It’s a weak excuse and we both know it.
Charles snorts a laugh. “Since when has that ever been a problem for you?”
Fair point. I’ve hacked into systems with ten times the security. Cracked encryptions that were supposed to be unbreakable. Medical records and family court documents are child’s play compared to some of the things I’ve accessed for this organization.
But this is different. This is Parker. This is my son.
“Did you talk to Parker about this?” I ask, stalling.
He waves the question off like it’s irrelevant. “I’ll deal with Parker if it comes up. Right now I need you to find what you can. I need to know who the father of my nephews is, especially if she plans to eventually marry someone like Ryan Matthews.”
The name lands like a grenade in the conversation.
“Why is that even a question?” My voice comes out sharper than intended.
“She agreed to go with him to the gala this weekend.” Charles picks up his drink again, swirling the liquid. “If it works out, I assume they’ll date. Eventually marry. Ryan’s been hinting that he’s been in contact with Parker while she was away—helping her out, checking in. Hell, maybe he’s the father and he’s just trying to help her save face.”
The words keep coming and each one feels like a blade sliding between my ribs.
“He was away for so long for school,” Charles continues, oblivious to the way my hands have clenched into fists. “It’s not that big of a stretch that they could have crossed paths before she became pregnant. And he’s seemed very interested in her since she returned. Maybe there’s history there we don’t know about.”
My mind is racing, calculating, spiraling through possibilities I don’t want to consider. Ryan Matthews. Ryan fucking Matthews could be Noah’s father? Or Liam’s?
No. I was there that night. I know what happened. I know one of those boys is mine.
But she kept them a secret. She’s dodged every question about their paternity, deflected every attempt to dig deeper. What if there’s a reason for that beyond just protecting them from Dominic? What if she doesn’t know which one is mine? What if she does know and she’s decided I’m not fit to be a father?
What if Ryan Matthews has been in the picture all along and I’m just the mistake she made one night six years ago?
“I’ll tell you when I have something,” I say, my voice carefully controlled. “But I’ll be working from home for the rest of the day. I can run what I need to on Noah and Liam from my home workstation.”
Charles nods, satisfied. “Good. Keep me updated.” He pauses. “And Cal? This stays between us for now. I don’t want Parker feeling like we’re going behind her back until we have actual information.”
Too late for that.
“Sure thing.” I stand, heading for the door.
“Oh, and I’ll see you at home later,” Charles adds. “I just need to confirm some things for the gala this weekend.”
I make some noncommittal sound and get the fuck out of his office before I do something stupid.
The drive home is a blur. My hands grip the steering wheel tight enough that my knuckles go white, my jaw clenched so hard my teeth ache. Thoughts spiral through my head like debris in a tornado—chaotic, destructive, impossible to organize.
Ryan Matthews.
The name keeps circling back, each repetition like a punch to the gut.
She agreed to go with him to the gala. She’s been dodging questions about paternity. He’s been “helping her out” and “checking in” while she was in California. He’s interested in her now.
What if Charles is right? What if Ryan is the father—of one or both boys—and this whole situation is more complicated than I thought? What if that night six years ago was just a mistake, a moment of weakness, and Ryan has been the constant in her life all along?
But no. That doesn’t make sense. Parker wouldn’t have reacted the way she did to us if Ryan was in the picture. Wouldn’t have stayed that first weekend, wouldn’t have looked at me the way she does, wouldn’t have?—
My phone rings. Jace’s name flashes across the car’s display.
“Yeah.”
“Where are you?” His voice is tense.
