He didn’t need to clarify. I knew exactly what he was talking about—our relationship.
“I found out last night.”
“You didn’t know before then?”
Though Patrick had reached over and placed his hand on my knee, this conversation was only between me and Mr. Sparrow.
I shook my head. “No. I didn’t; however, Andros did. Last night, he said that he’s known ever since…we met. Marion knew too, for the same time period.”
“When did you meet?” Patrick asked.
Turning toward him, I fought the sting of threatening tears. “June, over sixteen years ago, before Ruby was born.”
“And you say,” Mason asked, “that Marion Elliott also knew for all that time?”
While simultaneously, Patrick asked, “June? You disappeared the end of February.”
I turned my attention to Mason. “Yes, that’s what they told me last night.”
“And you,” Mr. Sparrow said, “expect me to believe that Ivanov has known since before Ruby’s birth and never said a word.”
“I can’t begin to tell you what to believe. What I’m telling you is the truth. I had no reason to ever doubt that the man who I knew as my father was my father.” I turned to Patrick. “I told you about my parents—who I thought were my parents—when we were young. I thought my father worked at a warehouse and my mother worked at a local store. As a young girl, I never assumed that she was someone else’s mistress.”
A sharp inhale came from across the table. With a clenched jaw, Mr. Sparrow replied, “We’re looking into it—if they continued the relationship after you were born.”
“My dad,” I said, “from what I can recall, never indicated our relationship wasn’t what it seemed.”
“They died in a car crash?” Mr. Sparrow asked, looking to Patrick. “Isn’t that what you said?”
“They did,” I answered, “when I was twelve.” I started to say more, to say that Andros said the crash wasn’t an accident but purposeful and that I was supposed to be in the car. However, the roar of the engines grew louder, interrupting my thoughts. My fingers blanched on the armrests as the plane increased speed on the runway. I didn’t release my breath until the wheels lifted from the ground and I exhaled.
“I’m curious,” Patrick said, “how did Marion Elliott know this…and how did the two of you meet.”
I swallowed. “I’d rather not say right now.”
“So the tournament wasn’t your first meeting?”
“I didn’t remember him from before but apparently not.”
“Ms…Madeline,” Mr. Sparrow said, correcting my name. “I’m not a patient man and I don’t care what you rather answer. We have questions. I need answers. Patrick would like to take you to where we live. Your daughter is there and welcome. At this point, I’m not convinced that the invitation will be or should be extended to you. Not only do we need your honesty regarding Ivanov, but I also want to know your intentions regarding this recently discovered information.”
Patrick’s body tensed as the grip of my knee tightened.
“My intentions,” I began, “are the same as when I didn’t know. I have none. I don’t want a thing other than to return to my husband and daughter.”
“My father,” he said, “—I’m not ready to say our—was a wealthy man. My mother still is a wealthy woman from a respected family. I’ve taken that wealth and multiplied it. Are we to understand that you just learned you’re related to me through my father, and you want nothing?”
“Again, believe what you want, Mr. Sparrow. I presume you’re the only one who can make that decision. However inequitable, the answer I gave is the truth. I want nothing.” I decided to be more forthcoming. “You should know that last night I was made aware that Marion planned to use my parentage against you.”
My gaze went to the small windows behind where Mr. Sparrow was seated. The sky beyond was bright and blue. We were above the clouds and the plane had leveled out.
“Against me how?” Mr. Sparrow asked.
“He didn’t say. Andros said that if Ruby had been a boy, he would have leveraged him against…Allister.” It was the first time I’d said his name aloud.
For a moment, Mr. Sparrow didn’t speak. His jaw clenched tighter and the cords in his neck came to life. A vein in his forehead throbbed, and still, he didn’t speak.
I looked from him to Patrick.
“If you didn’t know, I still don’t understand how others did,” Sparrow said.
“I filled out paperwork. I listed my parents. My mother’s name is unique, Alycia Tate. Someone saw it and the connection was made,” I explained. “I believe they recognized my mother as one of Mr. Sparrow’s mistresses. I was told there was a test to confirm. I don’t know much more.”
“Tell me about the wedding ring,” Patrick said. “The one Mr. St. Pierre was resizing.”
“It didn’t fit,” I replied. “Marion, I guess you could say, proposed.”
“An application for a marriage license was filed,” Mason said.
I exhaled, forcing my poker façade to remain intact despite the rush of uncertainty hidden beneath the surface. “Marion knew I’d say no if he actually proposed. Their plan was that I’d go with Marion after Andros abandoned me. He’d be my savior and I’d willingly marry him. It didn’t work out that way, so he tried to do it without me. If there’s a signature, it’s forged.” I turned back to Patrick. “I can’t marry him. I’m married to you. I was worried about what he’d say and do when he learned that.” I recalled our last conversation. “Just before you arrived at the store, he called and told me to leave, to go back to the ranch.”
“Do you think he knew we were coming?” Patrick said to everyone around the table.
“He didn’t say that,” I answered. “He said Andros lied to him.”
“Lied?” Mason asked.
“I don’t know anything else. Your man down there took my phone and disconnected the call. Maybe Marion found out I was already married. I never told Andros. I never told him you were Ruby’s father. Once I learned his power, I was afraid if he knew and if you were still alive, he’d do something to you.”
“Elliott may have also learned that you’re dead,” Mr. Sparrow said.
My circulation fell to my feet as my eyes opened wide. “What?”
Patrick rubbed the top of my thigh. “Reid is looking into it.”
“Into my death?”
“Into the report of your demise,” he corrected. “After you disappeared, I heard a rumor that your body had been found. I went to the coroner’s office with our marriage license and asked to see you, to confirm your identity. I was told there was a backup on Jane Does. All I could do was file a missing person’s report. Up until Elliott’s attempt to have a marriage license issued in the name Madeline Alycia Tate with your birth information, you’ve been MIA.
“We were talking with Reid while you were changing. He presumes that no record of your existence, no financial dealings, medical records, housing records, or anything for seven years after my report resulted in a death certificate.”