Naked Games (Hard to Get 3)

“Jesus H.” Dean pushed his fingers through his hair. His hand shook as he stared at the text. “How did you find this?”

“It took some doing, but I managed.” Jonas curled his lip in distaste. “I felt like I needed a shower after I read what that bastard did to Gracie and Catherine’s mom.”

Dean went still when he read the date the incident was reported to the police. “This occurred the same year Catherine was born.” He looked across the desk at Jonas. “Don’t fucking tell me that means Catherine was conceived as a result of—”

Jonas held up a hand. “Don’t even say it. It makes me sick to think what that asshole did.” Jonas shook his head. “I don’t think I have to tell you that Catherine and Gracie would both be devastated if they found out about this. They don’t need to know what their mother endured.”

In complete agreement, Dean nodded. As he stared down at the information Jonas had uncovered, another bit of data popped out at him. “According to this, they didn’t convict the guy.” He cursed. “Not enough evidence.”

The grin that came across Jonas’s face sent a chill down Dean’s spine. “They didn’t convict on the rape charge, but he ended up busted later on down the line for killing a store clerk during a robbery.”

Dean nodded, glad that the animal was off the streets. “So he’s in prison, good.”

“Well, not exactly.”

Dean quirked a brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“He’s dead. The loser ended up falling on a knife while showering. Imagine that?” Jonas crossed his arms over his chest and sat back in the chair. “Good riddance, if you ask me.

“I agree.” Dean imagined how devastated Catherine would be if she ever found out. “What the hell am I supposed to do with this information?”

“Destroy it?” Jonas said, offering up the most sane answer. “It’s what I’d do. Don’t let that piece of shit cause any more pain, Dean.”

Dean knew Jonas was right, but it felt wrong to know who Catherine’s biological father was and not tell her. Of course he didn’t know for sure, but considering the date the rape was reported and the date Catherine was born, any moron could do the math. It made more sense now why the woman had given Catherine up. A woman would have a difficult time raising a child knowing how that child had been conceived. His gut clenched in pain for Catherine.

“Why the hell did I ask you to go digging?” He threw the paper down. “Fuck!”

“Because you’re a paranoid dick?” Jonas said obligingly.

“Thanks,” Dean growled. “I feel so much better now.”

“Look, it’s up to you what you do with that paper, because by all appearances Catherine belongs to you, but if she were mine I’d want to protect her.”

“Great idea, but there’s one problem. What if she goes looking for her biological father on her own and finds this herself? It could be even worse for her. Wouldn’t it be better if I told her?”

Jonas stood and leaned across the desk. “Damn it, she’s happy now that she’s found Gracie. Ever since Catherine found those letters, they’ve both made peace with the woman that brought them into this world,” he said, his voice rising along with his temper. “Leave it the hell alone, Dean, or you’ll end up hurting them both.”

Dean’s anger boiled over and he shot out of his chair. It fell backward and hit the floor. “Don’t you think I know that?” He scrubbed a hand over his face and started pacing. “The last thing I want is to hurt either of them, but now that I know all this it feels wrong not to tell Catherine.” He stopped and turned to Jonas. “That’s exactly the sort of shit her adoptive parents did to her, Jonas, and look where that ended up. Gracie and Catherine missed out on so much, and all because of secrets. The secrets need to stop.”

“Fine, do what you think is right,” he said, throwing his hands in the air. “But you’d better tell Wade first. He’s going to be livid if this news reaches Gracie before he gets a chance to break it to her gently.”

Dean nodded. “I’ll talk to him. We’ll decide what to do together.” He looked up and their gazes locked. “I’m sorry for pulling you into all this. Sorry as hell.”

Jonas cursed. “I just hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Me too,” he muttered as Jonas left.

Dean picked the paper up and folded in, then stuck it in his coat pocket. It seemed to burn a hole clear through to his skin. He took off the heavy Carhartt and tossed it over a chair. God, how was he going to tell her? The idea of causing Catherine even an ounce of pain nearly had him doubling over. But damn it, enough people had screwed with her life as it was, and he wasn’t about to do that to her too. She had a right to know the truth, all of it. He only prayed it was the right decision and wouldn’t end up blowing up in his face.

That’s when it hit him. He loved Catherine. He wasn’t entirely sure how the hell it had happened, and it didn’t really matter. She was smart and quirky and kind, and the sexiest woman he’d ever laid eyes on. Dean knew deep down that she was too good for him, but he was just selfish enough not to care. He aimed to keep her.

On impulse, he grabbed his cell phone and sent Catherine a quick text.

DID YOU READ THE CHAPTERS?

When only a few seconds went by before he heard a small tinkling sound to indicate he had a message, Dean’s heart sped up. As he read the text on the screen, he grinned.

YES. I’M WILLING.