Find me

Chapter 29

Julian POV

Jo was my world.

I didn’t love her. I adored her.

I watched her grow up. I was her big bubba. I wiped her nose, read to her before bedtime, took care of her when she was sick, and helped her with every problem she’s ever had.

She was my whole fucking world.

Our parents were busy, so we were often left alone at home. I’ve never complained. I loved being with my sister. I loved taking care of her, and I loved how much she loved and needed me. I wouldn’t change a single second spent with her.

I was her biggest protector, and she meant everything to me.

When I met Henry, I knew that he was the right man for my sister. I knew that he would love and protect her. I couldn’t tell him that right away, of course. I had to scare him a little. I had to show him what I was capable of if he ever hurt my Jo.

When she became pregnant with twins, I was so excited. When she told me that one of the babies was a girl, I was ecstatic. I already pictured myself as the greatest uncle that ever lived. I wanted to recreate the memories I had with my little sister, and I knew that I would see my Jo in her little girl. I wanted to help raise her. I wanted to fight the boys off, just like I did with Jo. I loved that little girl even before I met her because half of her came from the most important person in my life, other than my children, of course.

When Aria went missing, I thought that Jo would die right then and there. I thought that I would die. Until then, it was the worst pain I’ve ever felt. I got to hold that little girl just one time.

The death of my Jo killed a part of me, and I never got it back. She didn’t just die. I watched her die for three years. I watched as she slowly shut down. I watched my whole world disappear, and I thought that I would disappear too. The pain I felt when Henry called and told me to come see her one last time is indescribable. The pain I felt when I watched her take her last breath is indescribable. I watched as my baby sister gave up. I watched as the disease took her. I felt a part of me die with her. A part of my heart was lying in the coffin next to her, and I would never get it back. Not until I saw my sister again, not until I got my little Jo back.

“I want to see her.” I managed to say, trying to swallow the lump in my throat.

Henry’s words kept repeating in my mind, and I couldn’t stop them.

She looks so much like Jo. She looks exactly like Jo when she was 17.

I always knew that I would see a part of my sister in Aria, just like I saw a part of her in Gabriel. But I never thought that she would physically look so much like my sister. I never thought that I would get to see Jo again.

Henry took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair.

“You will need to give her some time.” Henry said, making my heart stop beating. “She asked for some time, Julian.”

I felt a wave of pain hit me.

Why?

“Why?” Luke asked before I could.

Henry looked down at his hands and took another deep breath. He closed his eyes, and I saw him tightening his jaw.

What the fuck?

“The people who had her didn’t treat her right.” Henry said quietly. “She is still very unsure and very shy. She will need time to adjust to Gabriel and me. I don’t want to overwhelm her.”

My heart raced.

“What do you mean by ‘didn’t treat her right’?” I asked, trying to stop my voice from shaking.

Henry looked back up at the camera, and I knew what he meant even before he spoke.

“She was abused.” he said, his voice breaking.

My sons gasped. I couldn’t react. I couldn’t even breathe.

My little girl was abused.

My J…

I took a deep breath and tightened my jaw.

My Aria was abused.

“Fucking bastards!” Luke shouted, slamming his fists against the table.

“I won’t go into the details.” Henry said quietly. “I will send you her chart, and you can take a look.”

“Is she hurt now?” Andrew asked worriedly.

I still couldn’t speak. I couldn’t even move.

“Yes.” Henry nodded, making me clench my fists. “I took care of her injuries and took her to the hospital yesterday. She will be okay physically now that she is out of that house. I’m not sure about her mental health, though. The way they raised her…”

Henry’s voice cracked, and he buried his face in his hands.

“Where are they, Henry?” I asked, not recognizing my own voice.

“Jail.” Henry said, moving his hands away from his face and wiping his cheeks. “They are being charged with kidnapping, abuse, and neglect.”

My heart was going to jump out of my chest. I was a cardiothoracic surgeon, and I knew that was impossible, but it was going to happen.

“So they are the people who took her?” Luke asked, tightening his jaw. “Why would they take her if they obviously didn’t want her?”

“We don’t know.” Henry sighed. “Owen is trying to make them talk.”

“Fuck.” Andrew mumbled.

“When can we see her, uncle H?” Luke asked.

“I’m not sure yet.” Henry sighed. “I will ask her if she would be okay talking to you like this. Maybe a video call would be a better start. But I won’t promise anything. If she says no, I won’t force her.”

“Of course not.” Andrew said quickly. “Don’t force her to do anything. We can wait. Send us her chart as soon as possible. I would like to take a look.”

“Of course.” Henry said. “I’m sending it to you right now.”

I watched as Henry’s eyes moved around his laptop screen.

“Does she really look like Jo?” I asked, my voice trembling.

Henry stopped what he was doing and looked at the camera. His eyes filled with tears, and he gave me a small nod.

“So much that I didn’t even need the DNA test.” he said, smiling through his tears. “I knew that she was mine as soon as I laid eyes on her. I knew that she was Jo’s daughter.”

I felt warm tears fall on my cheeks.

My little Jo.

Henry blinked his tears away and started looking around his screen again.

“Okay.” he said after a few moments of silence. “I’ve sent you her chart. I am going to help her set up her room. I will call you as soon as I have some news.”

I could barely nod at him.

“Talk to you soon, uncle H.” Luke said as he ended the call with Henry.

Luke opened up my email, and I saw the mail Henry just sent me.

“Open the X-ray images first.” Andrew said, clenching his fists.

As soon as the file opened, my vision reddened.

I was going to fucking kill them.