All eyes looked to Simon.
“I’ll talk to my family. I’ll take my punishment. But they won’t hear anything from you.” This time Simon did head for the door and opened it. “Your welcome here ended the day you left town.”
Rex stiffened, his big body reverberating with anger. “As I recall, you sent me packing.”
Mike whipped his head around. “What?” He glanced at his mother.
Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she didn’t have the shell-shocked look Mike had expected. Clearly more was going on here, and only the second generation was in the dark.
“Dad?” Sam stepped forward, but Simon held out a hand. “I’ll explain everything.” He gestured with a broad sweep. “After he leaves.”
“You’ll be sorry. You had thirty years of peace. Do you really want to stir the pot now?”
Mike had had enough. “Sounds to me like you’re the one stirring the pot.” He stormed over to Rex, grabbed his arm, and escorted him outside.
“I’m your father,” Rex said.
“Simon’s my father.”
“But my blood is running through your veins.”
Mike tried like hell not to let his panic at that thought show. Instead he held on to the support of the four people back inside who cared about him.
Five if he counted Cara.
Mike spun and reentered the house, slamming the door shut behind him. In the family room, his brother and sister were peppering Simon with questions, shouting over each other in their need to be heard.
“Hold up and wait for Mike. I don’t want to have to repeat myself.”
Mike eyed Simon with pride, admiration, and love, seeing him in a new light.
The man had staked his claim as Mike’s father—in front of a man who claimed biological rights, no less—and he’d done it at his own personal expense.
Simon had raised him. He’d gone to every sporting event, academic function, and graduation Mike ever had. And he’d never once acted as if Mike meant any less to him than his own children. Despite this, Mike had always felt less important, less worthy than the others—thanks to insecurities instilled by the mere knowledge that his real father had abandoned him. In Mike’s mind, he’d figured deep down Simon felt the same way.
He’d been dead wrong. And he was ashamed for giving Simon so little credit. Whatever had gone down all those years ago, Mike didn’t give a damn. He’d protect Simon with everything he had.
He stepped up to his father and pulled him into a quick hug before joining Cara, who sat quietly in an oversized chair.
“Are you okay?” she asked softly.
He nodded. For the first time, he really was.
“I should go and let Simon talk to you all alone,” she whispered.
He snaked his arm around her waist, anchoring her in place. “It’s your case too, and these are the answers we’ve been looking for.” Besides, he wanted her here for the rest of the reveal.
“Tell them, Simon,” Ella said, her voice strong.
Mike suddenly realized that his mother knew everything. All along, she’d had the answers they were looking for. Of course she did. Ella and Simon were a tight unit, and they hadn’t gotten that way by keeping secrets. Damn, but he’d underestimated her too.
Simon stood at the head of the room, facing his kids. “The rumors you all heard were true. The Winkler place rented out rooms by the hour. They had girls that were imported from Manhattan for the use of whatever locals were willing to pay. And the Winkler boys, as they were known, only took cash. That cash came from both prostitution and drugs, since the boys worked for a syndicate that operated out of Manhattan.”
Mike glanced at Sam. They sat in silence, waiting for the rest.
“Plenty of people wanted the brothel shut down, myself included, but there were too many men in high positions involved.”
“Like Judge Baine,” Mike said, understanding how high and deep this small-town scandal went.