Page 105 of Blackmail of a Billionaire

“No, here is fine.”

Julia’s fingers twisted around her blanket as she prepared for the news. How would Sierra react? She was another wild card.

Sierra focused on her father. “What is it? Is it about the kidnapping? Did they catch the people?”

“No, they didn’t. And it’s not really about the kidnapping.”

“Well, what is it?”

Grant heaved a sigh. “A long time ago, I spent a night with a woman.”

“Ew! Daddy! I don’t need to know about this.”

“Yes, you do.”

“Uh, that’s TMI. Cut to the chase. Just give me the bottom line.”

“Kyle Carter is my son.”

Her eyes went wide as she stared at him. “What? Are you serious?”

“Yes, I think it’s true.”

Sierra stood and stormed a few steps away, her purse still dangling from around her arm. “He just…told you that?”

“No. Julia surmised it, he confirmed it, then he told me.”

“And you’re getting a DNA test, right? Because it could be a shakedown.”

“Yes,” Grant said with a nod, “I’d like definitive proof, but his story adds up and so does the supporting evidence.”

Sierra spun to face them, stalking back to the foot of the bed. She drummed her fingers against the foot rail. Julia tried to gauge her response to the information. Was she in shock? Upset?

She finally crossed her arms and shook her head. “I can’t believe Crazy Kyle Carter is my half-brother.”

“I’m not crazy, Sierra, but the rest of it is true,” Kyle said as he stalked into the room.

Sierra eyed him as he strode in to check Julia’s monitors. “Umm, you’re not exactly the portrait of sanity.”

“I prefer eccentric genius, but we can’t all have your impeccable judgment, can we?”

“Eccentric genius?” Sierra rolled her eyes. “Just don’t pull any more crazy stuff, okay?”

Julia stared at the two of them as Kyle settled next to her at the foot of the bed. They had a long road ahead of them as they started a new, complicated chapter in their lives.

As night settled in and only Grant remained in the room, Julia struggled to sleep. The events of the day replayed in her mind over and over every time she closed her eyes.

“Go to sleep, Julia,” Grant said.

She heaved a sigh. “I’m trying. I would have been able to sleep at home.”

“I guess you’ll have that to look forward to tomorrow.”

She drummed her fingers against the bed as she stared at the ceiling.

“You need to rest.”

“I’ll rest tomorrow.”

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