Volatile Love (The Gilded Sovereign 2)

“He’s Rukaiya’s father,” Tarian’s voice comes from the doorway, catching our attention as he enters the room. Dressed in his signature black boots, T-shirt, and jeans, he looks like he’s ready for someone’s funeral.

“Have we got the actual birth records?” I question, sitting up straighter as he hands me the folder he’s carrying.

Tarian nods. “The paperwork I found earlier wasn’t clear because those were emails back and forth, but I’ve managed to get the paternity test he did when she was born. He hid them well, but I managed to hack into the medical records from nineteen years ago. It seems Rukaiya’s mother had an affair with my uncle. But there’s still something that doesn’t make sense. Why would Fergus play daddy?”

Flipping through the pages, I note the names on the blood tests. Fergus’s email is in here, too, one to his lawyer requesting his cheating wife get a paternity test done.

“How would he have figured out she had an affair?” This question comes from Ares, glancing at Tarian as he grabs the folder.

“It seems Fergus Harrison could never have children. Before he met Rukaiya’s mother, he was engaged. He and the fiancée in question tried for months to have kids, when nothing came of it, he went to the doctor. They told him he’ll never be able to father any children.”

“So that means she’s your cousin?” I quip, looking up at the blue eyes that have landed on mine.

Tarian regards me for a long time before he nods. “Seems like you just can’t keep your dick away from my family.”

“Look, man—”

“I’m kidding, I mean… I spoke to Dahlia, she gave me some solid advice,” he tells me. “You weren’t old enough to even know right from wrong back then.” He settles on the sofa beside me, his hand gripping my shoulder in a show of forgiveness and brotherhood. “I can’t let shit like this that’s meant to be stuck in the past come between us. As for my mother…” His words taper off into nothing.

There’s a heavy silence in the air, and I can tell there’s something more he wants to say, whether it’s about me or his mother. I’m on the edge of my seat.

“Spill the beans, Tar,” Ares finally urges him, before setting the documents on the table in the center of the room.

“Well… I have a feeling my mother had my dad killed. I think she’s been with Thane for the past few years, living with him…” Once again, he doesn’t explain further, allowing us to figure it out on our own, and it’s not difficult to come to a conclusion.

“But that makes no sense.”

“Oh, it makes all the sense in the world.” My mother strolls in, her smile is filled with satisfaction, but it’s as cold as ever.

“Mother.”

“Mrs. Durand.” Ares rises to greet her. He’s always been her favorite, which is fine by me. As long as I don’t have to deal with her bullshit, I’m happy.

“Oh, Ares, you know you don’t have to call me that, it’s Hilary.” Her grin is perfectly chilled. Even though she has affection that’s always directed toward Ares, she doesn’t offer much more than a smile and her air kisses, which mean nothing.

“Hilary, what can we do for you?”

“Thane has agreed to allow Rukaiya to return to Tynewood,” she tells us. “On one condition.” Her gaze trails over each of us, as if she’s committing us to memory for some reason. We spent our teenage years at home, where she would dote on Ares as if he were hers.

“And what’s that Mother? Stop with the theatrics. We don’t have time for this bullshit.” I have no respect for the woman.

“He’d like to have Tarian over for dinner. He wants to mend fences so to speak.” Her hardened glare lands on the man seated beside me. I know he hates his uncle for whatever happened in the past and learning that he’s got a cousin he never knew about must only add to the tension between them.

Tarian turns to me, his stare is pleading, as if he’s asking me for permission to refuse. I can’t force him to do anything. Even though I’d like to have my girl back here, he has to make the choice.

The only thing I offer him is a nod. It’s okay. If he doesn’t want to do it, we’ll find another way. Blackmail and forcing our hand is not the way Thane is going to earn his nephew’s respect.

“Well?” Mother places her hands on her hips as if she’s about to admonish Tarian for stalling. Her dark brow arched in question, regarding him with her shrewd glare.

I expect Tarian to refuse, to tell her to go to hell, and I’ll gladly stand behind him, but when he finally answers her, he shocks me with his response. “Fine, but the only way I’ll do it is if the girl gets here first, then I go.