Page 98 of Filthy Rich

“I—” I’m not sure where to start. I glance at Octavia helplessly.

“Jake found out recently that his dad wasn’t his dad.” She arches one eyebrow. “I’m a little sore about it, because instead of telling me what he learned, he dumped me.” She folds her arms. “But when you love someone, you come help them even when you’re annoyed by something.”

Seren grins at me.

“So he’s just as stupid now as he was then.” Dave shakes his head. “What a shame.” But he’s smiling.

“My real birth father was?—”

“The most notorious serial killer in North America,” Dave says. “We know.”

A chill runs up my entire body, and for the first time in my entire life I burst into spontaneous tears without forcing it. “You—you knew?”

Seren’s lips compress and her head tilts. “Oh, Jake.” She lunges at me and hugs me. From right next to me, her voice is very, very clear. “You were never really his kid. You’ve always been my baby.”

My tears turn into sobs, but she never lets go. She pats my back. “I told you that on the first day you came to live with us, and I meant it then.”

“We found all that out before we took you on,” Dave says. “The social workers had your file—it came out in the investigation. Your dad thought he’d covered it up, but they fingerprint people who are born into the system. Before they took you from your mother, you were printed, and it was a pretty easy connection for them to make.”

My voice comes out a little strangled, even as I’m choking back my emotion to try and get ahold of myself. Men do not sob like idiots, and Octavia’s right there. “You knew before you took me in?”

Seren finally releases me, but she doesn’t sit down. Her hand cups my cheek. “I was trying to tell you that first day—no matter what you think, no matter what the world says, no matter what you do, you’re mine, and I love you, and I don’t care about anything else.”

“I love your mom. She’s the best,” Octavia whispers. Then she turns toward Seren and raises her voice. “In fact, do you feel anything from your heart when you look at me? Because I could definitely go for a trade-in on my mother.”

Dave and Seren’s faces look horrified at first, and then they realize she’s kidding. The laughter’s uproarious, from all of us.

“We’ll always be here for you too,” Seren says, “but I think if we tried to adopt you, Jake might never talk to us again.”

“Yeah, I’m not dating my sister.”

“I heard a rumor that you actually tried to confess your feelings to Bea.” Dave’s clearly trying really hard not to laugh.

“I’m a smart guy,” I say, “but I’ve had my share of damage. I got confused, and Bea slapped me upside the head, mostly metaphorically.”

“She told me,” Octavia says. “She said you don’t share well, so in spite of never once making any advances or moves, when Easton came along, you got jealous of her time and wanted to keep your favorite toy for yourself.”

Dave and Seren are actually laughing harder. “I actually did not hear that part, but boy is she smart.”

“All our kids are,” Seren says.

“Well, Killian’s cute, at least,” Dave says.

Seren smacks him, but I notice she doesn’t argue. Poor Killie. “Alright. Well.”

I try to stand up, but Octavia and Seren each yank me back down. “You can’t just leave,” Octavia says. “Not unless you’re ditching me. I demand another game of Settlers.”

“Oh, ho, ho,” Dave says, “but you can’t possibly win now. We’re onto your wily ways.”

Boy is he wrong. The game is almost a repeat of the last time.

“Maybe she just has a real, genuine talent for Settlers.” Seren’s frowning at the board, clearly counting the points. “When did she buy those cards? And why were they all victory points? All I ever get are stupid cards that move the robber.”

Dave laughs. “Some people are just blessed.” He leans back in his chair. “And although we’ve lost to Octavia twice now, I think it might be us.”

Seren smiles. “Yes, I think you’re right.”

“But what are we going to do about my dad?” I ask.

---