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All the issues we faced would be ending soon. After spending the last two weeks combing through Amanda’s and Jennifer’s lives, there had been no additional leads. It bothered Steve that he hadn’t been able to find the computer Amanda had used to communicate with Jennifer. And she had been committed to an institution due to mental instability, calling herself Sawyer Wade. It was creepy, but she was somewhere secure.
We rounded the corner of the marble cream and black columns in the lobby, and I nearly tripped when I saw the man waiting for us. He was Kurt—an exact replica—just older. His dark hair was cut shorter and he was in a business suit, but the features were spot on.
“
Son, it’s good to see you.”
Oh my gosh. His voice sounded the same, too. As he moved toward us, it was hard to take my eyes off him. Kurt and his sperm donor were nearly exact replicas, except for where it mattered.
“Doug.” Kurt’s voice was devoid of any emotion, but the narrowed, flat eyes showed his utter contempt for the man.
Doug turned his attention to me and gave me a smile I was all too familiar with, yet it lacked…something. Life. I looked closer and realized this man was heartless and cold—the exact opposite of Kurt.
“I presume you are Sawyer Wade.”
His arrogant tone raised my hackles, and I immediately wanted to start in on him. Instead, my response underwhelmed even me. “I am.”
“And you have my grandson.”
What an asshole. Kurt started to speak, but I interrupted. “Biologically speaking, I guess you could say that.”
There. That had a little more pizzazz in it. Don’t mess with my family, jerkwad.
Doug took a step back and smirked. “You’ve got some fire.”
I matched his smirk. You have no idea, buddy, so don’t fuck with us.
Grabbing my hand, Kurt took control. “Dinner is in one of the conference rooms down here. Let’s get this discussion over with.”
Why are we serving this asshole a meal? We walked into the room. Delicious smells filled the air in the otherwise sterile-looking place. Other than Steve, the room was empty. Kurt pulled out my chair, and I sat. Doug watched the two of us.
“So, son, another year. Thanks for agreeing to meet with me.”
Kurt’s jaw worked, and I knew he was about to break the news to him. But I had to know something. Suddenly not hungry, I put my napkin on the plate. “Why do you ask him to dinner?”
The man looked appalled at me for daring to question him. “Excuse me?”
“I’m curious. Once a year, during the month of his birthday, you ask Kurt to dinner. Why? If you wanted to mend fences, wouldn’t you touch base a little more frequently? Or is this your way of trying to fuck with his mind so you get more money.”
This man rubbed me the wrong way on so many levels. The light was coming back into Kurt’s eyes. Then I saw the fire. Good.
Doug took a sip of water, watching me, trying to take the upper hand. That would not happen. Finally, he put his glass on the table. “Maybe I don’t feel like Kurt’s ready to make amends.”
“Or maybe that’s a total bullshit line.”
Doug narrowed his eyes. “I believe my son can speak for himself.”
I gave a sweet smile. “He absolutely can.”
Under the table, Kurt grabbed my hand. “This will be the last dinner. After tonight, I don’t want to ever see you again.”
“That seems awfully harsh, son. I want to make things right.”
Slippery slimy weasel whose gravy train is pulling out of the depot.
Mimicking his father, Kurt took a drink of his water. “I won’t ask you again. Don’t call me son. Tonight’s the last time you’ll be able to reach me.”
“Then I’ll need enough to tide me over. Otherwise I’ll be forced to share certain incidents with the media.”
