Page 14 of Cowboy's Sinful Bargain

"A bastard is usually defined as a child born out of wedlock, Miko," Monty explained. "And we do have them here in America, probably more than you have in Japan. It just doesn't have the same stigma here."

Jos snorted.

I had no idea why.

"You said after your mother died, all references to her were removed as to not bring light to her shame. Can you explain that?"

I could try.

"Her name was stricken from the family records. Her pictures were burned along with all of her possessions. Speaking her name or mentioning her in any form was forbidden." I dropped my gaze to my lap again when tears sprouted up. It was several moments—and a lot of blinking—before I could look up. I drew in a slow, shaky breath as I met Monty's eyes. "I don't even know what she looked like. I have never seen a picture of her."

"Would you like to?"

I sucked in a painful breath. "You have a picture of my mother?"

"I have several." Monty stood up and walked to the bookshelf. He grabbed one of the books and pulled, a small section of the bookshelf, including several books, came away, revealing a safe.

He pulled a necklace out from inside his shirt and removed a small silver key. He fit it into the safe door.

Monty pulled the door open and then reached inside. When he turned back, he held a black box in his hand. He carried it over to his desk and sat down again. When he pulled the lid off the box, I realized an album was inside.

Monty pulled it out and laid it on his desk as if it was made of the crown jewels. He opened the front cover and then begancarefully flipping through the pages. I saw several black and white photographs before he stopped turning the pages.

I swallowed tightly when Monty flipped the photo album around and I saw the picture of a much younger Monty holding a small Japanese woman in his arms. He was staring down at her with his heart in his eyes. She had her head tilted back, her eyes closed.

"That's my favorite picture of Akari."

I gasped when I heard my mother's name mentioned for the first time. My grandfather and I had talked about her in secret, but her name was never mentioned. He just referred to her as my mother.

"She was beautiful," I murmured as I stared at the woman who had given me life. I didn't know what I had expected, but I suddenly understood why everyone said I looked just like her. We were almost the spitting image of each other, one male and one female. It also helped explain why her side of the family seemed to hate me so much.

"She was like an exotic butterfly." Monty sounded almost wistful as he spoke. "So beautiful and so delicate, but able to fly away on gossamer wings."

I wasn't sure about all of that, but she was beautiful.

"She looks happy."

"We were happy together," Monty said. "Which was why I was so confused when she stopped taking my calls or answering my letters. I thought we'd get married one day."

"That's why." My father at least deserved an explanation. "Her hand was promised to one of the Kaneko family's business associates. When she admitted that she was pregnant with me, it was decided that I would be put up for adoption when I was born and the marriage would continue as planned."

"If you were supposed to be put up for adoption, then how did you end up with your grandfather?" Jos asked. "Why weren'tyou put up for adoption? Especially if they considered you your mother's shame?"

"The marriage was not a choice my grandfather wanted, but he is second son. His brother makes decisions for family. When his daughter died, I was all my grandfather had left of her. He fought to keep me."

Sometimes, I wished he hadn't.

"Then why are you here now?"

"Grandfather is gone," I answered honestly. "It is no longer safe for me in Japan."

I wasn't sure there was any safe place.

Chapter Five

~ Jos ~

My frustration was so great, I wanted to pound my fists into a wall.

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