Page 13 of Possession

“The contents weren’t included in the sale,” Grace said stubbornly.

“Depends what contents we’re talking about. According to my agent, I was to receive—” I stopped and directed my gaze at the ceiling.

Focus, Carson.

“We should go through the house and make an itemized list of what’s left and what’s been sold, see if you can note any discrepancies.”

“I won’t remember everything. My grandmother was a collector, and I was in such a state after her passing that whole days blended together. She wasn’t supposed to go then. She’d just been given a clean bill of health at her doctor’s not three days before.”

“Things happen, Grace. Sometimes the doctors don’t catch everything.” But my mind was whirling.

There were way too many questions lately, and not nearly enough answers. I needed some, and fast.

“I know that. I’m not stupid, Blake. I’m just saying that I didn’t expect it. If she’d been sick…if there had been some kind of warning…” She sighed and laid her head on my chest, tracing a finger over the whorl of hair.

Somehow, I still wore my shirt. It was a wrinkled mess and twisted on my arms, but still on just the same.

“Blake, you never said how you knew her. The way you’d met.”

It was easier to give her that than any of the rest. What I’d been willing to do to build my company. The risks I’d taken, the people I’d dealt with.

Ones I’d still be working with if not for Annabelle’s intervention.

“She knew my father,” I said vaguely, hoping that would be enough for right now. The rest of the story would be distracting enough. “Through him, she found out about me.”

“What do you mean, found out?” She peered up at me, and Grace’s still damp cheeks were my undoing. “Odd choice of words.”

“My father had another family. Several of them, actually. He liked to spread it around.” I smiled thinly and stroked a hand over her hair in hopes she’d stop watching me so closely. Those shrewd blue-green eyes could pick me apart, and right now, all my cracks and seams were on full display. “My mother worked for him. She was part of his cleaning staff when he was married to Sebastian’s mother. Sebastian is my older brother.”

“Is he like you?”

“Like me in what way?”

She flapped a hand. “I don’t know. Is he a mega mogul?”

“Yes, and oddly enough, he’s also in security. But a much different realm.”

“Oh, yeah? Like what?”

“I never delved deep into him because he’s a hard guy to get to know. He’s very secretive.”

She rolled her eyes. “Imagine such a thing. And hereyou’rean open book.”

I chose to ignore her remark. “I’d like to get to know him—and Donovan—better someday. But that may not be in the cards.”

“Why not?”

I had to laugh. Was I ever as idealistic as Grace? I didn’t think so. “They have years of defenses built up.”

“As do you,” she reminded me.

“Yeah. But they both have other siblings. Both have sisters, oddly enough.”

“So what? They also both have another brother too.”

“Yeah.” I exhaled. “Sebastian’s security is crazy. He even deals with microchipping but not pets. People. Crazy shit. I only know a bit about it.”

“He sounds fascinating.”

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