LITMIR.BIZ

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beyond saying he was a wealthy man who didn’t want to “complicate” his life.

      “Darius,” the man said, “I realize this must come as a shock to you, but—”

      “That’s the understatement of the year, Mr. LeBlanc.” He gritted the words through clenched teeth.

      “Just Kace is fine,” the man insisted.

      Darius was beginning to hate Kace’s sympathetic expression. It felt a lot like condescension and pity.

      “The old man is dead, so I’m obviously not here for a father-son reunion.” The declaration made him sound like a heartless ass, but Buckley Blackwood had shown him the same callous disregard. “And you could’ve conducted the reading of the will via video conference. So why the hell am I really here?”

      “I’ll allow Buck to explain for himself.” Kace read the final will and testament of Buckley Blackwood. The more he read, the more agitated Darius became.

       Buckley Blackwood was a coward and an asshole.

      Too cowardly to claim him as his son while he was alive. And the kind of jerk who left everything to his pretty, young ex-wife while leaving nothing to his children. And just for shits and giggles, Darius was being asked to take a DNA test to prove he was Buck’s son.

      “Any questions?” Kace put down the will and clasped his hands on the desk. The man seemed braced for a verbal assault.

      “What’s the point of a DNA test? The man’s dead, and it’s not as if I’m in line to inherit anything.”

      “You have three siblings.” Kace laid out the photos individually. “Kellan, Vaughn and Sophie.”

      Darius’s mouth went dry, and he couldn’t speak. He wanted to shove the photos onto the floor and call bullshit on this entire charade.

      But he couldn’t.

      Darius picked up each photo and studied it.

      His brown skin was darker than theirs, but they shared many facial features.

      His nose, chin and cheekbones were similar to theirs, and he and Sophie had the same rich brown eyes.

      An unexpected sense of belonging washed over him, like a wave at high tide, with the power to knock him off his feet. He swallowed hard, returning each photo to the mahogany desk.

      “Do they know about me?”

      “They learned of you after their father’s death.”

      “Does anyone else know?”

      “So far, just the family,” Kace said.

      “Good. Let’s keep it that way.” A knot tightened in his gut. The same one he’d developed when he’d gone to school with wealthy kids who’d treated him like an undeserving outsider.

      He’d learned to relish that status. Had incorporated it into the Thr3d brand. But he wasn’t keen on experiencing that kind of painful rejection again. Especially not from people with whom he shared DNA.

      Darius wanted to walk out. Refuse to play along with the old man’s sick game. But a part of him needed answers. And this was the only way he’d finally get them.

      “I’ll take the test.”

      “They’re expecting you at Royal Memorial Hospital.” Kace slid a sheet of paper across the desk, then closed the folder. “As for the estate…from what I’ve learned about you, you’ve always been a fighter. Two of your siblings are contesting the will. I’m certainly not encouraging you to do so, but—”

      “It is an option.” Darius rubbed his jaw.

      Kace gave him a subtle nod. “I’ll be in touch when I get the DNA results. In the meantime, someone else would like to speak with you. Should I send her in?”

      Darius nodded absently, not really listening. He pulled his phone from his pocket once the door clicked shut behind Kace. He needed to tell his mother and stepfather he finally knew the truth about his paternity. But they were on vacation. And this wasn’t the kind of conversation they should have over the phone while they were an ocean away. He’d wait until they returned from Europe and talk to them in person.

      His relationship with them had been strained since he’d learned that Will wasn’t his biological father. He could’ve forgiven that lie. Maybe even understood it. But when his mother refused to reveal the identity of his father, Darius had been furious.

      Now he knew the truth.

      He was the son of some rich asshole who hadn’t wanted him when he was alive but felt the need to alleviate his conscience on his deathbed.

      The door opened suddenly, startling him.

      “Hello, Darius. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Miranda Dupree extended a hand.

      He scrambled to his feet and shook her hand. She was nearly a foot shorter than him. “Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Dupree.”

      “Call me Miranda, and please, have a seat.” She settled onto the chair beside him. “I apologize for not being direct about why I invited you here.” She sifted her fingers through her wavy red hair. Her sparkling, deep blue eyes seemed sincere. “But I didn’t think you’d come if I’d told you the truth.”

      True.

      But that didn’t earn her a pass for lying to him.

      “So the collaboration was just a ruse?”

      “I prefer to think of it as bait.” Miranda smiled sweetly. “What I said about wanting to create a signature clothing line…that’s absolutely true. I’d like to revisit the topic once all of this is sorted out.”

      He acknowledged her statement with a slight nod. But his head still swirled with the news of his paternity.

       So much for those fantasies of a reunion with my long-lost father.

      “Darius…” Miranda placed a gentle hand on his forearm. “I can only imagine what you must be feeling.”

      “Then I’ll tell you.” He glared at her. “I feel like I’m being manipulated. By you. By that lawyer. And by a gutless old man who never gave a damn about me when he was alive but wants to play God with my life now that he’s dead.”

      Miranda seemed willing to absorb his anger, her gaze still warm and sincere. “If I was in your shoes, I’d probably feel the same. But there’s something you need to see.”

      Miranda retrieved a thick envelope from the desk and sat beside him again.

      “Buck and I hadn’t spoken much since our divorce. So I was as shocked as anyone that he charged me with handling some very sensitive matters after his death. I’ve received more instructions via letters over the past few months. Yes, the man could be an asshole.” She laughed bitterly. “But one of his deepest regrets was never getting to know you. He implored me to bring you here, so you’d have the opportunity to get to know your brothers and sister. And he wanted you to know that, regardless of what you might believe, you were never far from his thoughts.”

      “He had a damn funny way of showing it.”

      “Buck struggled to show affection with everyone. It destroyed both of his marriages. And it’s the reason his relationships with his children were strained. The reason he died alone.” She frowned. “But it doesn’t mean he didn’t care about you.”

      Miranda handed him the envelope. “Buck wanted you to have this…to know that even though you were apart, he always held you in his heart.”

      She stood. “I’ll leave you alone with it. You can review it here for now. Once the DNA results have been confirmed, it’s yours to keep. When you’re ready, my driver will take you anywhere you’d like to go. I’ve reserved a furnished rental home in town for you. It’s yours for as long as

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