Page 103 of Corrupted Pleasure
All their eyes widened. “What?” Ivy exclaimed. “Grandpa Hayes is coming to the Big Apple?”
“How?” Juliette asked.
“When?” Wynter wondered.
“Tonight,” I admitted, smiling. Despite all the shit that went down since we burned down Garrett’s house, I was happy. Liam managed to not only give multiple orgasms, but also showed how much he cared by securing a place for my grandfather in less than twenty-four hours. “I’d like to go see him after we’re done tonight.” I glanced at Wynter. “Could I borrow your Jeep? My car’s out of commission for good.”
And I didn’t want to use Liam’s wedding present. There weren’t enough lies to explain getting a Land Rover.
“Yes, of course,” she grinned. “Can we come with you?”
“Damn, for Grandpa Hayes I’d consider staying here,” Juliette mused.
“Me too,” Ivy agreed.
I grinned. “It’d make him happy. But-” I locked my gaze on Juliette and pointed a finger at her. “You need to tell us what is bothering you. I can feel that something is off, and I don’t like to see you like that, Juliette.”
Guilt washed over her face. But there was something else there too. Her blue eyes, that were a completely different shade from her father’s, shimmered like sapphires while her bottom lip quivered.
Startled, I realized she was holding back tears. “Is this about the birth certificates?” I asked her. It was the only thing I’d ever seen upset her.
The next moment, tears streamed down her face. I strode to her at the same time as Wynter and Ivy, and all three of us wrapped our arms around her. We’d smother her with love to make it all better.
“What happened?” I questioned. By Wynter’s and Ivy’s looks, they were just as puzzled. “Want to burn down another house?” I teased softly.
A choked sob mixed with a strangled laugh escaped her. And it was like she let loose. Her sobs shook her body as she cried in our arms. We didn’t say anything, just held her as she let it all out.
“Shhh,” I comforted her. I met Wynter’s eyes and she looked at a loss for words. “Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together,” I vowed. And we would. We were family. I’d do anything for the three of them. They were my ride or die, right along with my grandfather.
And Liam, my mind whispered. But I wasn’t ready to admit that to them just yet.
“Tell us what’s wrong, Jules,” Wynter urged her softly. “Tell us who we have to kill.”
“Dad,” she choked out and another wave of sobs followed. “He’s not my dad.”
“What do you mean?” Wynter rasped. “I thought those birth certificates were fake.”
My heart clenched in my chest and immediately I feared that things were too good to be true. Something big was about to ruin the little happiness that had started to form in my chest.
“He’s not my dad,” Juliette repeated, her voice trembling. “I’ve been doing research and found information on Aiden and Ava Cullen.”
“What did you find out?” The three of us asked in a whisper.
“They had two children, born on the exact days as Killian and I,” she said. “I found their obituary pictures.” A soft round of gasps followed. “Want to see it?”
“Yes,” I answered when Wynter and Ivy remained quiet.
Juliette pulled out her phone and scrolled through her pictures, then showed us all a photo.
“Holy shit,” Wynter muttered. “Killian and you look just like them.”
“Right?” Juliette agreed. “I mean, there is no more evidence needed.”
“What else did you find out?” Ivy asked her.
The anguish on Juliette’s face was clear. Whatever she found out, it wasn’t good.
“My biological parents were killed and burned in their home in Ireland. They were hiding from the Russians.”
