“Why would my father want to kill us all?”
“The man who was married to your mother, Will Tate, wasn’t your father,” Andros said. “This was why I valued you that night. And if your child had been a son...there would have been no limit to the value and possibilities.” Andros shrugged. “It was a gamble and I lost.” His eyebrows rose as a grin came to life. “No, I didn’t lose. I made an investment. I had my turn and Marion has paid handsomely.”
I stood and walked toward the fireplace, yet I couldn’t feel the heat. I spun toward the men. “The man who raised me wasn’t my father? How do you know this?”
“Senator McFadden assured us that a DNA test had been performed at Dr. Miller’s. There was too much potential to not bid on you.”
I recalled that horrible night. The senator had said he’d had me. He was one of the men at Dr. Miller’s. I looked up at Marion and Andros as the meal Eloise delivered churned in my stomach. “Are you saying that he, the senator, is my father?”
“No,” they said in unison.
I let out a long breath. “Who then, and why and how did the senator know?”
Marion’s eyebrows rose as he tilted his head. “If there’s one rule in this world it’s to learn all you can about your opponent.”
“It’s the reason I sent you to Marion in Chicago, remember?” Andros said. “You were to learn all you could.”
My head shook. “But that wasn’t the truth. You sent me to Marion so he could meet me, so this...” I gestured between us.
Andros shrugged. “I have a war to finance. Ruby isn’t a boy and you’re unable to conceive. However, in time, Ruby will.”
“Wait.”
Marion lifted his hand. “We’re not suggesting with one of us. The who in that equation is her choice. As your husband, I will adopt her. She will be my daughter.”
I tried to make sense of this riddle. “My biological father was an opponent of the senator? Did my biological father know about me?”
“Men like him don’t appreciate the appearance of bastard children or grandchildren making a claim on their empires.”
“They arrange car accidents,” Andros said with a sneer.
“Perhaps they should choose mistresses with more common names,” Marion added.
“My mother was some rich guy’s mistress?” I shook my head. “I don’t want a claim—” The truth before me hit me. “You want to make a claim.”
“That was the plan,” Andros said.
“Who is he? Tell me.”
“He’s deceased,” Marion said.
“So there’s no claim,” I replied. “Let me go. Let Ruby go. This is over.”
Marion retook his seat. “No, your father’s empire still exists, and it’s stronger than ever.”
Patrick
I’d awakened to a text message from Reid to meet immediately on two. After all that had happened, I’d been anxious to get upstairs to the penthouse, the place where Ruby had spent the night. While I agreed that having her alone with me in my apartment would be questionable to the world, in our tower, we weren’t in the world. She was my daughter, my flesh and blood.
The reason Ruby slept in the penthouse wasn’t only to avoid the appearance of impropriety or out of concern that Ruby would be uncomfortable. It was her immediate taking to Sparrow’s wife, Araneae.
It was Sparrow’s plan that upon arrival, Ruby and I would take the elevator to the apartments, the floor that held Mason and Laurel’s, Reid and Lorna’s, and my residences. Then we would meet with the doctor, directly off the elevators in our common area. It was similar to what you’d see in a hotel lobby—stupid and wasted space—but it came in handy once in a while.
As the two of us took the elevator higher and higher into Chicago’s skyline, I explained to Ruby that there would be a doctor waiting. I told her that her mother wanted to be certain that she was unharmed.
When the elevator doors opened, Dr. Dixon was present and thankfully alone. After introducing the two of them, they went into my apartment. Before I knew it, the elevator doors opened and I was joined by my three best friends. It wasn’t five minutes before their wives also joined us.
While the men were more reserved, the ladies buzzed with excitement. If I’d ever been concerned about how they would react to my long-kept secret, I needn’t have.
When the door to my apartment opened, Ruby was met with a seven-person greeting party.
It made me smile that she came to me.
“Are they all my mom’s friends too?” she asked.
Before I could answer, Araneae Sparrow came forward and reached for Ruby’s hands. “We will be.”
My lack of sleep was evident as I turned away and cleared the accumulating moisture from my eyes.
Later that night, with all eight of us in Sparrow’s kitchen doing our best to make Ruby comfortable while Lorna plied her with sweets and other foods, Araneae came to me.
“I was sixteen.”
“We all were.”
“No, Patrick, I was sixteen when my world changed. I lost the only parents I ever knew. I needed friends. I know we don’t have the test results yet, but I don’t care. I know what it’s like to be lost in this big world at Ruby’s age. I will do anything to help her through that.”
I also knew what it was like to be alone, but my story was different. In many ways Araneae’s and Ruby’s held similarities I’d never considered. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You could say that she may stay up here in the penthouse.”
My gaze went to Sparrow who was watching us from the other side of the room. “I think you should discuss that with your husband first.”
Araneae’s brown eyes sparkled. “I promise, I’ve got it covered. Besides, we have, like, a trillion bedrooms upstairs, ones that are only used when we...” She smiled. “Never mind that. The sheets are clean and Ruby will be my first official guest.”
Now, the next morning, I was waiting for the elevator to open so I could answer Reid’s call. When the door opened, I was met with Sparrow’s dark glare.
“Good morning,” I said as I stepped in.
“Hmm.”
“How did she do?”
He shook his head. “Fine, I think. Araneae checked on her about ten times. It’s not like anyone can leave the tower. I swear my wife was up more last night than I was.”
I gave him a sideways glance. “Sorry.”
Sparrow laughed. “That’s not what I meant. What I mean is that if Reid has the results and she’s not your kid, I’m going to have to deal with my wife. This is why we can’t have a cat. She’s easily attached.”
The elevator came to a stop on two.
“She’s Madeline’s daughter,” I said as we both stepped from the elevator. “I believe she’s also mine, but if somehow we learn she isn’t, that doesn’t change the fact that I want to help Madeline and Ruby escape whatever hold Ivanov has on them.”
We walked across the hallway to the sensor beside the steel door. A quick scan of my hand and the door slid open.
“It’s about time,” Reid said.
Mason was sitting on a nearby chair with a coffee mug in his hand. Shrugging, he said, “I got the text too.”
“Is this about the paternity test?” Sparrow asked. “Or is it bigger? Is this something with the bratva?”
Reid took a deep breath. “Yes, it’s about the paternity test. Yes, it’s bigger. I don’t know how it relates to Ivanov.”
“You’re making me nervous,” I said.
“Everyone, sit down,” Reid instructed. “As you know we asked for a rush on the saliva test. The blood one should confirm the findings but will take another forty-eight hours.”
“Fuck, man, just tell us.” I didn’t need a preamble.
With the rest of us sitting, Reid stood. “The way this works—”
“We have a war,” Sparrow said decisively.
“This will only take a minute,” Reid said. “We all have DNA segments called alleles. We g
et one DNA segment from our mother and one from our father. These segments vary in length. It’s the length of the alleles that is compared for paternity testing. The best possible test includes the mother’s DNA. As you know we didn’t have Madeline’s. The recommendation then is to have a contrasting test subject, one you know won’t register as a possible paternity match.”
My nerves were ready to snap. “Reid, fucking please.”
“Okay, well.” He spoke faster. “We didn’t have Madeline’s DNA so Dr. Dixon used DNA from the three of us for comparison—you know, to show that you, Patrick, are a better match than any one of us.”
“And?”
“And with a possibility of paternity at 99.98 percent you are not excluded as her father.”
My eyes opened wide. Even though math was my thing, I wasn’t ready for an equation. “In plain fucking English.”
“Ruby is your daughter.”
It wasn’t the same as announcing a pregnancy or a birth. There were no cigars with pink bands to pass around. Nevertheless, it was fucking surreal. Springing from our chairs, I was met with hugs, back slaps, and genuine words of congratulations. “I’m not shocked,” I said. “I’m confirmed.”
“Let’s go upstairs and eat breakfast,” Sparrow said. “Lorna was cooking when I left. Now we can get our heads straight and concentrate on Ivanov.”
“And Madeline,” I said.
“Do you plan to tell Ruby?” Mason asked as the three of us headed toward the door.
“Stop.”
The three of us turned back to Reid.
“I know we’re busy,” he said, “but could everyone sit down for one more little thing?”
Exchanging glances, we all slowly retook our seats.
“You said she’s my daughter?” I questioned. “The blood test won’t reverse that?”
“She’s your daughter,” Reid confirmed. “Dr. Dixon was certain of that. However, she was perplexed by another result that she found.” He had our attention. “She was so surprised that she ran the test three times.”
“What test?” I asked.
“Mason’s and my counter tests came back with no statistically significant number of similar markers.” Reid said.
“Yours and Mason’s,” Sparrow repeated a bit slower.
“Yes,” Reid said with a nod. “I’m just going to say it.”
We all waited.
“While Mason and I share a statistically insignificant number of genetic markers with Ruby...” He took a breath. “Sparrow, you share just under twenty-five percent of the genetic markers—a statistically significant amount.”
Sparrow stood and lifted his hands. “I never met Madeline before the other night.”
“No,” Reid said. “You’re not Ruby’s father. Dr. Dixon and I consulted Laurel...” He looked at Mason, took another deep breath, and turned back to Sparrow. “...we are all in agreement that while you’re not Ruby’s father, genetically you’re related—statistically, closely related.”
“That isn’t possible.”
Madeline
Last night
“Does this mystery asshole who didn’t want to be bothered with bastard relations have a name?” I asked.
“His name was Allister,” Marion said. “Your father’s name was Allister.”
“Is that supposed to mean something?”
“You might be more familiar with his son,” Andros said with a fucking shit-eating grin on his lips.
“Tell me.”
“I believe you’ve met your brother,” he said, “Sterling Sparrow.”
* * *
Thank you for reading FLAME. Patrick and Madeline’s story concludes in ASHES. You’re not going to want to miss a moment of WEB OF DESIRE. Preorder Ashes now by tapping on the titles.
* * *
And if you haven’t read WEB OF SIN, Sterling Sparrow and Araneae’s story, begin the completed trilogy today by clicking on SECRETS. Keep turning the pages for a sneak peek.
* * *
Lastly, if you haven’t read TANGLED WEB, Mason/Kader and Laurel’s story, begin the completed trilogy today by clicking on TWISTED. Check out a sneak peek of TWISTED after the glimpse into SECRETS.
Human Trafficking Resources
Human trafficking is a real and horrible crime happening throughout our world today. Madeline’s story was not meant to portray her experience as romantic.
If you know or suspect someone is a victim, or if you yourself are a victim, please call:
National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-888-373-7888 (TTY:711) or Text 233733
The National Human Trafficking Hotline connects victims and survivors of sex and labor trafficking with services and supports to get help and stay safe. The National Hotline also receives tips about potential situations of sex and labor trafficking and facilitates reporting that information to the appropriate authorities in certain cases.
The toll-free phone and SMS text lines and live online chat function are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English or Spanish, or in more than 200 additional languages through an on-call interpreter.
If you would like to help in the fight against human trafficking here are but two recognized organizations:
Durga Tree International
Mission: Durga Tree International’s mission is to raise funds that support global initiatives to heal, protect, educate, and economically empower survivors of Modern Slavery. We bring together qualified partner organizations in the spirit of collaboration to support their individual and collective strengths, create a support network for modern abolitionists, foster a variety of programs around the globe effectively dealing with the many facets of modern slavery, and educate local US communities about their relationship to Human Trafficking and how it effects every person’s life.
Polaris Project
Donate today
Mission: Polaris is a leader in the global fight to eradicate modern slavery. Named after the North Star that guided slaves to freedom in the U.S., Polaris systemically disrupts the human trafficking networks that rob human beings of their lives and their freedom. Our comprehensive model puts victims at the center of what we do – helping survivors restore their freedom, preventing more victims, and leveraging data and technology to pursue traffickers wherever they operate.
A peek at SECRETS, book #1 Web of Sin
Araneae
PROLOGUE
My mother’s fingers blanched as she gripped the steering wheel tighter with each turn. The traffic on the interstate seemed to barely move, yet we continued to swerve in, out, and around other cars. From my angle I couldn’t read the speedometer, though I knew we were bordering on reckless driving. I jumped, holding my breath as we pulled in front of the monstrous semi, the blare of a truck’s horn filling our ears. Tons of metal and sixteen wheels screeched as brakes locked behind us, yet my mother’s erratic driving continued.
“Listen very carefully,” she said, her words muffled by the quagmire of whatever she was about to say, the weight pulling them down as she fluttered her gaze between the road ahead and the rearview mirror.
“Mom, you’re scaring me.”
I reached for the handle of the car door and held on as if the seat belt couldn’t keep me safe while she continued to weave from lane to lane.
“Your father,” she began, “made mistakes, deadly mistakes.”
My head shook side to side. “No, Dad was a good man. Why would you say that?”
My father, the man I called Dad for as long as I could remember, was the epitome of everything good: honest and hardworking, a faithful husband, and an omnipresent father.
He was.
He died less than a week ago.
“Listen, child. Don’t interrupt me.” She reached into her purse with one hand while the other gripped tighter to the wheel. Removing an envelope from the depths of the bag, she handed it my direction. “Take this. Inside are your plane tickets. God knows if I could aff
ord to send you away farther than Colorado, I would.”
My fingers began to tremble as I looked down at the envelope in my grasp. “You’re sending me away?” The words were barely audible as my throat tightened and heaviness weighed down upon my chest. “Mom—”
Her chin lifted in the way it did when her mind was set. I had a million visions of the times I’d seen her stand up for what she believed. At only five feet three, she was a pit bull in a toy poodle body. That didn’t mean her bark was worse than her bite. No, my mother always followed through. In all things she was a great example of survival and fortitude.
“When I say your father,” she went on, “I don’t mean my husband—may the Lord rest his soul. Byron was a good man who gave his...everything...for you, for us. He and I have always been honest with you. We wanted you to know that we loved you as our own. God knows that I wanted to give birth. I tried to get pregnant for years. When you were presented to us, we knew you were a gift from heaven.” Her bloodshot eyes—those from crying through the past week since the death of my dad—briefly turned my direction and then back to the highway. “Renee, never doubt that you’re our angel. However, the reality is somewhere darker. The devil has been searching for you. And my greatest fear has always been that he’d find you.”
The devil?
My skin peppered with goose bumps as I imagined the biblical creature: male-like with red skin, pointed teeth, and a pitchfork. Surely that wasn’t what she meant?
Her next words brought me back to reality.
“I used to wake in a cold sweat, fearing the day had arrived. It’s no longer a nightmare. You’ve been found.”
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