Forbidden Secrets

“Tell them.” Carson’s low demand shocked Graham.

“It’s not my place, son.”

Carson let out a humorless laugh, eased forward and rested his forearms on his legs. Hands dangling between his knees, he glanced toward Brooks and Graham. Trying to offer silent support, Graham nodded for Carson to go on.

“My brothers deserve to know their father,” Carson said, looking back at Sutton. “They keep hitting dead ends. If you can help them—”

“I didn’t call them here,” Sutton interrupted. “I wanted to see you. I don’t have much time, though my doctors keep telling me I’m a fighter. I’m realistic.”

“All the more reason for you to tell us,” Brooks stated. “You may be the only other person who knows. We don’t even know if our birth father is aware of us.”

Sutton simply stared back. He gave no hint of what he knew, no sign that he even cared if they were struggling. Graham never liked the man from his dealings with him in the corporate world. He’d been sneaky and underhanded. He kept secrets, even from his staff. Graham had actually seen one of Sutton’s previous employees win a case against the old man, but that had been during Graham’s internship so he hadn’t had a hand in that win.

Graham knew Sutton wasn’t about to give up the name, if he even knew a name. For all Graham knew, Sutton was just stringing them along. How had Eve turned out so loyal and honest?

Obviously Eve’s mother had a hand in raising her daughter right and was smart enough to finally leave Sutton after years of unfaithful marriage.

“I want to make something clear,” Sutton went on. “Cynthia was the love of my life.”

Graham didn’t want to hear this, didn’t want to be subjected to more lies. But one glance at Carson made Graham realize that his younger brother wanted to know. Not that Carson was naive, but Carson was more prone to forgiveness than Graham or Brooks. So Graham remained silent, though he had plenty of thoughts racing through his mind.

Sutton’s eyes didn’t leave Carson. “I would’ve given anything to be with Cynthia. But my wife was so well connected in Chicago society, it would’ve been career suicide to leave her. Plus, she would’ve made life hell for Cynthia, and I couldn’t allow that.”

“Would you have made the same decision if you’d known about me?”

The underlying tone of vulnerability was something Graham had never seen from Carson. Graham’s younger brother was a rock, he was always in control, but this little meeting was getting to him. Graham prayed Carson would hold it together.

“I would’ve gone through hell to be with my son.”

Sutton’s answer sounded honest. Graham fully believed the man would’ve sacrificed his marriage to Eve’s mother. No doubt Sutton would’ve wanted a son to raise, to mold into his heir. But Eve had filled that role, and she was doing a remarkable job. Maybe too remarkable.

And just like that, his thoughts had once again strayed to Eve during this meeting. He’d be checking on her again when they left here...especially after that little picture she’d sent to torture him.

“I want to hate you,” Carson muttered.

Graham glanced over in time to see Brooks give a manly, reassuring pat to Carson’s shoulder. They were here for Carson, to support him. If he wanted to embrace Sutton as his father and live out these days happily ever after, then that’s what they’d do. But Graham wasn’t so willing to forgive the bastard.

“I know you do,” Sutton agreed. “And you have every right. But I couldn’t die, not without telling you that Cynthia meant the world to me and I regret not having been there for you.”

Graham wasn’t surprised that their mother had kept the baby from Sutton. She’d probably been scared of the backlash and it was just as easy to live with Gerty and raise her boys in secret as opposed to facing legal proceedings, which she wouldn’t have been able to afford.

Silence filled the room. The fire continued to crackle, sending out wayward flickers and orange sparks. Graham glanced around the room. He thought for sure that he’d see pictures of Eve and her sisters here, but there was nothing. Images of Eve staring at pictures of her father on her computer flashed through Graham’s mind. She’d been so eager to get those images uploaded and she’d scrolled through them as though they were her lifeline to her ailing father.

Graham didn’t want Carson to give his loyalty, his love to Sutton, but this wasn’t Graham’s choice to make. Who knew what would happen if and when he ever found his birth father? Maybe Graham would find a jerk who knew about his kids and just didn’t care. What then? Would Graham still forgive him or want to try to make a relationship with him?

“I don’t know what to say, honestly.” Carson stared at his hands dangling between his knees. “I’d like to visit you, maybe see you a little more and talk. For whatever time we have—”

“I’ll take anything,” Sutton said, a soft smile forming on his pale face.

Graham had only seen that smile in Eve’s pictures. Apparently he reserved the emotion for his children. Graham was a bit jealous of how Carson’s journey had ended; he deserved a dad, even if it was Sutton.

Brooks came to his feet and sighed. “I’m done here. Carson, stay as long as you like. I’ll be outside.”

Once Brooks was gone, Graham also stood. He approached Sutton, knowing this may be the last time he ever saw the man. He had no intention of ever coming back.

“I’m glad you’re not my father,” Graham said, leaning down just enough so only Sutton could hear. “But Carson is happy to finally know. If you have to fake affection, do it. He deserves a father who isn’t a jerk.”

“I love my son,” Sutton said simply.

Graham nodded and straightened. It was so tempting to tell him about the baby. So tempting to get just one final jab in. But Graham wasn’t that much of an ass and he’d never do that to Eve. He wanted a chance to show her what a good father he could be and harassing her father was not the way to go about that.

Graham turned to his brother. “I’ll wait outside with Brooks. Seriously, take your time.”

Before Graham had gotten outside, he’d fired off a text to Eve indicating what he’d do to her if he were to ever see her in that Halloween costume.

“That man can rot in hell for all I care.” Brooks rested his back against one of the thick, white columns of the portico. “I’m happy for Carson, but damn it. That man is infuriating.”

Graham stepped forward, shoving his hands into his pockets and hunching his shoulders against the chilly breeze. “Carson has been on the fence for a while now. He wants to forgive Sutton. I hate to come to the guy’s defense, but he didn’t know Carson existed.”

Brooks jerked his gaze around. “Are you serious? You’re going to stand there and make excuses for the guy? If Mom was the love of his life, as he claims, then he would’ve moved heaven and earth to be with her. And he damn well would give a portion of his estate to his biological son.”

When Graham didn’t reply, Brooks narrowed his eyes. “This has to do with Eve, doesn’t it? You’re still hung up on her.”

He was the father of her child. Which was a few levels above being “hung up on her.”

“I’m stating the obvious, that’s all.” Graham wasn’t about to bring Eve into this discussion. She had enough on her plate without being further caught up in this battle. “Sutton and Carson need time to talk alone. You and I will only make things worse.”

Brooks started pacing on the stone walk. “I need Roman to come up with something concrete. I’m putting all my faith in him to find our father.”

“I know,” Graham said, hating how much this issue was controlling Brooks’s life. “But it will happen. We can’t run into dead ends forever. Something will turn up. Someone somewhere knows the truth.”

Brooks snorted and jerked his thumb toward the house. “Yeah. He’s in there.”

Graham stared at the double doors. Sutton knew. Absolutely without a doubt he knew. But Graham refused to beg the man. He would find out on his own. He would not give Sutton any satisfaction in getting one up on him. Ever.

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