“Until I have all the facts, this stays between us.”
“No matter what we find, it still might not be something they want to know.”
Six different mothers. Shit. There is no way Zoey is expecting something like this. How on earth did they not know who their mother was? How could they not know they come from different mothers? And what kind of bastard does that to his children? Denied them knowledge of where they came from, and left them without a mother figure in their life. He’d always been close to his mom. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet.”
“Bennett, I’m only doing this as a favor to Trent. We can stop this now. Hell, I’d suggest stopping. There are times the answer isn’t worth the price.”
“Money’s no concern.”
“That’s not the price I’m talking about. This family won’t ever be the same if they find out. I can get you the information. I suggest thinking long and hard before you tell any of them.”
Jon was right. He’d seen a difference in the family over the last two years. The first time he was hired by Brice, the family barely spoke to each other. Now they stood together all on the same side, even if it was because of him. The progress they’d made could disappear for good if they knew what he’d just learned. Right now, he’d gather the facts only. Her brothers might be prepared for such a revelation, but he knew Zoey was fragile. She was stronger than she gave herself credit for, but she had things buried deep within her that she hadn’t dealt with. This truth might be the one thing that breaks her. Bennett wasn’t about to be the one to do that to her. He’d find her mother, but whether or not he told her about it was still undecided.
“I need the information as soon as possible. Call me once you have it.”
“Is there a reason for the urgency?”
“Yes. The woman has some medical issues. She needs to know her family history. Are you able to pull that from the DNA samples? To see if there is an underlying family gene that could be causing it?”
“Your requests don’t end, do they?”
“Nope.”
“It would be easier if they all had the same mother, but we’ll see what we can find. Do you have a copy of her medical records?”
“No, I don’t.” Even if he did, he couldn’t hand it over. Jon couldn’t know they were dealing with the Hendersons. If he did, Bennett was positive the help would cease.
“Give me a couple weeks. And even that is pushing it.”
“Make it two, Vinchi. You’ll have my second set of samples within a few days.”
Bennett disconnected the call. This was supposed to be a fucking easy job. Anyone could do it. I should’ve known better. Hell, it’s the Henderson family. Since when is anything easy with them? If I were smart, I’d start preparing to hear the worst.
He was conflicted for many reasons. Jon’s call blindsided him, his guard was down, and that was a dangerous place to be. Mistakes happen when you’re not focused, when you don’t prepare for the worst-case scenarios. Not going to happen twice.
Bennett couldn’t let go of the guilt for letting things get too hot and heavy with Zoey earlier. It wasn’t so bad when he thought he’d have an answer for her within the next twenty-four hours and no longer be working for her. That wasn’t going to be the case after all. Even if Jon was able to get him the geographical location for the birth mothers, it was going to take time to find them all. He wasn’t even sure if that was humanly possible. James Henderson wasn’t stupid. If he wanted something buried deep enough, the man had the money and power to do it. If his own children hadn’t been able to find their mother, why the hell did he think he was going to be able to?
The first thing he needed was to understand why. If he could figure that out, maybe the other pieces would fall in line. They always did if you looked hard enough.
Why would Henderson go to such extreme measures to make it impossible for his children to know their mothers? And why six different women? Was it on purpose? Or did the guy just not know how to use a condom? It was time to go back to the beginning. Research everything he could on Henderson. Henderson might have hoped the secret went to the grave with him, but nothing is ever that clean, that perfect.I don’t care what it takes. I’m going to get to the bottom of this. If not for Zoey, then just because I’m that fucking curious now.
There was a knock on his hotel room door. Bennett was expecting only one person. If he was right, the timing couldn’t be any better.
Bennett never opened a door without checking the peephole first. It was not in his nature to trust. His line of work required him to always look over his shoulder. The enemies of the people who hired him customarily held a grudge against his interference. If they were still alive in the end.
It looked like at least one thing was going right tonight. He opened the door and greeted Doug. “You made good time, Atwood.”
“Sounded like you needed me here quickly. And by the look on your face, I think I was right.”
“Damn, man. I don’t even know where to start.”
Doug came into the room and tossed his duffel bag on the floor. “Why don’t we start with why you need me here?”
Bennett wasn’t sure if it’d even sound believable. Yesterday he wanted Doug here so he could help Zoey with her past. Now he was more concerned about what was going to happen to her future if she knew the truth.
“I’m at a crossroads. For once, I’m not sure what’s the right thing to do.”
“It sounds like this isn’t just about you.”