“Of course, Daddy! You love me this much.” She widened her arms as far as they could go. “And I love you, too.” She threw her little arms around his neck and tears rolled down Dakota’s cheeks.
Sin’s throat tightened, but he refused to let the emotion get the better of him. Evangeline squeezed his hand. “Dakota, can Sammy and I make you a cup of tea?”
He wiped his cheeks. “Sorry. Tonight was a little overwhelming.” He kissed his daughter and set her down. “Sure, that would be good. Thanks.”
Evangeline held out her hand. “Sammy, can you help me make your daddy and Uncle Lalla some tea?”
Sammy scampered over and tucked her small hand in Evangeline’s. As the two disappeared into the kitchen, Sin threw an arm around his brother. “You okay?”
“Fuck no. Everything I thought to be the truth is a damn lie.”
“You had two loving parents. No lie there.”
“They bought us, for Christ’s sake.”
“Charlene’s broker sold them a story and they believed it because they wanted to be parents that badly. There’s nothing we can do about that now. They’re gone. We’ve got to move on. All we have is today and, from where I stand, today is looking pretty damn good.”
Dakota shook his head. “I wanted to pump some bullets into her and call it even.”
“Too easy. She’s gonna spend decades in prison.” Sin grinned. “Trust me on that. If anyone can ensure she goes away for a long, long time, it’s me. This is one problem I can fix.”
“Daddy, Uncle Lalla, come and have a real tea party with me and E-Leen!” Sammy called from the kitchen.
“Your daughter is the best part of your life,” Sin said. “And she’s here now.”
“I’m damn lucky to have a brother like you,” Dakota said as they walked toward the kitchen.
Sin slapped him on the back. “You sure as hell are.”
29
A Very Important Question
Saturday morning, Evangeline sat at the kitchen island, a coffee mug in one hand while she re-read the DNA report on her laptop. A match had been found that named Charlene Caraway as Dakota Luck’s biological mother with ninety-nine percent accuracy.
Evangeline understood why Sin wasn’t identified in the report. He wasn’t listed in any databases used for DNA matches. What she didn’t understand was her inability to view the complete profile on Dakota. All she could see was the following:
Name: Dakota Luck
Organization: Alpha
Status: Resigned
Everything else on the form had been redacted. She scrolled to the bottom and clicked “Continue” to view on the second page. The word, “REDACTED” popped up on the screen, prohibiting her from seeing that page and any subsequent pages.
Sin walked into the kitchen, leaned down, and kissed her. “You smell good,” he whispered in her ear.
She stroked his arms, leaned her head against him. “I didn’t want to wake you. You were sleeping so soundly.”
“I haven’t slept this well in decades. Must be the magic of Evangeline.” After pouring himself a cup of coffee, he sat beside her.
She smiled. “I had no idea I wielded that kind of power.”
“You, my love, have all the power.”
“If that’s the case, I want to talk to you about something.”
“You sound too damn serious for a Saturday.”
“Have you given any thought to what you’re going to do with the Uninhibited property?” she asked, swiveling toward him.
He studied her face. “No, but I have a feeling you have.”
“You own that property, right?”
“I do.”
“Rather than sell it, what about opening up a center?”
“What kind of center?”
She folded her hand over his and caressed his knuckles. “The Develin Center for Runaway Children.”
As he watched her fingers trail across his skin, he sighed. “That is a very weighty idea.”
Knowing he’d need time to mull, she closed with, “You would be helping so many children who might otherwise end up homeless or forced into trafficking. You’ve accomplished a lot to be proud of and you could make a huge difference for others.”
Leaning forward, he kissed her. “I have a feeling you are never going to stop challenging me. Thank you for always encouraging me to do better. I’ll give it some thought.”
She slid off the chair, draped her arms over his shoulders and kissed him like she meant it. “Thanks for hearing me out.”
“Always, babe.” His expression turned playful. “Now, I have a proposition for you, Ms. Worthington.”
“I love when my man makes me an offer I cannot refuse.”
“You’ve been working nonstop for weeks. It’s Saturday. Spend the day with me.”
“I’m all yours.”
“Good.” He glanced at the computer screen. “Why are you still looking at that report?”
“What’s Alpha?”
He shrugged. “No idea.”
She didn’t believe him. “Yes, you do. Are you part of Alpha, too?”
“I’m The Fixer, you know that.”
“What happened to not keeping secrets from each other?”
“I’m not in Alpha.” He stared at her for several seconds, then said, “Be right back.”
Dammit. What’s Alpha?
He returned with a large shopping bag. “I bought you a present.”
“Way to redirect my attention,” she said with a smirk.
He set it on the kitchen table. Unable to resist the lure of a gift, she removed the tissue paper and pulled out a pair of black leather pants followed by a matching leather jacket. “These are beautiful.” She slipped the jacket on and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you,” she said before kissing him. “What’s the occasion?”
He grabbed her ass. “Be my valentine,” he said and laid a ravenous kiss on her.
Through the kiss, her lips curved. “Only if you’ll be mine.”
“Quid pro quo…always. I bought you a helmet, too, and that jacket is inflatable.”
“I have something for you, too,” she said before waggling her eyebrows. “But I’d planned on giving it to you later, when we’re in bed.”
He squeezed her ass. “You know I’m all about delayed gratification. You might want to check those pockets.”
Slipping her hands inside, she pulled out a small black jewelry box. “What’s this?” She lifted the lid, revealing pink diamond stud earrings, each surrounded by a halo of white diamonds. “Oh, whoa.” Lifting her face to his, she stared into his eyes. “These are stunning. Thank you.”
“I haven’t seen you wear earrings, but those pink diamonds caught my eye and I had to buy them for you.”
She slipped them into her ears and pulled her hair out of way. “Do you like?”
“I like a lot.” He nibbled her neck and a soft moan escaped her throat. Then, he dropped a kiss on her lips. “Go riding with me.”