Page 146 of Secret Mission

The pained sound that comes from Allison makes me take the phone. With my other hand, I guide her to one of the long leather couches. “This is McMillon Reese, Allison’s boyfriend. She needs a minute, this is a lot to take in.”

“Of course.” The woman sniffs. “I need a minute too.”

“Let’s regroup in a few minutes.” I hit the end-call button.

Then I stride to the wet bar and grab one of the folded linen towels, dampening it with cool water before I return to Allison.

She’s staring into the distance. “I didn’t know what to say. She sounds like me.”

Kneeling in front of her, I press the cool towel to the heat that’s gathered on her cheeks, to her soaked lashes.

“That feels good.”

“A wise person taught me that trick.”

I gather her hands and press our foreheads together. “I love you. You don’t have to know what to say. You don’t owe anyone anything.”

“Thank you,” she whispers.

We stay like this until she's steadier and ready to break apart. “I think I can talk now.”

“You sure?”

When she nods, I dial her biological mother. “We’re ready if you are?”

“I think… I just don’t know what to say.”

Fuck. I put her on speaker. “Let’s all try to get through this together.”

There’s a shaky breath on the other end. “I didn’t have a choice, I was forced to give you up.”

Stricken, pale, and shaking, Allison leans closer. “What do you mean?”

“The monster that told you he was your father was a business associate of my late husband. He took you from us as insurance.”

Fuck. This is way worse than I imagined.

Allison sits up more, her shoulders tightening. “I don’t understand.”

“Keeping you was the only way he could ensure that my husband didn’t go to the feds about the fraud he uncovered. He said he’d kill us all if we ever turned on him.”

I can’t control my explosive rage any longer. “The bastard, what the fuck? She was just a child!”

“He never told you, did he?” Allison’s mother asks quietly.

“No. He’s lied about everything. Still is. I wouldn’t have known he wasn’t my father without one of his men making an offhand remark. I don’t think it was supposed to get out.”

The woman sniffles a few times. “So, that means someone else knows?”

“One of his thugs,” I offer with a bitter edge to my voice. “He must be talking about it now, or it got out somehow.”

The air wavers with tension as they both fall silent.

Seeing Allison so hurt makes my blood blaze.

“We’re going to hang up now. There’s a lot to digest here.”

“I understand,” the woman replies in a wavering tone. “I just want you to know I’m proud of you, Allision. I’ve followed you all along. Snuck around on social media. I even attended your doctorate graduation in a disguise. Christopher wouldn’t allow me to contact you, but when he passed from a heart attack… I couldn’t stay away any longer.”