Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
And now it was all I could see.
I pulled the bag closer and inspected the shirt. I undid the knot, finding the small label Thomas always stitched into the side. His initials and the date. It was two years before I married Katy.
I looked up to see only the men were left.
“Didn’t see that coming,” I said, reaching for my scotch, welcoming the burn of the liquor as it went down my throat.
Halton met my gaze. “I’ll be with you on this, Richard.”
Reid spoke up. “I’ll start digging. I’ll find out everything I can on her mother. Do you remember anything?”
I searched my memories. “Vaguely.” I met the steadfast gazes of the men I called family. “I wasn’t a good guy in my past. You all know that. But I don’t think you know how callous I was. Women meant nothing to me. Everything meant nothing to me except money and power. I dated a lot of women. None of them lasted. They came and went. A few lasted longer than others, but it wasn’t because of emotional attachment.” I barked out a harsh laugh. “I was a real bastard.”
“There must have been some good in you for Katy to see,” Bentley pointed out.
“Once we were married, yes. I was a bastard to her as well. Her sweetness changed me.” I scrubbed my face, feeling weary, all the joy of the day eclipsed by this event. “The name Juliet Brennan sounded familiar, but there is no solid memory of her—at least, not yet.”
“You’re in shock,” Maddox said, his look of understanding almost breaking me.
“We’ll take this one step at a time. Reid can get some information, I’ll look into records, and you talk to Katy.” Halton paused. “You might want to prepare your kids. You and Katy should tell them before they find out somehow. If Reed and Luc are that close, it’s going to come out.”
“Jesus,” I muttered. “How do I do that? Tell them how I was such an unfeeling bastard in the past and they have a sister?”
“Alleged half sister,” Halton corrected.
I shook my head. “She has my eyes. My forehead and the damn cowlick. Heather said she reminded her of someone. She reminded me of someone. Me. She reminded me of me.” I drained my scotch.
“Every time I think I’ve moved away from my past, somehow it finds me.” I stood, shaking my head. “And this time, it could destroy everything.”
I walked away, my hands deep in my pockets, my head filled with echoes of earlier. I strode toward our house, the peace of the surrounding area somehow wrong given the turmoil in my head. I paused, looking at Gracie’s house. There was a light on in the nursery, and I knew she would be in there, cuddling Kylie.
We were so close. Our bond so strong. I thought of the devastation I would see in her eyes when I told her. How would she feel about me then?
Heather’s house was in darkness, my daughter far away from this mess. Gavin and Amanda were in the guest house, their plane leaving tomorrow. I had to keep this from them—from everyone—until we were certain. Until I knew how to proceed.
Our house was dark, a faint light peeking out from the bedroom window. I stared at it, for the first time in years worried about stepping inside and facing my wife. Katy was my world. From our rocky start grew a foundation that was strong and certain, the roots deep. But how would she handle this? How would she feel about me?
Could we be able to go forward once it was established that Ashley was my daughter?
Could Ashley ever be part of our lives? Could my family accept her?
Could I?
I hung my head and slowly walked toward my house.
There was only one way to find out.
Katy was in our room, sitting in her favorite chair. She had changed, the dress and makeup gone. She wore a pair of yoga pants and a tank top with a sweater overtop. Her hair was swept up, there were fuzzy socks on her feet, and I could see she had been crying. She had her legs pulled up to her chest, with her arms wrapped around them. Her chin rested on her knees, and she stared into the gas fireplace she must have switched on. Everything was her comfort go-to’s. Her way of dealing with stress.
Stress I had caused.
I paused in the doorway, unsure and on edge. I lifted my hand, rapping on the door quietly. Katy looked up, studying me.
“It’s your house, Richard. You don’t have to knock.”
“Felt as if I should,” I admitted.
She shook her head, her gaze returning to the fireplace. I walked in, heading to the closet, shedding my tux. I stepped into the shower, needing to wash away the day, wishing it were that easy to erase my past. To start this day over with no repercussions haunting me.