Page 132 of End Game

Her captor’s momentary shock dissipated. Elsie shrugged, though the action held no arrogance, no triumph. “Seems I set your little secret free, Jill.”

“Secret? What secret?” Her psychotic aunt’s meaning finally penetrated her confusion, but she couldn’t bring herself to believe that her entire life had been a lie. A lie told to her by two of the most important people in her life. “Mama?”

Jillian lifted her tear-drenched gaze to Kayla’s. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

A lump the size of a beach ball lodged in Kayla’s throat. It took her several attempts to work around it, to get the words out. “Vicky’s my mom?”

“Biological, yes.”

“Why?”

Why didn’t she want me? Why didn’t you tell me? Why? Why? Why?

“It’s complicated.”

“Actually, it’s pretty straightforward,” Elsie countered. “Vic found out she was pregnant right after she’d decided to run for county commissioner.” She looked at Jillian as if to hand her the it’s-your-story baton, but the distraught woman could only stare at Kayla, as if she were afraid her daughter would disappear forever.

Exasperated, Elsie continued, “Jill talked Vic into letting her adopt you rather than . . .”

“Abort me?” Kayla finished, when the other woman’s bravado wavered.

Another lift of the shoulder. “Vic wanted a career. Jill wanted you.”

Kayla looked to Jillian for confirmation.

“I loved you from the moment I heard your tiny, galloping heartbeat on the ultrasound.”

The muscles in Kayla’s throat constricted to the point of pain.

“Even though Vic chose her career over motherhood,” Elsie smirked, “she couldn’t quite let you go.”

There had always been something special about her and Vicky’s relationship. She’d mistakenly thought it was the godmother connection.

Did Vicky ever regret her decision? Or had she been content to be in Kayla’s life as a beloved auntie?

Kayla dropped her head into her hands. The events of the past week whipped through her head like scattershot. It was all too much.

A warm, trembling hand settled between her shoulders. Rather than provide comfort, Jillian’s touch seared her flesh, burned her nerve endings, incinerated every happy family memory from birth to truth.

“Victoria and I talked about telling you,” Jillian said, rubbing a circle on her back like she used to when Kayla was younger. “Planned to do it very soon.”

Heat poured into her temples, pounding at the thin barrier for release. “Why now?”

Jillian’s hand stilled.

“Why after thirty-five years of deception would you decide to tell me?”

Silence met her query, and Jillian slowly removed her hand.

Kayla erupted from the sofa, putting more distance between them. “Tell me, Mama!”

The guard’s casual stance stiffened, but he didn’t force her back down.

Like a lioness sensing wounded prey, Elsie turned bright eyes on the quiet woman beside her. “What have you been keeping from me, dear friend?”

Jillian ignored her. Lifted tear-soaked eyes to Kayla. “I have stage four colon cancer.”

Stage four.

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