Page 131 of Sins of the Father

More heat flies to my face, but I grasp Harper’s hand.

Quinn nods. “If anyone knows about that, it’s us.”

Harper growls. “Fine. I’ll talk to Cindy, but don’t get your hopes up. I’m not going to be a charity case.”

“You aren’t,” I tell her.

Jamison points at her. “Stop being stubborn.”

“She needs you,” Quinn claims.

Not as much as I need her.

20

Harper

We go backto Quinn and Jamison’s to get our bags, and Steven’s phone rings.

“Hey, Shira,” he answers. He rolls one of my suitcases and has his overnight bag on his shoulder. He stops. “What is he doing?”

Dread washes over me.

Steven’s face turns red with anger, he closes his eyes and shakes his head. “Can you pack all my personal items and bring them to my place? I know it’s not in your job description but—”

Quinn walks over to us, and Jamison puts Hope in the playpen.

“Thanks, Shira. I’ll see you later.” Steven hangs up and tugs at his hair.

I quietly ask, “Why is Shira bringing your personal things here?”

“Dudmeyer moved Matt into my office until I get back.”

“What?” Jamison growls.

He and Steven exchange a glance. “Yeah.”

“Is Matt someone you can trust?” I ask.

“Hell no. It’s Matt. You know, Chase and my old best friend?” Jamison scowls.

My pulse increases. “Matt, who Chase caught with his old girlfriend?”

“That’s the one,” Jamison seethes.

My mouth goes dry. “He’s in Chicago?”

“Yes.”

“Does Chase know?”

“All the guys do.”

I sit on the couch in stunned silence. I had no clue Matt was here. Long before I started dating Ian, Matt and I were together. I gave him my virginity. But he was a coward and didn’t want to tell my brother about us. I also caught him dating another girl behind my back. I was only seventeen, and he broke my heart. But I never told Jamie. He would have killed him.

And now he’s in Chicago, working at Steven’s company, and I might run into him.

“I don’t know why I feel the need to tell you this after all these years, and I don’t ever want to discuss it again, but he’s always been bad.”