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My mother.
Shit.
My mother. Zoey’s aunt.
Alex legs shook and the loud pounding in his ears threw him. He hadn’t expected her to show up at his door. Bennett hadn’t been able to find her. “How—?”
“Did I find you?”
Alex nodded. “I have my men searching for you. That’s why I’m here: to find you. No one knew what happened to you.”
“A friend of yours came and saw me very late last night.”
“Does this friend have a name?” He didn’t have any friends here, so this was a flag. I trust very few people.
“She said her name was Ziva.”
Alex had no idea how Ziva would’ve been able to find her when Bennett couldn’t. Hell, I didn’t even know what her name was until last night. This doesn’t make any sense.
“Did she say how she found you?”
“No. She only told me she got my name from someone called Doug. Maybe coming here wasn’t a good idea. I should go.” Nikolet started toward the door.
“No!” He startled her. In a softer voice, he said, “Please come and sit. I’m sorry for being so rude to you. I just... I didn’t think I’d get to meet you. I’d like to... talk to you.”
Nikolet nodded and went to the couch. “You said you were looking for me. Why?”
“Because you’re my mother.” It was an indisputable fact.
“Yes, I am. But you’re a Henderson. I am a... well, nobody important.”
Alex couldn’t sit and have this conversation. His mother was far from a nobody. Yet, he knew why she thought that. This place, the negative comments, would take its toll on anyone. “You’re not a nobody. Unless you believe me to be a nobody as well.”
She looked shocked. “Of course not. You are rich and powerful and—”
“Just a man. Nothing more. Money doesn’t make a person. It only determines what you can and can’t afford. If anything, money has ruined more good men than I can count. You of all people should know that. My father was... not a good man.”
“No, he wasn’t,” Nikolet said, her voice barely a whisper. Her hands were folded in her lap tightly.
Alex went and sat beside her, reaching out and covering her hands with his. “I’m sorry for what he did to you.”
“It is not your fault.”
“And it is not yours either.”
She looked up at him. “Thank you for letting me see you. I have often wondered what happened to you. Your father came back several times after. I’m sure you know that.”
“Yes, I do.” He wasn’t sure how often, but he had three younger siblings.
“I had slipped in and waited for him on one of his trips here. I had begged him to tell me about you. I knew I’d never get to see you or hold you after I gave birth to you. He’d made it very clear if I ever tried to find you, or contact you in any way, we’d both be killed.” Her voice cracked as she spoke. “He held all the power. I was willing to risk myself to know you were happy.”
“What did he say?”
Nikolet sobbed. “That you were and always would be a Henderson. And I’d always be nothing more than a... a... whore.”
He’d grown up hearing that word. Knowing that’s what his father had called his mother felt like a knife to his heart. “I know who he was and what he called you. He was a disgusting and vile man. But, I want you to know that I know exactly who you are.” It was the first time he’d ever had the chance to say the words. His stomach quivered, as he uttered those precious words. “You’re my mother.”
Nikolet burst into tears, and he pulled her into his arms. He held her while she cried. He fought back his own tears. So much time had gone by. He wished she could have held him as a boy, yet here he was the one holding her as a man. At least, we’ve found each other now.
