There was a pause, and then a male voice came through. “Mr. Kingston, I’d like to set up a meeting with you regarding a personal matter.”
“What personal matter?” Skylar asked.
“A letter addressed to your father.”
“My father passed away a couple of years ago, Mr. Montgomery.”
“I’m aware of that. And I’m sorry. However, I feel I should deliver it to you anyway, since you are Silas Kingston’s son.”
“And who is this letter from?” Skylar asked.
“Edwina Montgomery.”
Skylar frowned. “I’m not sure I want to receive that letter.”
“Welcome to the club.”
It wasn’t so much what Logan Montgomery had said, but rather the way he had said it, that piqued Skylar’s curiosity even more. Why did he suddenly feel something, some sort of affinity with someone he had never met? Regardless of the fact that they shared some of the same blood, he never expected their paths to cross. Why was it happening now, when so many good things were happening in his life? Not only was business going extremely well, but more importantly, he’d met someone who was fast becoming the love of his life.
Making a choice that could possibly change his life forever, he opted to go with the gut instinct Silas hadtaught him to use whenever he was faced with a difficult decision. “When would you like to meet so you can deliver this letter?” he asked.
“Will Wednesday work for you?”
Skylar didn’t bother checking his calendar. Regardless of what was on it, he would make it work. “Wednesday is fine. What about around one? At my office.”
“Great. I will see you then. Thank you.”
Because Logan Montgomery likely now knew that he was aware of their relationship, he added, “And I look forward to meeting you, Logan.”
There was a pause, and then Logan said, “I look forward to meeting you as well, Skylar.”
After the call ended, Skylar picked up his cell phone and speed-dialed Dante’s special number. Dante seemed to pick up before the first ring had ended. “What’s wrong, Sky?” he asked in a circumspect tone. This particular number was only used when something serious was at hand.
“I think I know why someone was trying to breach those databases on Dad.” Then he proceeded to tell Dante about the phone call he had just received.
“If he contacts you again, don’t accept the call. I will conduct my own investigation to determine why he is reaching out to you. In the meantime, I will see you on Wednesday.”
Skylar wasn’t surprised that Dante was inviting himself to the meeting. There would never be a time when Dante Avera would not have his back. “Thanks, Dante. I’ll see you on Wednesday.”
Logan leaned back in his chair and typed a message in the group text that he, his brothers, and Connor had set up.
Spoke to Skylar. Started off formal. When I mentioned Edwina’s name, I could tell he became cautious, which means he knows about her. Not sure just how much. He agreed to meet with me on Wednesday at his office. Flying to San Francisco tomorrow as planned. Will keep everyone posted.
A couple of minutes later, he received acknowledgments from everyone. He chuckled. Of course, Lance wouldn’t be Lance unless he had something smart to say.
Too much text to read. Next time, just call.
CHAPTER 20
Skylar and Dante
Skylar checked his watch for the umpteenth time that morning, resenting how anxious he was for this meeting. Especially after reading the documents Dante had forwarded to him about the Montgomerys. Although he had no idea what was in the letter Edwina had sent to his father, he had a gut feeling Dante knew and wasn’t telling him everything. When he questioned Dante about it, he only shrugged and said there were things about the entire situation that Skylar needed to find out for himself. He’d suggested Skylar begin by reading the reports on Edwina’s other four children and her ex-husband. So he had.
He had spent the last two nights reading about the Montgomerys and now knew about Edwina’s husband, Jeremiah. The man had refused to file for a divorce for five years after Edwina ran off with another man, taking her newborn baby girl with her. Edwina had claimed the child belonged to the other man, but Jeremiah believed the child was his. In the end, Jeremiah had been right. That also meant that when Edwina gave birth to him, she was still legally married to Jeremiah Montgomery.
There was no doubt in Skylar’s mind that Mario, Dante’s father, who had been his Silas’ security expert, knew the implications of that, which is probably why Mario had put the fear of God in Edwina Montgomery. At the time of Skylar’s birth, he had two fathers. One biologically and one legally. Had Silas not paid Edwina for him, he would have been born with the last name of Montgomery. He was sure that whatever documents Mario had Edwina sign gave Silas full custody of him. However, things could have gotten messy if Jeremiah Montgomery had taken a mind to fight Silas’s custody claim in a court of law. Skylar was glad that never happened. From what he’d read, Jeremiah hadn’t known he existed. Obviously, Edwina had recently told him. Why now?
Also, from the documentation Dante had given him, Skylar was aware that his three brothers were successful men in their own right. Logan, a plastic surgeon; Lyle, a heart specialist; and Lance, a relationship guru. He recalled that while in college,The Playa’s Handbook,was the talk of the town, and both men and women were devouring it, but for different reasons. He would even admit to reading it himself, but only for entertainment purposes.
