Page 14 of Hell of a Mess

When the doorbell chimed, Jayda left to go let Doc in.

Why he was here I didn’t know, unless Linc had brought him to inform Thaddeus of all Lace’s injuries so that could be passed on to her father.

As if the bastard cared. He hadn’t even made it public that she was missing.

He’d wanted it quiet. That in itself told me he had something to hide.

“You think her father cares what injuries she suffered?” I asked acidly.

Linc’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve already had Doc send me the paperwork on her injuries and treatment. I don’t know why he’s here. I didn’t call him.”

It would be nice if he sided with me on this, but I knew better. Burl wasn’t going to piss off Linc. He’d disagree in silence. Maybe he was just coming to check her injuries before she left. That sounded like something he’d do.

I shifted my gaze to the arched entryway, waiting on Jayda and Burl to appear.

It was better than looking over at Lace.

That only made me more enraged, and I had to remain calm.

She wasn’t mine to protect. Hell, I didn’t want some female to protect.

The truth was, when she was gone, it would be better for me. Get her out of my sight.

I should start looking at it like that and not focus on her refusal to save herself.

“Burl,” Linc said when he walked into the room.

Doc’s gaze drifted over the room nervously before he stopped on Linc. He swallowed hard, causing his Adam’s apple to bob.

Why was he acting odd? Maybe he had come to try and convince them not to send Lace back. If so, then he’d grown some fucking balls. Ones he needed to chop off because that was a bad idea. I’d have to step in and save him if that was the case.

“I, uh…” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to come unannounced, but this was time sensitive.”

Linc raised an eyebrow, as if to challenge him. He didn’t like the thought that something might hinder his plans to get rid of Lace. “Okay,” he replied.

Burl took a deep breath, and then his gaze swung to Mal before moving back to Linc.

Had Mal done something? Why the fuck had Doc looked at him? I’d assumed this was about Lace.

“I, uh…do you want to discuss this in private?”

Linc’s brows drew together this time. “Other than Miss Halsten, it’s family. If this is something that doesn’t concern her, then, yes, we can go to my office.”

Doc pressed his lips together for a moment, then let out a heavy sigh. “It concerns her.”

“Burl, if this is concern for her safety, then you should turn and leave.” Linc’s tone was laced with warning.

Yep, I was going to have to save the damn doctor. Fucking hell, Burl.

“It’s not her safety—well”—he paused—“it is, but not the way you’re thinking. I’m not questioning your decision. I…I got back something on her DNA.”

“You said her DNA didn’t come back with matches. That she wasn’t in the system,” Linc snapped angrily. “And that doesn’t matter now. We know who she is. She has her memory back.”

The doctor glanced back at Lace, who was silently watching the scene. There was sympathy in his gaze. What the hell was that about?

“I’m aware. But,” he said, turning back to Linc, “before she got her memory back and you were informed of her identity, I sent out a DNA test, thinking it wouldn’t come to anything, but…” He paused.

If he’d looked nervous before, he looked ready to shit his pants now.

Jesus Christ, what had the brainy little bastard done?

“It did…come back with something. I hadn’t told you I was doing it because it was a long shot.”

“What did you do?” Linc asked, growing impatient.

Burl swallowed again. “I sent her DNA to test against all the DNA we have on file ourselves. Not the public system.”

Linc looked as fucking confused as I was.

“What does that mean?” he asked.

Burl adjusted his collar. “It—well, I sent it out to test against everyone’s DNA that I’ve ever collected for the family,” he began. “And the DNA of the family.” He said that last part slowly and hesitantly.

I stilled. What?

“Are you telling me that there was a match?” Linc demanded.

Burl nodded.

“It’s probably someone in her family. If Thaddeus works with her father, then we are bound to have someone related to her in our system.”

Burl now looked slightly ill. “Yes, well, that isn’t what I am trying to say,” he replied. “Her DNA made a match, but it wasn’t with someone…outside the family.”

I heard a roar in my ears as I stared at the man, waiting for him to say more. What the actual fuck?!

“Who?!” Linc’s demand bordered on a shout.

Burl glanced at Mal again.

“Her DNA is a fifty percent match with Mal’s.

Making the probability of him being her father ninety-nine-point-nine percent.

Indicating without a doubt that Mal is her biological father.

And before you ask me to test it again for a mistake, her match with Locke is twenty-eight percent, and her match with Gathe is twenty-four, making them both her half siblings.

” Burl held out papers in his grip toward Linc.

For the first time in my life, I was fucking speechless. My eyes darted toward Mal, who had set his cup down and stood up.

His gaze locked on Lace. “Who was your mother?” he asked, sounding as if he’d just been kicked in the goddamn chest.

Turning to her, I saw she had gone as pale as Doc. Her eyes were wide, and she appeared shell-shocked.

“Ravina,” Lace replied just above a whisper. “Chapman.”