Page 172 of Morally Corrupt

"When Paulina left me, she was six months pregnant. She was clever, I'll give her that. She found a man who married her and gave her the perfect cover. I searched for a long time for her, you know. Most of all, because I wantedyou. My eldest born," he says, pride showing on his face.

I instinctively take a step back, feeling like I've been hit in the chest.

"What did you say?" I croak. Bianca's hand wraps itself around my arm in comfort. She seems just as stunned as me.

Looking at Vlad and Marcel, though, I can't gauge their reaction to this revelation. Their expressions are blank. If they're just as surprised, they sure aren't showing it.

"Don't be melodramatic. We're family," he dismisses my reaction.

"Is that why you killed them?"

"How many times do I have to tell you I didn't kill them. I would have if I'd known where they were hiding you. But I didn't."

"If you didn't…. then who else?" I shoot back. Who else would have the motive?

"Isn't it obvious, boy?" he asks, almost exasperated. "Let me enlighten you. There was only one other person who knewyou,Theodore Hastings, were in fact Adrian Barnett. And that was Martin Ashby. He was a smart asshole; I'll give him that. He kept you near and married you to his daughter so he could use you against me."

"You're saying Martin killed my parents? Why?"

"Because of the list, why else? Who do you think was the first name on the list?" Jimenez asks, and I can only turn to Marcel, who averts his gaze guiltily. So, Martin was among the crossed-out names…

Twenty years. Twenty years in which I'd had one thought and one thought only.

Get Jimenez.

I'd been so single-minded about it that I'd walked through life almost like a robot. Each action serving to bring me closer to Jimenez. And now? Not only did henotkill my parents, he's also my fucking biological father. How am I supposed to take this in? What's the expected reaction? Because I can't even think straight. Everything I'd ever known is… shit.

"Fuck," I mutter, and Jimenez chuckles.

"I can't say I regret letting you think I killed your parents. You've certainly done well for yourself in the name of revenge."

"Did you know about me? When you were posing as Andrew?"

"Of course. I was alerted to your presence after your parents' death, and I tracked you down. Or what, do you really think it was such a coincidence that you ended up at the Basilica? Please… the moment you walked into Boston, I was aware of your every movement."

I give a bitter laugh. "So what, you were trying to find a way to kill me? That's why you got me into the to-the-death fights?"

"Kill you? Whyever would I kill my own heir? I was making you strong, boy. You needed to grow up and stop seeing life through rose-colored glasses."

"Am I supposed to thank you, then? For making me kill? For making me fight without respite?"

"Of course," he replies indignantly.

"Then, I'm surprised you let me go so easily," I add, realizing that he had indeed let me off the hook when I'd run off.

"I never let you go. I merely watched over."

"Really? Then why now? Why reveal yourself now?"

"Because you've reached a position of power that will allow us to consolidate our empire," he says proudly.

"Ourempire?" I ask in disbelief.

"You are now my official heir."

"And Carlos? Isn't he your son too?"

"Carlos?" He almost laughs at that mention. "He was just a failed experiment. After Paulina left me, I tried to replicate everything with Elena… Didn't work. But don't worry about Carlos, he should be fish food by now," he adds casually, and I feel Bianca's hand tighten on my arm.

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