The Brother At The Door
1249 Words
No one moved.
No one breathed.
The voice downstairs echoed in the silence.
I think I'm looking for my sister.
Izzy's heart pounded so hard it hurt.
Her sister.
No.
His sister.
Her.
A brother.
A real, living brother.
Standing downstairs.
This had to be a dream.
Or maybe she'd finally lost her mind.
Luca blinked.
Marco blinked.
Rosa looked like she might faint.
Adrian was the first to move.
"Stay here."
"No."
He sighed.
"You've never listened to me once."
"Not really."
A tiny smile appeared despite the situation.
Then his expression became serious again.
"We don't know who he is."
"I know."
"He could be lying."
"I know."
"He could be dangerous."
She swallowed.
"I know."
Silence.
Then she looked at him.
"But… what if he's telling the truth?"
The question hung in the air.
Because none of them had an answer.
Another knock sounded.
Then—
"Hello?"
The voice again.
More uncertain this time.
"I don't mean any harm."
Silence.
Then—
"I've been looking for her for a very long time."
Izzy's breath caught.
Something in his voice sounded genuine.
Hopeful.
And scared.
Adrian looked at Marco.
"Check the perimeter."
Marco nodded and disappeared.
Luca followed.
A minute later, they returned.
"He's alone," Marco said.
"No weapons," Luca added.
Silence.
Adrian looked at Izzy.
She looked terrified.
And hopeful.
And completely overwhelmed.
His heart did something uncomfortable in his chest.
"I'll go first," he said.
She immediately frowned.
"Why?"
"Because that's my job."
"Your job?"
"Protecting you."
The words came so naturally that everyone went quiet.
Even him.
Her cheeks turned slightly pink.
She looked away.
Luca looked like he wanted popcorn.
"Stop smiling," Adrian said.
"I'm not smiling."
"You are."
"I might be smiling."
Adrian ignored him.
Then he looked at Izzy.
"You stay behind me."
She sighed.
"Fine."
They slowly made their way downstairs.
The front door was still boarded from the previous attack.
A young man stood on the porch.
Dark hair.
Broad shoulders.
Around six feet tall.
His hands were shoved nervously into his pockets.
He looked exhausted.
And anxious.
When he saw movement inside, he straightened.
His eyes landed on Izzy.
And everything changed.
He froze.
Completely.
So did she.
Because—
His eyes.
They were blue.
The exact same shade as hers.
The same shade as their father's.
The same shape, too.
The resemblance hit her like a freight train.
"Oh my God," she whispered.
The young man's eyes filled with tears.
"Oh my God."
No one moved.
Then he laughed softly.
A disbelieving, shaky laugh.
"You actually exist."
Tears sprang to her eyes.
This couldn't be real.
He took a hesitant step forward.
"My name is Gabriel."
Silence.
"My adoptive parents called me Gabe."
His voice cracked.
"I've been looking for you."
Her heart shattered.
Looking for her.
For years?
Months?
She didn't know.
But long enough for it to matter.
Adrian stepped slightly in front of her.
"How did you find this house?"
Gabriel looked at him.
Then back at Izzy.
"I found our mother's letter."
The room went silent.
"You had a letter too?" Izzy whispered.
He nodded.
Tears filled his eyes.
"I got it three days ago."
Three days.
The same day her father died.
"I didn't know I was adopted until then."
Silence.
"I didn't know I had a sister."
His voice broke.
"But then I got this letter and…"
He laughed shakily.
"...and apparently my entire life was a lie."
Everyone in the room exchanged looks.
They understood that feeling.
Very well.
Gabriel looked back at Izzy.
"I didn't even know where to start."
He swallowed.
"But the letter mentioned Blackridge."
A tear slipped down his cheek.
"So I came."
The room was quiet.
Then—
"You really look like Mom."
His voice was soft.
Almost amazed.
Izzy's eyes filled.
"You never met her?"
He shook his head.
"No."
"Me neither," she whispered.
Silence.
Neither of them had really known her.
They had both spent their lives missing someone they'd barely had.
A strange ache settled between them.
Gabriel looked nervous.
"I know this is weird."
A laugh escaped her.
"Weird?"
He smiled.
"Okay… maybe that's an understatement."
"Maybe a little."
A tiny smile appeared on her face.
His shoulders relaxed.
"You smiled."
She blinked.
"What?"
"You smiled."
He grinned.
"I was afraid you wouldn't like me."
The words hit her unexpectedly hard.
"You don't even know me."
"I know."
He looked down.
"But I've always wanted a sibling."
Her heart nearly broke.
Because she'd always wanted one too.
A brother.
A sister.
Someone.
She'd just never known one existed.
Rosa quietly wiped tears from her eyes.
Luca looked emotional.
Marco looked emotional.
Even Adrian looked suspiciously soft.
It was all very strange.
Gabriel took another step forward.
"Can I ask you something?"
She nodded.
"What's your favorite color?"
She blinked.
"What?"
He shrugged nervously.
"I don't know."
A small laugh escaped him.
"I've been trying to think of things siblings ask each other."
For the first time in days—
She laughed.
A real laugh.
Everyone smiled.
"Blue," she answered.
His face lit up.
"No way."
"What?"
"Mine too."
She laughed again.
The sound felt foreign.
And wonderful.
A long silence followed.
Then—
"Can I hug you?"
The question was so careful.
So hopeful.
Her eyes immediately filled with tears.
Because he looked terrified she'd say no.
Without thinking, she nodded.
Gabriel crossed the porch in two steps.
Then carefully wrapped his arms around her.
She froze.
A stranger.
Her brother.
Her family.
Then—
She hugged him back.
And suddenly, both of them were crying.
"I found you," he whispered.
Her throat tightened.
"You found me."
"I thought I was alone."
The words shattered her.
Because she'd felt the exact same way.
For years.
"I thought so too."
They stood there for a long time.
Neither wanting to let go.
Finally, Gabriel pulled back.
He looked at her.
Then laughed through his tears.
"You really do exist."
She smiled.
"I guess I do."
A voice cleared behind them.
Both turned.
Adrian.
He looked… relieved.
And something else.
Happy.
Gabriel noticed him.
"Sorry."
He wiped his eyes.
"I should probably introduce myself to everyone."
Luca stepped forward.
"I'm Luca."
Marco nodded.
"Marco."
Rosa smiled warmly.
"I'm Rosa."
Gabriel smiled back.
Then he looked at Adrian.
"And you are?"
Silence.
A tiny smile appeared on Izzy's face.
This should be good.
Adrian folded his arms.
"Adrian."
Gabriel frowned.
"Just Adrian?"
"Yes."
Luca looked ready to burst.
Gabriel turned toward his sister.
"He's intimidating."
She laughed.
"He can be."
Adrian sighed.
This entire family was already becoming a problem.
Then Gabriel looked at Izzy again.
His expression became serious.
"I need to tell you something."
The smile faded from her face.
"What?"
He swallowed.
"The letter wasn't the only thing I found."
The room went quiet.
"What else was there?"
Gabriel looked nervous.
Then he reached into his jacket and pulled out an old photograph.
He handed it to her.
She looked down.
And froze.
It was a picture of their mother.
Young.
Smiling.
Standing beside a man.
A man she didn't recognize.
But what made her blood run cold…
Was the baby in his arms.
A little girl.
About two years old.
Her.
On the back of the photograph, in her mother's handwriting, were four words:
Find your real father.
Silence.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Because there was only one thing those words could mean.
Raymond Carter…
wasn't her father.
- Writer
