by J. C. Reed
I closed my eyes. “Chase was right. Her last Will was inside. She wanted me to have the estate.”
“That’s awesome.” Her lips curved into a smile.
“I don’t know,” I whispered.
“What do you mean?”
“Just that I’m not sure. She said a lot of things. I feel so confused.”
“Is that the reason why you didn’t come home?” Jude asked.
“Yes.” I plopped down on the sofa. Jude sat down next to me, the party forgotten. “I needed time to think, to process.”
It was the truth.
After reading my mom’s letter I had decided to stay in Acapulco for another week. The time alone had done me good. It had helped me process. Helped me come to terms with the past.
Chase Wright was another story. That was one chapter of my life I didn’t seem able to close. Now that he had obtained the letters for me would forever tie him to me. He had helped me, just like he had promised. The gratitude I felt for him would continue to feed the guilt I felt at not helping him get rid of the demons of his past.
“It’s not just about your mom, is it?” Jude remarked softly.
I nodded. “My father’s still alive.”
“I can’t believe it,” Jude said shocked.
I shook my head grimly. “Me neither.”
“Then, why are you crying?”
“I don’t know.” I wiped my hand over my face. “A few years before my mom had me she had a boy. She gave him up for adoption. Chase has a brother who’s adopted. He has the same first name as mentioned in my mom’s letter. It’s such an unusual name—” I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, unable to finish the thought that had kept my mind occupied.
Jude stared at me, her confusion etched on her face. “I don’t understand. You think he is—”
I nodded. “It’s just a hunch, but—” I let out another breath. “Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but I believe he might be my brother. But that’s not even the worst.”
Squeezing her hand, I told her everything. About the rape, my father, my mom’s illness. The struggles and the mistrust.
Jude listened intently, her face pale, her eyes shimmering with tears. Every now and then a tear rolled down her cheek. She wiped at it silently, her eyes never leaving me.
“You don’t always have to assume the worst, you know,” she whispered as soon as I had finished. “Like you said, it’s just a hunch. You could be wrong.”
“You’re right. I thought that, too. The problem is—” I closed my eyes for a moment. “—Kade does kind of look like my mother, but more than that, he looks like a younger version of my grandfather. I didn’t see the resemblance at first, but the way he moved, the way he talked, the way he smiled—the resemblance is uncanny.” My voice began to shake. “If he’s my brother, I don’t know what to do. What do you think?”
Her grip on my hand tightened. “We need to find out and then we’ll take it from there.”
“I’m so scared,” I whispered. “I’m so scared that I might not be wrong.”
“Let’s worry about that later,” Jude said determined. “Have you told Chase?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“You should.”
“I can’t,” I whispered. “I told him not to contact me ever again. I can’t break my own rule.”
***
The letter arrived eight weeks later. It looked like any other letter. What caught my attention was the sender’s return address. That’s why I waited for Jude to get back from work before opening it.
“It came,” I shouted as soon as the door closed behind her.
“What came?” She dropped her handbag on the floor and turned to stare at me.
I held the letter in front of her. Her facial expression instantly changed from nonchalant to anxious. “Oh. What does it say?”
“I didn’t have the stomach to open it yet. I waited for you for like four hours.”
“Good,” she said and headed for the kitchen. “Let me grab a bottle. I have a feeling we’ll need lots of alcohol.”
“Thought of it already.” I pointed at the bottle of wine and the two glasses on the table.
We sat down at the kitchen table. For a while, we remained silent, until Jude pointed at the letter in my hands.
“If you don’t open it this instant, I swear to God I will.”
My gaze moved from the letter to her impatient face, my heart beating too fast. Groaning, she yanked the letter out of my hands and tore it open.
“What does it say?” I asked and inched forward to peer over her shoulder.
She shrugged, and disappointment flashed across her face. “They talk about confidentiality and blah, blah, blah. In short, they don’t want to tell you. You have to contact Chase, tell him about it.”
My stomach felt as though someone had just pulled a rug from beneath my feet.
“I can’t. I told him—”
“I know what you said, Laurie. You’ve only recalled that story about a million times.” Jude rolled her eyes the way she always did when she was about to lose her patience with me. “But if you don’t contact him, I don’t know who else could help. Let’s face it.” She tossed the letter onto the table and interlinked her fingers. “Chase is close to his brother. It would be easy for him to persuade Kade to get tested to find out if there’s any chance you guys are related. Don’t you think you deserve to know the truth?”
I nodded. “I do, but what if he doesn’t want to know? What if we’re wrong? That would be so awkward.”
“Is that better than living in the dark?”
“No,” I said. She was right, as usual. My hands grew clammy at the thought of calling Chase, maybe even seeing him again. “What do I even say?”
“Tell him the truth, Laurie.” Jude smiled softly. “The way I see it, you both have a lot in common. You both have lost a lot in your lives. Chase lost his mom to an illness, so did you. So did Kade. Talk to him. Explain it. See what happens. Maybe you’ll be surprised.”
My heart slammed into my ribs.
At last, I gave a sigh. “I’ll think about it.”
“No, don’t think,” Jude said, her tone betraying her annoyance. “Just do it.”
That evening, after Jude went to bed, I opened my laptop. Even though the prospect of contacting Chase was terrifying, it also made me hopeful.
I had to do it.
More than two months had passed since that day on the beach. The only contact we had was me sending him a copy of my mom’s last Will to help him with his case. Because truth be told, while Clint might have cared for my mom during their marriage, she had been right in her letters. He had been after her money. By now, I knew her words by heart. She had wanted me to have Waterfront Shore, not just a quarter of the money.
After downing a glass of wine to help me man up, I started to type an email because, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t see him. I couldn’t talk with him face to face just yet. His memory was too strong, my pain too raw.
It took me hours to write up the parts of my mom’s story that were of importance to him: a bit of her life, the adoption, adding my plea to get his brother tested so we’d find out whether Kade and I were related.
Outside, night had fallen. A glance at my watch revealed it was three a.m. Once done, I leaned back and pressed my glass against my hot cheek, welcoming the cool sensation on my skin. I had logged off and almost switched off my laptop when Chase’s reply came by text.
You can always count on me. I’m going to ask him tomorrow.
I smiled, oblivious to the fact that he was still awake, and then I typed back a reply.
Thank you. When do you want to meet?
His answer came quickly.
The correct question is where? I’ll be at Club 69 tomorrow 11 p.m. sharp.
I stared at the screen, my chest heaving with excitement, until my eyes fell on
Club 69?
69? Is that some kind of joke?
My fingers drummed on the table impatiently.
No joke. It’s my favorite.
The club or the position?
I laughed the way I hadn’t laughed in a long time.
Was it a wise idea to see him? Could I do it? And 11 p.m.? Then again, the late hour wasn’t a surprise. Chase was a lawyer who probably worked late.
And it wasn’t like we were going on a date. Before I could reply, my phone beeped again.
Is it true? You really think Kade could be your half-brother?
I bit my lip as I pondered my answer. Then I wrote:
I wouldn’t ask you to do this if I wasn’t sure.
A minute passed. Then another. At last he replied.
I’ll be emailing you the address of a friend of mine who’s a doctor. Make sure to visit him tomorrow. He’ll tell you how the DNA test works.
I typed my next message, then got up to get ready for bed.
Thanks, I owe you one.
I left the phone on the nightstand and switched off the lights. A few moments later, the screen lit up with a reply.
Do you miss me?
I stared at his text, my heart pounding hard as my brain began to try to interpret the motivation behind his question. Was he still thinking about us? Was he missing me? What the fuck could I possibly reply to that without offending him, or letting my guard down?
At last, I decided to stick to the truth as I replied,
Yes.
Chapter 25
Club 69 was one of the most prestigious nightclubs in Los Angeles with similar establishments in NYC and major cities in the United States. That’s where the celebrities hung out, where scandals took place, and a long line of paparazzi waited day and night to take that one major picture that would make them rich. Unsurprisingly, it was a place I didn’t frequent. The fact that Chase did, rendered me both impressed and pissed beyond my wildest dreams.
The moment I stated my name, the bouncer opened the doors and motioned me inside. I stopped in the doorway to gawk. Boy, was it big and sparkling, with loud music, stunning light work, and exquisite decorations on various levels. Gorgeous women seemed to stand around at every corner, their hungry eyes scanning the crowd for what I assumed where celebrities or someone at least half-famous to hang on to for the night.
Dressed in a short but inconspicuous black dress, I wriggled passed the crowd swaying to the music blaring in the background.
How the fuck was I supposed to find my way to the bar? I considered stopping a scantily-clad woman to ask for directions, then decided against it. By the time I found the bar, I was fifteen minutes late and sure Chase had probably bolted figuring I was a no-show.
As soon as my eyes fell on him, my breath caught in my throat.
He looked so darn sexy.
Sexier than in my naughtiest thoughts.
He was so gorgeous, it took my breath away.
Judging from the tailored business suit and the leather briefcase occupying the seat next to him, he looked like he had worked late. And maybe he had. He was so engrossed in his drink, I had a few moments to take him all in before he felt my stare on him and turned.
His eyes swept over the crowd, focused on the entrance for a few moments, and then they found me.
His expression relaxed a little, and a smile lit his lips as he waved at me.
I headed for him, barely able to contain my own smile.
“Hi Laurie.” He stood and leaned in to kiss my cheek. His lips brushed my skin, sending jolts of pleasure through my body.
“Chase,” I whispered, my mouth opening and closing as I struggled for words.
“I got us a table.” His hand moved to the small of my back as he guided me through the crowd to an upper level where the noise level was bearable and everything seemed more relaxed.
“How are you doing?” he asked as soon as I had sat down and he had taken his seat opposite from me.
“I’m great. How are you?”
God, could I sound more breathy?
“Busy but good.” He smiled and moistened his lips. His gaze swept over my body, but didn’t linger the way it had a few months ago. My heart dropped just a little bit. Had he moved on already? “It’s good to see you. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. It’s good to see you, too.” Heat crept up my body and face. “You look…” My throat closed in.
He looked perfect.
Like a god.
So sexy I wanted to rip his clothes off and make love to him right there and then.
God, I missed running my hands over his body, kissing every inch of him.
“I’m not dressed to fit the crowd,” Chase said nonchalantly. “I had a business meeting here an hour ago.” As if to emphasize his words, he let his hand run down his business suit. The ring on his finger sparkled in the lights. He noticed my glance and lifted his hand in the air, a soft smile on his lips. “Still married, remember?”
“Yeah. Got to play the part and all.” I nodded, swallowing down the sudden lump in my throat. “How’s everything going for you?”
“Good. Much better than expected.” His expression remained relaxed, as if nothing could faze him. “The guy knows how to put up a fight. I’ll have to give him that. But thanks to your mom’s last will, he’s going to lose. Big time. I know my game.”
Of course he did. I wouldn’t have expected anything less from Chase Wright.
“How sure are you?”
His lips curled into a show stopping grin. “Very sure. Let’s say we could be toasting.”
“Can’t. I’m very superstitious,” I said faintly.
He shrugged. “I’m not. It’s a good case.”
“Do you need my mom’s letters?” I asked even though I hoped he’d say ‘no’ because I wasn’t ready to disclose the dark parts of her yet.
He cocked his head to the side and regarded me interested. “Why are you asking? Do you have them with you?”
“Just one. It’s the one I think you should read.” My hands trembled slightly as I picked up the photocopy I had made and passed it to him.
“May I?” He pointed at the piece of paper
“Yeah, go ahead.” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat as he started to read.
“I’m going to get us a drink,” I mumbled, ready to jump to my feet.
“No need. I already ordered before you arrived.”
Like on cue, a woman appeared with a tray and placed our drinks in front of us.
I began to sip my cocktail nervously, my gaze focused on the dance floor below. Club 69 was stunning. Everyone seemed to have such a great time—everyone but me.
At last, Chase leaned back, and his eyes settled on me in silence.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he said softly, pushing the piece of paper toward me.
“I couldn’t. It’s not something that can be said in an email.”
“I get it. It’s not something you can discuss.” He stared at the piece of paper with a deep frown, his thoughts miles away.
Or maybe that was what I wanted to believe.
“So what do you think?” I asked. “Could it be Kade? He’s the same age and he looks like my mom and my grandfather. If you could convince him to get the test done, then—”
“I already got it.”
“What?” My heart lurched. “When?”
I had waited weeks for an answer, and he managed to get the results within twenty-four hours?
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Today. This morning. The results came back a few hours later.” He downed his glass before his gaze met mine again.
My body began to tremble with anticipation. My mind was barely able to form the words, and yet I couldn’t stand the tension. I had to know.
“What did the test say?”
The silence that followed became unbearable. The seconds that ticked by felt like an eternity.
“He’s your brother, Laurie,” Chase said slowly.
A gasp escaped my mouth, and I closed my
eyes. “Oh, my God.”
Kade wasn’t just the man who had come up with the plan of deceiving me; he was also my brother.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“I’m positive. There’s barely any doubt.” He opened his briefcase and handed me the results. “I wouldn’t have thought it, but you’re right. Based on the genetic profile you share the same mother.”
“What did he say?” I stared at the results, then at Chase.
He shook his head. “Kade doesn’t know yet.”
I frowned. “How did you get him tested?”
Chase’s lips twitched, and for a moment his perfect face reminded me of the seemingly carefree guy from our first meeting. God, he was so beautiful it took my breath away.
“My doctor friend, you know, the one I mentioned, called him to tell him he might have caught a sexually transmitted disease. Kade being the manwhore he is, bought it, so he stopped by the clinic straight away.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh or be shocked.
Another silence.
“Why didn’t you tell him the truth?” I asked.
Chase hesitated. “Look, I’m not trying to sway your decision. It’s your call whether you want to tell him or not, but if you ask me, I don’t think telling him is a good idea.” His fingers clutched at the papers, almost crumbling them. The movement made me nervous. “I’ve known him most of my life. Kaiden has a lot of anger issues, particularly toward his adoption. In my opinion, he’s not ready to face the truth.”
“What makes you say that?” I asked
“His anger issues are out of control,” he said quietly. “He’s a sex addict.”
“Oh.” I swallowed, embarrassed. “The manwhore part wasn’t a joke.”
“When Kade turned eighteen, he was offered the opportunity to find out who his real parents were. He decided against it. Instead, he became obsessed with our parents’ death.” Chase winced, hesitating again as he considered his words carefully. “You need to understand. They had died a few weeks earlier. He loved them. We fought. I stupidly called him a bastard and almost lost him. He actually asked me never to bring up the adoption again.”