Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“Hit me with the worst of it.”
“So, her father was a big real estate lawyer.”
“Yeah, I’m aware.”
“Well, he’s made some pretty powerful connections over the years, and there’s always the chance that one of them turned on him.”
“And why would they do that?”
“He was representing some outside developers who were known for buying up land in lucrative areas, like along the riverfront. It wouldn’t be so bad, but these guys are using legal loopholes to get the properties at undervalued prices. They’re pushing people out of their homes and shutting down small businesses left and right.”
“Yeah, that could piss some folks off.”
“Exactly.” Shep handed me a file folder. “To make matters worse, these clients are members of one of the Russian mafias.”
“Oh, goddamn,” I grumbled. “What the hell was he doing getting tied up with them?”
“I’m sure they were paying him a pretty penny.”
“Any idea which one he was working with?”
“The Volkov family.”
“Damn. This just keeps getting better and better.” I started flipping through the pages in the file, noting the various properties and images of the Volkov crew, as I asked, “You think they’re the ones who knocked him off, or was it someone else?”
“I’m still working on that.”
I nodded, then said, “So, what’s the maybe not-so-good news?”
“Tallie has a kid.”
I was still trying to process the curveball he’d just thrown at me when he handed me a second folder. I quickly opened it and felt like the rug had been pulled from beneath me the second I saw his photograph. He had dark hair—just like mine, green eyes—just like mine, and a slight widow’s peak—just like mine.
I was trying to convince myself that the resemblance was just a coincidence when Shep announced, “His name is Ford Jameson Warren.”
“Whoa,” Goose turned to me with surprise. “You’re Jameson Holt.”
“That I am.”
“Ah, hell. Don’t tell me that kid is yours.”
“Can’t be for sure, but it’s certainly looking that way.”
Shep motioned his head towards the folder as he added, “He was born in May of ’18.”
“Tallie was sent to Paris in August of ’17.”
“You reckon she was already pregnant?”
“If she was, I didn’t know anything about it.” I shook my head. “Holy shit. Surely to God, she hasn’t kept my kid from me all these fucking years.”
“Maybe he isn’t yours.” Hoping to console me, Goose suggested, “It could’ve been a rebound hookup or something. Some douchebag she met when she got to Paris.”
“Not a chance.” I slammed the folder shut, but the photograph of Ford’s strikingly familiar face burned into my mind.
Goose let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “Man, if this kid is yours, Tallie’s got some explaining to do.”
“She’s got more than explaining to do.” I stood abruptly, the chair screeching against the floor. “If Ford is mine, I’ve missed seven fucking years of his life. First steps, first words, birthdays… All because she chose to keep him from me.”
“Hold on, now.” Goose raised a hand, his tone cautious. “Don’t go jumping to conclusions just yet. Maybe there’s a reason she kept quiet.”
“Oh, yeah?” Anger simmered beneath my skin as I snapped, “Like what? What excuse could she have for keeping my kid from me?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged, clearly uncomfortable with the question. “Maybe she thought it was for the best, or maybe she was scared.”
“Scared of what? Me?” My throat tightened at the thought. “She knew I would’ve done anything for her.”
“More like her father and his threats. You see who he’s working for. Maybe she thought telling you would jeopardize her life in Paris. Or she might’ve thought she was protecting the kid or even you. I don’t know.”
“Scared or not, she should’ve told me.” I ran a hand through my hair. “I had a right to know.”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it. We both do.” Shep nodded slowly. “But you don’t need to go running over there half-cocked and demanding answers.”
“So, what the hell am I supposed to do?”
“Give the dust some time to settle,” Shep urged. “She’s got your number. Give her a chance to come to you.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“Well, then, you take matters into your own hands.”
8
TALLIE
“You’ll never guess who I saw tonight.”
“Who?”
I dropped the bags I’d gathered from the apartment on the floor, then watched her expression as I answered, “Holt.”
“What?” Her eyes grew wide, and her face was marked with a mix of surprise and worry. “But how is that possible?”
“Because you and everyone else in this stupid family lied to me, and he didn’t really die overseas!”
I‘d spent over an hour sobbing in my apartment, and I still felt like I was on the brink of tears. I felt so betrayed, but more than that, I felt so stupid. I believed them all when they told me he was gone. I never even questioned it. I just couldn’t imagine that the people I loved most would lie to me and watch me fall apart for months on end.