Read Online Surrounded by Secrets by Mandy Harbin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mandy Harbin
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to fuck, but not good enough to talk to.”
The photo of his mother. He remembered not wanting to talk to her about it. It was too personal, the news of it changing everything he’d been raised to believe. Hell, he hadn’t even talked to Josh about it yet, so how could he just open up to her about it?
Because you want to.
And as he watched her scanning the room, avoiding eye contact, he knew he was right. Even if it didn’t change things with them, he still wanted to talk to her about that news. Somewhere deep within him, he needed her to know, and he wasn’t going to fight that.
“It was a photo of my mom,” he mumbled, looking down at his clasped hands in his lap. He saw her head turn toward him through the corner of his eye.
She sighed. “You don’t have to do me any favors by telling me.”
“I’m not, Lilly. This is just really hard for me to talk about.”
She shifted on the couch, but didn’t touch him. “How long ago did she die?”
“Not long. A few years.” He was silent for several seconds, not knowing how to continue. Her death wasn’t the issue now. It was her life. Finally, he rubbed his hands together, tilted his head to the side to look at Lillian, and found the strength he needed there. “My brothers and I were led to believe that we are mountain lion shifters because of my father’s heritage, that his parents died when he was little, and the secret of our existence died with them.”
She nodded slowly, seemingly taking it in and understanding what he’d really said. “Led to believe?”
“That’s right. That photo of my mother, Lina Woods, changes that belief. In it, she was younger and standing with several people I don’t recognize. I was in my father’s office having a conference call with you when I stumbled upon it.”
“What about that picture makes you question what you’ve been told about your parents?”
“The note on the back. God, I stared at it for so long that I remember it word for word. It read, ‘To my sister, Felina, please remember the times like this when we were a happy family, and forgive my intrusion with your selection of Thomas as your mate. Your rightful place will always be as the queen of our people. We extend a welcoming hand to you and your chosen mate and hope you make the journey home to your throne.’ It was signed ‘Rodrick Lyons,’ a name I’d never heard before.”
“What?” Lillian shook her and frowned at him. “So there’s a litter of you guys somewhere else? And your mom was their leader? Really?”
“Yeah, that’s what I think. So my father, Thomas, isn’t the reason we can shift into mountain lions. If this Rodrick guy is my mom’s brother, and he said her people , that makes me think she’s also the reason we can shift, the missing link. So why the cover-up? And what really happened to make my mom leave her people?”
“Hmm, that is interesting.” Lilly leaned back against the couch and scratched her chin. “There has to be a serious reason why your parents never told you about her family. Did your dad explain anything when you told him what you’d found?”
Jack half smiled. “I haven’t told him yet. I haven’t told anyone. Until now.”
Her brows shot up. “Why? What are you waiting for? This is about your life. You deserve to know the truth.”
He lifted his hands in defense. God, she was always so feisty. “I agree. I wanted to get Josh’s opinion on it before discussing it with my father, but the morning I was supposed to meet him, I was busy staring at a nasty bite mark on your neck and trying not to shit my britches.”
Lillian chuckled. “I guess you did have your hands full.”
“And have had them full pretty much ever since.” He smiled at her.
She nodded. “Right.”
Jack stared at her, words he should say, words he should not say swimming around in his head. He knew if he said the wrong thing, he’d regret it. He sensed she was balancing on some fence, and he didn’t need to
The photo of his mother. He remembered not wanting to talk to her about it. It was too personal, the news of it changing everything he’d been raised to believe. Hell, he hadn’t even talked to Josh about it yet, so how could he just open up to her about it?
Because you want to.
And as he watched her scanning the room, avoiding eye contact, he knew he was right. Even if it didn’t change things with them, he still wanted to talk to her about that news. Somewhere deep within him, he needed her to know, and he wasn’t going to fight that.
“It was a photo of my mom,” he mumbled, looking down at his clasped hands in his lap. He saw her head turn toward him through the corner of his eye.
She sighed. “You don’t have to do me any favors by telling me.”
“I’m not, Lilly. This is just really hard for me to talk about.”
She shifted on the couch, but didn’t touch him. “How long ago did she die?”
“Not long. A few years.” He was silent for several seconds, not knowing how to continue. Her death wasn’t the issue now. It was her life. Finally, he rubbed his hands together, tilted his head to the side to look at Lillian, and found the strength he needed there. “My brothers and I were led to believe that we are mountain lion shifters because of my father’s heritage, that his parents died when he was little, and the secret of our existence died with them.”
She nodded slowly, seemingly taking it in and understanding what he’d really said. “Led to believe?”
“That’s right. That photo of my mother, Lina Woods, changes that belief. In it, she was younger and standing with several people I don’t recognize. I was in my father’s office having a conference call with you when I stumbled upon it.”
“What about that picture makes you question what you’ve been told about your parents?”
“The note on the back. God, I stared at it for so long that I remember it word for word. It read, ‘To my sister, Felina, please remember the times like this when we were a happy family, and forgive my intrusion with your selection of Thomas as your mate. Your rightful place will always be as the queen of our people. We extend a welcoming hand to you and your chosen mate and hope you make the journey home to your throne.’ It was signed ‘Rodrick Lyons,’ a name I’d never heard before.”
“What?” Lillian shook her and frowned at him. “So there’s a litter of you guys somewhere else? And your mom was their leader? Really?”
“Yeah, that’s what I think. So my father, Thomas, isn’t the reason we can shift into mountain lions. If this Rodrick guy is my mom’s brother, and he said her people , that makes me think she’s also the reason we can shift, the missing link. So why the cover-up? And what really happened to make my mom leave her people?”
“Hmm, that is interesting.” Lilly leaned back against the couch and scratched her chin. “There has to be a serious reason why your parents never told you about her family. Did your dad explain anything when you told him what you’d found?”
Jack half smiled. “I haven’t told him yet. I haven’t told anyone. Until now.”
Her brows shot up. “Why? What are you waiting for? This is about your life. You deserve to know the truth.”
He lifted his hands in defense. God, she was always so feisty. “I agree. I wanted to get Josh’s opinion on it before discussing it with my father, but the morning I was supposed to meet him, I was busy staring at a nasty bite mark on your neck and trying not to shit my britches.”
Lillian chuckled. “I guess you did have your hands full.”
“And have had them full pretty much ever since.” He smiled at her.
She nodded. “Right.”
Jack stared at her, words he should say, words he should not say swimming around in his head. He knew if he said the wrong thing, he’d regret it. He sensed she was balancing on some fence, and he didn’t need to
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