Mermaid’s Heart

  Mermaid’s Wish

  Curse of the Moon

  Lost Wolf

  Chosen Wolf

  Hunted Wolf

  Broken Wolf

  Cursed Wolf

  Secret Jaguar

  Valhalla’s Curse

  Renegade Valkyrie

  Pursued Valkyrie

  Silenced Valkyrie

  Vengeful Valkyrie

  Unleashed Valkyrie

  The Transformed Series

  Main Series

  Deception

  Betrayal

  Forgotten

  Ascension

  Duplicity

  Sacrifice

  Destroyed

  Transcend

  Entangled

  Dauntless

  Obscured

  Partition

  Standalones

  Fallen

  Silent Bite

  Hidden Intentions

  Saved by a Vampire

  Sweet Desire

  Standalones

  Haunted

  Beauty

  SWEET ROMANCE

  The Hunters

  Seaside Surprises

  Seaside Heartbeats

  Seaside Dances

  Seaside Kisses

  Seaside Christmas

  Bayside Wishes

  Bayside Evenings

  Bayside Promises

  Bayside Destinies

  Bayside Opposites

  Bayside Mistletoe

  Bayside Dreams

  Indigo Bay

  Sweet Dreams

  Sweet Reunion

  Sweet Complications

  Standalones

  Fall into Romance

  SHORT STORIES

  Tiny Bites

  Author's Note

  Thanks for reading Family Secrets. I enjoyed the first book so much, I worried couldn’t possibly like this book as much. But I surprised myself by loving this one even more. It’s always fun to get to know characters more and to explore their worlds — and who doesn’t want to know more about the mysterious Brannon house? I’m excited to dig in deeper in future books and explore more of the many secrets.

  A funny story about this novel is that I wrote three last chapters for this book. I ditched the first one, not liking the direction at all. Then I wrote a new last chapter, which ended up being the second-to-last chapter because it left too many loose ends. So I wrote the final last chapter!

  If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review wherever you purchased it. Not only will your review help me to better understand what you like—so I can give you more of it!—but it will also help other readers find my work. Reviews can be short—just share your honest thoughts. That’s it.

  Want to know when I have a new release? Sign up for new release updates:

  http://stacyclaflin.com/newsletter/

  I’ve spent many hours writing, re-writing, and editing this work. I even put together a team who helped with the editing process. As it is impossible to find every single error, if you find any, please contact me through my website and let me know. Then I can fix them for future editions.

  Thank you for your support!

  ~Stacy

  About the Author

  Stacy Claflin is a two-time USA Today bestselling author who writes about flawed characters that overcome unsurmountable odds. No matter how dark situations seem, there is always a sliver of hope—even if you have to search far and wide to find it. That message is weaved throughout all of her stories.

  Decades after she wrote her first tales on construction paper and years after typing on an inherited green screen computer, Stacy realized her dream of becoming a full-time bestselling author.

  When she's not busy writing or educating her kids from home, Stacy enjoys time in nature, reading, and watching a wide variety of shows in many genres. Her favorite pastime activity is spending time with her family.

  For more information:

  stacyclaflin.com/about