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“Them who?”
“Her family. Jessup found out. I don’t know how nor did I care because it didn’t have shit to do with me. But when your father told Jessup he was done, Jessup got pissed and told someone who your mother was.”
“Told who?”
“I don’t fucking know. He never shared any of that with the rest of us. Only thing we knew was that your mother’s family were some really sick people. Dangerous. Worse than both of you. Jessup’s the one who told them where your mother was. They’re the ones who killed your mother. Her own damn family, not Jessup. When your father found out, he lost his shit, tried to get to Jessup, but he ran.”
Of course he fucking did, Carter thought.
He lifted his gun. “Who. Killed. Her?”
“I told you I don’t know but it was someone in her family. Jessup kept saying they were pissed because she chose your father over them. He never used names and I’m guessing that was to cover his ass. Your parents had been hiding for years. Changed their names, moved away, and basically disappeared, living off the grid. Not many people knew their deal. Jessup found out. That’s all I know but it’s also why Jessup brought you on. He told them about your mother but not you. They didn’t know she had a son. Jessup kept that to himself. Some sick twisted vendetta. He lost your father as a weapon but gained you. He bragged about it to us all the time.”
“He didn’t bring me on,” Carter growled.
“He did. Your first job was through Jessup. You just didn’t know. You were a gotdamn kid. Why would anyone take you seriously or respect you? Your first few years he was behind the scenes, pulling strings that you were tied to. By the time he actually reached out for the first job in person, it wasn’t because he heard about you. He knew firsthand who you were, how you worked. He knew how good you were because of your father. Jessup is the reason you were so easily accepted, but once you proved your worth, he got greedy and needed to keep you close.”
Carter growled and pushed the gun under Kessler’s chin.
“You gave me your word.” Kessler’s eyes landed on Kohen.
“Let him go, Reed. Give me the gun. I’m a man of my word and I promised you wouldn’t kill him.” Kohen carefully wrapped his hand around the gun, taking it from Carter. But the minute he had the weapon secured he turned to Kessler. “Leave. Now. Before I change my mind.”
Foolishly naïve, Kessler trusted Kohen to be a man of his word, which he was. However Kessler didn’t consider all possibilities. So when Kohen called his name just before he left the room and he looked over his shoulder, it was just in time to catch Kohen pull the trigger, releasing a bullet that pierced Kessler’s skull.
Kohen handed the gun to Carter. “I promised him you wouldn’t kill him but never said he wouldn’t die. He never questioned whether or not I would be the one to end his life. Dumb fuck.”
Carter’s eyes lowered to the slumped body and the pool of blood spilling from Kessler’s head. His mind was reeling and he only snapped out of his thoughts when he felt a hand clasp his shoulder. Carter’s angry gaze swung toward Kohen whose narrowed stare was waiting.
“You didn’t know.”
“Did you?”
Kohen’s head shook. “I respected your father. I would have even considered us friends but secrets like that, if what Kessler said is true, your father wouldn’t have shared with anyone. If her family is truly dangerous, that would mean putting you and your mother at risk. I didn’t know.”
“How the fuck did Jessup?”
“You don’t know if it’s true, Carter. What he told you could be a desperate man’s last ditch effort to save his life or an arrogant man’s egotistical rants.”
As much as Carter wanted to write it off, he felt that there was some truth to Kessler’s words in his core.
“Names aren’t important. Your identity is in your bloodline. You’re mine, Carter, not just in name, never forget that.”
His father said that often. Carter never understood what it meant. He attributed it to his father's passion for keeping a legacy but if what Kessler said was true, it made sense. Carter wasn’t a Reed, it was just a name. He had no fucking clue who his parents were, name wise. Regardless, he was theirs, based on the blood that pumped through his veins.
Carter’s every intention was to leave but the minute he stepped back into the ballroom and laid eyes on McKenna, a stunning smile on her face, completely at ease as she stood near the rear of the room with Elena, he settled for being near her instead. As difficult as it was, he pushed thoughts of what he’d learned to the back of his mind. She was happy, he wouldn’t ruin her evening.
When he approached, his hand landed at her hip as he situated his body behind hers. McKenna relaxed into his tall frame when he planted a soft kiss on her shoulder.
“See, perfect timing.” She tilted her head back and smiled at Carter.
“Perfect timing for what,” he rasped. McKenna sent a grin Elena’s way before she explained.
“I just finished my bid.”
“Why is that perfect timing?”
“Because you don’t get to know how much of your money I spent.” McKenna’s smile expanded.
