Tempting Perfection

At the counter, Sawyer kept fidgeting with the food, placing it in different arrangements. I needed to reassure her. Together, we could survive anything. I wrapped my hands around her stomach and felt the paper crunch. “It’ll work out.”

“I hope so, Kurt.”

Knock. Knock. Knock.

George ran to the door and barked. “It’s okay, boy. It’s Cameron.” He sat and looked at the door, waiting to make his own judgment. This morning Cameron had been cleared by security. I kissed Sawyer’s cheek and said, “I’ll get this.”

At the door, Cameron stood with Monica. George walked over to Sawyer, forming a barrier. Handing me a bottle of wine, Cameron said, “Glad to have you guys back in town.”

“It’s good to be back. Come on in. Sawyer’s pulling out the food.”

I closed the door behind them. Cameron immediately said, “What’s going on? Something happened, didn’t it? How’s Dylan?”

Shit, he’s an observant fucker.

Sawyer gave a sad smile. “Dylan is fine. But we need to talk.”

Chapter Forty-One

Sawyer

I should’ve known Cameron would be able to tell something was wrong as soon as he walked in. Ripping off the Band-Aid was the only way I knew how to approach it.

I poured two glasses of wine and one glass of bourbon. “You guys are going to need this.”

Kurt, Cameron, and Monica took the proffered glasses. Instead of drinking his, Cameron looked me straight in the eye. “Get to the point, Sawyer. You’re scaring me.”

I took a deep breath and said, “Adriane is still alive. Mom and Dad faked her death. She’s been at a facility in Denver since then.”

“Come again?” Cameron set down his glass and put his hand on the counter.

“Let’s sit down. I’ll fill you in.” George laid at my feet, watching everyone.

We moved to the couch, and I wiped my hands along my pants. “Adriane is alive. Mom and Dad know about it.” I slid the manila folders toward Cameron and told him everything I knew. It made me sick to see the devastation in his eyes as he looked at what had been uncovered about Adriane’s “death” and our parents’ ties to the mob. Our childhood had been a lie in so many ways. The one piece of the current drama I left out was the stalker. Kurt and I agreed the fewer people who knew, the better.

After I finished, Cameron was silent. Monica, too. Though she hadn’t known Adriane, she knew what happened. And she was part of the family, had a relationship with my parents.

Surprisingly, Monica was the first to speak. “How could they do this to you guys? I was just on the phone with Tonya this morning. She said she was excited about the grandbaby.”

I cleared my throat. “I haven’t talked to Mom or Dad about the pregnancy. After how they were, I didn’t even call to tell them. I refused to let them be negative about this little miracle.”

Cameron was still in shock. “You’re sure? About Adriane? The mob?”

Kurt stepped in. “Yes, without a doubt.”

Kurt passed the phone over to Cameron and showed him the picture. Cameron paled. “It’s her. Why?”

Why? was the question of the hour. “I don’t know. I planned to call Mom and Dad tonight to ask them about it. But I wanted to give you the chance to be here if you wanted to listen. I don’t want to see them in person.”

Cameron’s face was closed off and expressionless, his jaw locked. Finally, he said, “Yeah, I want to hear it.”

“Are you ready for me to call?” I really did not want to do this. But it would be easier having Kurt and Cameron here with me.

Cameron shook his head. “I guess. I’m so fucking pissed and angry. Why would they do that to us—to you?”

“I don’t know.” And that cut me to the bone. But instead of thinking about that, I pulled out my phone and dialed their number.

After three rings, my mother picked up. “Hey, Sawyer.”