Trusting Sydney (The Temptation Saga 6)

“Sydney,” Sam said, “I’m not sure he should be involved.”

“Why not?” Blake asked. “They’re my parents, and the little tyke is my nephew. I wasn’t there for Sydney when I should have been. I want to be there for her now.”

Sam nodded. “All right. If you can help in any way, we’d appreciate it.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have much money to offer.”

“So we’re all broke,” Sydney said. “Where does that leave us?”

“It leaves us my credit cards,” Sam said. “I’ve got a little bit in the bank.”

“I’ve got a little in the bank too,” Blake said, “but I’m afraid it’s damn little.”

“You’re both wonderful,” Sydney said. “I have nothing. They stole my purse money.”

“It’s okay,” Blake said. “You didn’t know they’d do that.”

“I still can’t believe it.”

“I can. And you will someday, trust me.”

Sam shook his head. “I can’t believe I was such a bad judge of character. I really thought they were good people.”

“So did I,” Blake said, “and in a way, they are. They just grew up around criminals. I think they’re good in their hearts, but look at the examples they had.”

“At least they set good examples for us,” Sydney said.

“I won’t argue with that, for the most part,” Blake said. “But once we were old enough to handle it, they should have told us the truth about their backgrounds.”

Sam nodded. “I agree. If you had known, Sydney, you would never have let them adopt Duke.”

“Probably not,” Sydney said. “But Duke has had a good life up until now. He’s a happy little boy.”

“A happy little boy who is now God knows where,” Blake said. “For all we know, they’ve cut his hair off or dyed it so no one will recognize him.”

“No! Not his beautiful hair.” Sydney burst into tears. “His hair is just like yours, Sam.”

Sam caressed her forearm. “It’ll grow back. We’ll find him.”

Yes. They’d find him. They had to.

But there would be a cost.

The mother and father she’d loved and adored for twenty-four years were now strangers to her.

* * *

“Let her sleep,” Sam said to Blake. “We can figure this out in the morning.”

“I still can’t get over them taking her money right out of her safe. How did they figure out the combination?”

Sam shook his head. “Got me. Maybe they know the numbers she uses. Hell if I know.”

“They could have gotten security to open it.”

“Nah. Sydney talked to security in depth when she couldn’t find her parents. They would have told her. Plus, Sydney’s an adult. Security can’t open a safe for anyone else, not even her parents.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.”