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He leans back in his chair, looking at me with a flat sort of expression. My heart thuds a few times but then his phone rings and his attention jerks in the direction of the landline sitting on his desk.
“I have to take this, I’m sorry.”
He answers then flows right into speaking Taiwanese. Perfect, it’s one of his contacts overseas. I press my fingers to my temples, feeling like I might vomit because his long-distance calls can take a while.
This one doesn’t however. He ends the call in less than a minute.
“Darling, this is quite a bombshell. How did you find out?”
“It’s a weird story. But they hired a private investigator to contact me.”
“Theybeing your … brother? Sister?”
I nod. “One or the other. The P.I. gave me a number to call if and when I’m ready to meet them.”
That’s when he gives me a look of shock, darting his gaze to the side and rubbing his face. “Wow. Hmph.”
Okay, I was expecting more than that.
“What should I do?”
“What should you do?” he asks, his tone suggesting that he’s shocked I’ve even asked.
“Yes. I’m at a loss. I’ve spoken with Rigger and—”
“Rigger knows about this?” He flips his palms down on the desk.
“Well … yeah. He’s my best friend. I told him right away. Is there a problem with that?”
Letting out a clipped breath my father seems miffed that I’d dare talk to someone about this. I don’t mention that I also told Ben.
“First off, I wouldn’t go broadcasting this sort of information to others, sweetheart. This is a private family affair.”
I pull back. “Is it? A family affair?”
Daddy quirks his brow at me. “What else would it be?”
“AToveaffair,” I answer, feeling uneasy. “Unless you know something I don’t.”
“I only know that I don’t want others in our business. If your mother had another child before I met her I’d like an opportunity to investigate this myself.”
“So … it was mom?”
“Why yes. It surely wasn’t me.”
“How can you be sure?”
Shaking his head and shoving some papers around on his desk, Daddy seems way more put off by this than I expected. “Because. I haven’t put myself in a position that would make it possible to have a child I don’t know about, Tove.”
“Hmm, okay.”
He gives me a hard look. Daddy and I rarely butt heads like this. But my trust level is wavering right now. And I don’t like him telling me what I can or can’t confide in Rigger.
“How about you give me that number and let me handle it for you.” His voice has softened a bit, but seemingly by force. “And what was the P.I.’s name again?”
“I’m happy to give you the number but I don’t need you to handle anything. I haven’t even decided what I’m going to do yet.” And now I regret telling him there was a number at all. If having to call someone is a trap Daddy will be the one walking into it. I could be puttinghimat risk.
“You don’t need to decide just yet, sweetheart. But in the meantime I can get answers. Then when you’re ready, you can come to me.”
