Shawn frowned but nodded.
Trip, warily, murmured, “Where are you going with this, Marc?”
“Let me explain, okay?Just bear with me?”When Trip nodded, sighing all the while, Marc murmured, “Let’s say Joseph had an affair a long time ago.One that yielded El.For some reason, he took on the baby rather than let the mother care for her…”
“Which would be more than likely in that kind of situation.Rich men have kids out of wedlock all the time.They don’t keep them in the family.They pay the mothers to keep quiet,” Trip argued.
“Yeah.That’s my point,” Marc murmured.“He didn’t do that because, for whatever reason, he loved El’s mother and wanted the child to be raised in the family.”
“Why would he want that?”
“What if El’s mother was his mate?”
Trip snorted.“This is more than a hypothesis.This is a fucking fairy tale.”
Marc grunted.“I told you to bear with me.You said that he treats her differently to the rest of his kids?”
Shawn, scowling, nodded.“Without a doubt.”
“Why would he do that, Trip?The man sounds like a narcissist from what El’s told me.And she’s so certain he’s only interested in the money she has, but what if he genuinely cares?It sounds like his third degree on Ryan came as a shock to her.”
Shawn nodded.“It would be.He’s known about her other relationships, but has never grilled into them.Granted, he’s never had the opportunity.She’s never brought anyone home.”
Marc drummed his fingers on his lap.“Look, I know this sounds insane, but I’m positing this as a reason for her being under threat when none of the others are.
“Somehow, the family managed to gag the impossible—news that El is the richest of them all.Sure, it spread a little, but it hasn’t spread far.We didn’t know about it, for example, did we?”
Trip sighed.“No, but it’s not like some rich human’s inheritance would be of interest to us.”
“No, but we still know that back in the day, Britney Spears shaved her fucking head, right?We balance on two worlds, and we know what’s important.Something like that, the world’s richest heiress, would have gone full scale out there.We should have known, but we didn’t.Which tells me that it’s really not common knowledge.So, when kidnappers should be targeting the youngest, most vulnerable, generation, they’re targeting her for a reason.
“That reason could be she’s Shifter.”
Silence fell at his declaration, then Trip snorted.“You’re reaching, man.”
Marc shook his head.“I’m not.Think about it.Think about what just happened back then.When she freaked out, Ryan could control her.Without the bond in place.He’s good, even with non-Shifters, butthatgood?Plus, her reaction to Shawn’s… sorry, buddy, but betrayal…?”Shawn winced at that.“Didn’t you feel her rage?It was like a physical entity in the damn car.”
Trip frowned, but there was a haze of doubt clouding his eyes that had Shawn studying him with interest in the rearview mirror.
“You think there could be something to what he’s talking about?”Shawn asked him softly, turning around to look the other man in the face.
“I didn’t, but he’s right about El’s reactions.They were powerful.More powerful than a human’s would ordinarily be.”
Shawn frowned.“What do you mean?”
Trip ran a hand through his hair.“When she needed to get out of the car, did you feel the charge run through the air?”
Shawn thought back to that hellish moment when he’d admitted to having slept with her mother.“I-I guess, but I was just focused on her.Not her reaction and how it affected the atmosphere.”He scoffed at his own words.Jesus, the last thing he’d been thinking about was the goddamn atmosphere.
Trip wriggled his shoulders.“No.Why would you?But still, I noticed it.And Ryan did calm her down easily.”To Marc, he declared, “We need to talk to Ryan about this.”
“Hang on a minute,” Shawn demanded.“Even if we suspend reality for a minute and her dad did have an affair with a Shifter, and she can shift too, what does that have to do with the kidnapping threats?”
Marc sighed.“Look, females are precious.They’re not rare, but still, when one pops out to every three males, we value and cherish their uniqueness… especially if a daughter begets another daughter.That’s even rarer.Usually, female children are born to a Triad.I don’t know why, and it’s weird, but it’s just how it works.”
“Are females reared from other female Shifters more powerful or something?”
Trip nodded, but he looked uneasy.“They’re stronger.Ryan’s mom is incredibly strong—it’s why he’s a young leader.All his kin are powerful.”
