Page 119 of An Indecent Longing

Amazingly, Ian kept quiet as well but she knew as soon as they got back to their home, all bets were off.

Pulling her phone out of her purse, she texted Risa to let her know she wouldn’t be there. Told her she had an emergency at work and would call her as soon as she could. That would keep her sister placated for a few hours at least.

Ian would never be placated. And she was pretty sure she knew whose side Ben would end up on as well.

By the time Ian parked his car in the garage, Dorrie felt sick to her stomach with anxiety but she followed Ian into the house, Ben at her back.

She thought he’d light into her right away. Instead, he headed for the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water, which he drank half of before turning back to her.

But still he didn’t say anything.

“Dorrie.” Ben deliberately stepped in front of her, blocking her view of Ian. “Is it true? Is Antonoff your father?”

No sense in lying now.

“Dorrie?”

If she answered that question honestly, would they betray her trust? Her dad had been right. It wasn’t just her life she was potentially screwing up. It was her mom’s, too.

And if you choose wrong?

She could lose everything.

And if you don’t come clean?

These men might never forgive her.

She swallowed, took a deep breath. “Our relationship is complicated.”

“Aren’t most?” Ben held her gaze. “My mom was a drug addict. She loved me but she loved getting high more. Thank God her mom, my gram, took me in when my mom finally couldn’t fight the addiction anymore. When I was six, she overdosed for the fourth time and Gram got full custody.”

His matter-of-fact tone cleared a little of the fog in her head.

“She’s been sober for four years this time and I try to tell myself she’s kicked it but honestly, there are nights I lie awake and wait for the call from the hospital or the cops.”

Her heart hurt for Ben, breaking the icy cold grip of fear around her heart. “Yes, he’s my father. He and my mom agreed to keep it secret. He’s not listed on my birth certificate. I didn’t know until I was eight.”

Behind Ben, Ian’s head dropped back and she saw his eyes close and his jaw flex. She expected him to say something now but his mouth stayed closed.

“Okay.” Ben’s voice soothed. “A few things make more sense now. Does anyone else know?”

She swallowed hard. “As far as I know, only my sister.”

“Obviously,” Ian’s voice still held a sharp edge, “someone else found out.”

“I don’t know how anyone would’ve found out. My parents and sister never would. And I never have.”

Except for them. And Ian looked like he didn’t want to know.

“Antonoff has more than enough enemies out there.” Ian crossed his arms over his chest, his icy calm spreading out to encompass her as well. “He is a killer, after all.”

Tears sprang into her eyes but she couldn’t dispute his statement.

As if her silence spurred him on, Ian held her gaze. “He sold the drugs Ben’s mom OD’d on. And he sure as shit had my dad killed.”

The pit in her stomach threatened to swallow her whole. “What?”

“My dad was killed in prison. The warden said he got in the middle of a fight and took a shiv to the leg. Bled out in minutes. My dad was no saint. He worked for Bellamy back then, right after Bellamy took over the South Philly territory. Right when your daddy was starting to make a name for himself. Bellamy and Antonoff didn’t get along and my dad got shanked in prison by one of Antonoff’s men. I don’t have a medical degree but even I can make the connections there.”

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