Sin stood shoulder-to-shoulder with his twin. “He’s crazy. He’ll do it. If I were you, I’d cooperate. I mean, c’mon, it’s our first mother-son visit in thirty-five years. The least you could do is be cordial.”
Charlene shifted her attention from one man to the other, over and over again. The ticking clock hammered in Sin’s ears. “There are two of you?” She looked genuinely surprised. Then, she crossed her arms. “Liars. I don’t believe you.”
Dakota pulled a report from his breast pocket. “Unfortunately, DNA shows you and I are a fucking match.”
“Let me introduce you to my identical twin,” Sin said. “Dakota Luck, meet our mother, Charlene Caraway.”
“You bitch,” Dakota grumbled.
“He’s not taking this as well as I am,” Sin said. “Well, you had twins, so naturally, there would be two of us.” He glanced over at Dakota. “Our mom isn’t very smart.”
Dakota glared at her. “I think she’s dumb as fuck.” He motioned to the sofa with his gun. “Have a seat.”
She sat on the edge of the plump cushion.
“Be good while I’m gone,” Sin warned. He left the library to pour three Hennessys. After passing out the cognacs, he planted himself on the far cushion, draped his arm over the back of the sofa, and sipped. More relaxed he could not have looked, but the fire in his gut had turned volcanic.
Charlene took a long draw of the liquor. “Why are you here? What do you want? It can’t be money, can it?”
“Not money,” Sin said. “We’ve got millions and millions. We want answers. Who is our biological father?”
“Some guy.”
“We figured that out on our own. Does he have a name?” Sin gritted his teeth, his patience long gone.
Glaring at them, she said, “Not that I can recall. It could be any number of men. It was a long time ago.”
“Like I said,” Dakota bit out, “she’s dumb as fuck.”
“Why did you give us up?” Sin asked.
She tossed back a mouthful of brandy before setting her glass on the table. Then, she nibbled the inside of her lower lip. “It seems you both turned out well, so what difference does it make?” Her attempt at a smile made Sin want to punch his fist through a fucking wall.
He waited, hoping she’d answer his questions, but she said nothing further. With pursed lips, Dakota just shook his head. A silent Dakota was a dangerous Dakota.
Sin pushed off the sofa, stared out the picture window. “Answer the damn question.”
She sighed. “I gave you up because I didn’t want you. I never wanted children and two sounded like twice as much work. Two sounded like I’d be dirt poor. Two sounded like a burden that would keep me imprisoned in my shitty life forever.”
As Sin turned back around, he slid his gaze to Dakota. His weapon was still pointed at Charlene’s head. And Sin had every confidence his twin wouldn’t think twice about killing her.
“Why. Did. You. Split. Us. Up?” Dakota’s anger intensified with each word.
Her lips curled back, her sinister smile overflowing with evil. “Because I made twice as much money that way.” Charlene’s shrill laugh made Dakota startle while shivers streaked down Sin’s spine. This woman wasn’t just wicked—she was a psychopath.
Tick-tick-tick-tick.
The thundering second hand sounded like a time bomb, preparing to explode.
Dakota had been staring at the floor. “How much?” He lifted his face, hatred pouring from his eyes. “How fucking much?”
“Five thousand each.”
Sin released a low growl. “How could you get away with selling us?”
After Charlene drained the snifter, she pointed at him. “My baby broker told your sappy daddy it was to cover my maternity costs. He wanted you so badly, the broker said he was tempted to raise his asking price.” Again, another creepy laugh blasted the air before Charlene set her sights on Dakota. “You.” She jabbed a finger in Dakota’s direction. “The broker said your parents would have mortgaged their home if they’d had one.” Rising, she glared at both men. “They wanted you in ways I could never understand. Consider it a blessing. I would have made a terrible mother.”
“The worst,” Sin bit out.
“Those transactions, my dearest sons, were the beginning of a most lucrative career. Once I started brokering babies myself, I made so much more.” Pausing, she studied both of them. “If I had known you were going to turn out so well, I would have demanded my broker ask for a helluva lot more.”
Sin’s blood ran cold.
“I won’t kill you,” Dakota said, “but only because you need to pay for your crimes.”
“I won’t go to prison,” Charlene said. “My lawyers have struck a deal.”
This time, the men smiled at each other. Sin had the power to make damn sure she would pay for what she’d done.
“That’s what you think.” He glared at her for a long moment before eyeing Dakota. “I won’t spend another minute with this witch. You know I hate wasting time.”
Dakota’s sincere smile signaled he’d reeled in the rage that drove him to kill. “I do, brother. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
“Good talking with you, Mother,” Sin said. “We’ll have to do it again, real soon.”
Dakota walked out without another word. When Sin got to the doorway, he turned and opened his sport coat, revealing a wire and a mic. Then, he flashed her a grin.
“You bastards!” Charlene screamed as Sin shut the front door.
The cold night air felt good against his hot cheeks. As he walked to the car, he breathed deeply. Charlene Caraway wasn’t going to get away with her crimes. Even if she did get a plea deal, he and Dakota would figure out a way to make her pay. There was always room for vengeance.
After removing his recording device, he did the same with Dakota’s.
Neither said much in the car. What was there to say? Sin had known for years that he was adopted. Dakota, on the other hand, had only learned hours prior that his parents weren’t his birth parents. At the traffic light, Sin glanced over. Dakota’s brow was furrowed and he was staring straight ahead, deep in thought.
They arrived back at Dakota’s to find Sammy asleep on the sofa, her head in Evangeline’s lap, a throw blanket keeping her small body cozy warm. Evangeline glanced from one man to the other with raised eyebrows.
“We got her to—” The moment Sin started to speak, Sammy lifted her head, then popped up.
“Daddy! Uncle Lalla! E-Leen was so nice to me. We played tea party and she drank all the water.” Sammy giggled. “She had to pee-pee a lot.” She ran over to her dad. He lifted her up and hugged her.
Evangeline went to Sin. He pulled her into his arms, then dropped a soft kiss on her mouth.
Sammy giggled again. “Uncle Lalla kissed E-Leen.” She crinkled her nose and hid her face in Dakota’s chest.
“Did you two have a productive meeting?” Evangeline asked.
“Very,” Sin replied.
“I love you, Sammy,” Dakota said. “You know that, right?”
To Sin’s surprise, his brother had tears in his eyes. Sin’s heart broke for what Dakota was going through.