Page 35 of Gabe's Obsession

"Yes, Nina, he was adopted. The lovely couple that raised him had nothing to do with his unfortunate birth."

"Unfortunate?!" Now she was getting pissed. How dare she? What right did she have—?

"Nina, dear, don't be so naive. You’re better than that. Plus, you've been around this family since the beginning. Did you really never wonder why Mason took such an interest in a total stranger?"

"They went to college together. They played on the same football team. They were friends." All words she’d heard directly from Gabe.

Savannah shook her head again. "This is sad. I knew Mason keeping this a secret would come back one day and bite someone in the ass and it appears I was right. It looks like you're the one getting bitten, unfortunately.”

None of the words coming out of Savannah's mouth made any sense to her. Why were they talking about Gabe and his parents instead of her father and the night he died? Who cared why Mason and her brothers took Gabe in, they--

A seed of something niggled at the back of her brain. Something horrific. "No, you are not saying that he--" She couldn't even say the words out loud.

"Wow. That took you long enough, my dear. Although I don’t know why. You've been around Mason Sinclair your whole life. Have you ever seen him be so generous and accommodating to anyone other than family? Come on. Use that brain of yours. You are more than just a pretty face and a young body. They are--"

"Time's up," the guard behind Savannah yelled as she stepped forward, interrupting the conversation at the worst possible moment.

"No!" Nina slapped the glass partition between them. "I need more time. They are what?" she screamed at Savannah.

"Sorry, ma'am." The guard turned to Savannah. "Put the handset down and let's go."

Mrs. Lewis hesitated briefly before standing and then she put the phone back to her head. "Go and see your mother. Ask her about your father. There is more to the story. It's not what you think—“

The guard grabbed the handset away from Savannah, slammed it down on its cradle and ordered her away from the table.

"No. Please. Don't do this. I need to know. What the hell is happening?"

She watched her say something to the guard, hoping it would have an effect.

But it was too late. Mrs. Lewis was forcefully dragged from the room screaming something back at her that Nina could not hear.

She watched in horror while sucking in gulps of air that didn't appear to be delivering oxygen to her brain as the room was now spinning.

Adopted.

Not what you think.

Mason.

None of the words going through her head could be strung together to make any sense. Because the bombshell that Savannah just dropped could not be true. No way. Now how never in a million years.

Except.

Mason.She was right about him. He kept a viciously tight circle, never letting anyone in except family. The only people who ever got through were Gabe and Rebecca and she might as well be part of the family at this point.

Family.

Sharp pain stabbed through her chest as she collapsed down into the chair. She fumbled for her phone stuffed in her pocket, but her hands shook so hard they wouldn't function right. When she finally got it free she stared down at the screen trying to remember who she'd been about to call.

"You can't use that in here. You'll have to go outside to make a call." The guard monitoring this side of the room came up behind her.

Although she heard the words, they didn't fully register. They sounded like they were coming through an underwater filter or something. Instead, Savannah's words still jack hammered through her head loud and clear.

Her vision blurred as her brain allowed only one clear word to penetrate.

Brother.

"Are you all right?" The guard stepped closer.

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