Page 26 of Ace of Spades

“No, actually.”

He lets out a breath. “Do you mind sharing what happened?”

Do I? With this man whom I don’t know but I possibly share a bloodline with? I didn’t think through this part. I didn’t think past the hellos and what I would actually say.

“Mom… passed.” That’s all I can manage.

He blinks. Then blinks again, as if trying to clear the fog of what I just said. “Oh.”

“It was about a year ago.”

“I’m… I’m so sorry to hear that. That must be devastating.”

As he says the words that are meant to console me, I feel a heaviness settle in the air. As if this news has truly affected him, too.

“Thank you,” I try to swallow past the lump in my throat just as I hear someone clear their’s behind me.

"Wow. Where are my manners? Sienna, my name is Brody, if you don’t already know that. And that ray of sunshine behind you is my best friend and business partner, Levi Steele."

I give Levi a quick glance over my shoulder.

"Uh, yes. We've met."

Brody lifts a brow to his friend. "Is that so?"

"I’m sorry for your loss, Sienna." Levi’s voice curls around me from behind, like being wrapped in smoke. “But…” he says.”If you're here about the job, you already know my answer.”

Brody's gaze lingers on his friend a moment before meeting mine again.

"No,” I say. “I mean, not exactly."

"Did Amalie give you my address?" Brody asks.

"No. I found it actually. In one of her journals."

Brody's smile falters as he takes in that information.

"I wasn't going to reach out, but then my cousin moved nearby and offered for me to stay with him. And well, it felt like the right time. Maybe even fate."

I wait to see if he's going to say anything. Anything at all. Before I word vomit all over my potential biological father's kitchen table from the nerves that are now overtaking me.

"Fate," he repeats thoughtfully.

The woman who I forgot was here, slides a warm mug of coffee over to me with a gentle smile.

Brody is deep in thought when he says, "So what you're saying is—"

"I think you might be my dad," I blurt out.

Levi coughs behind me like he's choking on something. Working extra hard to clear his throat.

Brody motions to the woman, who I assume is someone he's hired to help by the way she moves and grabs a bottle of water from the fridge, offering it to Levi who's still coughing.

"Thanks, Maggie," Levi says. "I think… I should… I'm just going to head out."

"Stay," Brody says to his friend. It's a plea. "Please, Steele."

He sighs. Then, I hear Levi's footsteps move slowly and reluctantly as he slides a chair out to my left. I'm sitting at the head of the table with each of these men on either side of me.

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