The Cursed Series, Parts 3 & 4 (Cursed #3-4) - Rebecca Donovan Page 0,1
a beer. “Want one?”
I shake my head. I run my hands over my face, trying to process.
Joey sits on the other side of Lance, his empty focus directed at the paused animated figures on the screen. I lean back, resting my head on the cushion, and stare at the ceiling.
“Is someone going to tell me what’s going on?” Lance demands impatiently. “Wait. Are you pregnant? Did you get her pregnant?”
I raise my head to catch Joey shoot him a scathing look.
“I’m not pregnant.” Although he’s really not that far off, considering we’re trying to figure out who impregnated my mother. “Joey, tell me about Kaden.”
“Why do you want to know about my uncle?” Lance asks.
Joey continues to ignore him. “We don’t see him very often. Maybe once or twice a year. He lives in London. Been in the UK since he left to attend university. We’re not close, but I know he’s a good guy.”
“Is he married?”
Joey shakes his head.
“Why are you asking questions about Kaden?” Lance’s irritation continues to grow. He leans forward to intercept Joey’s attention. “Someone needs to tell me what the hell is going on!”
I stand and begin pacing in front of the coffee table, the only space clear of clutter. If Kaden isn’t my father, then Vic’s father is. And I can’t be related to Vic. I just can’t.
“Hellooo?” Lance persists. “What the fuck? Why does Lana look like she’s about to throw up? And you’re going to cry.”
“I’m not going to cry,” Joey bites back. “It’s been a weird night, okay?”
I sigh and sit back down next to Lance, handing him the photo of Kaden and my mother—utterly, disgustingly in love.
“Is that …” He doesn’t finish, glancing from the photo to me.
My mother and I look too much alike for him not to deduce who she is.
“How long ago was this?”
“We’re thinking about seventeen years,” I tell him.
His eyebrow quirks. “Do you think … my uncle’s your father or something?”
I shrug.
Lance’s confusion slowly transforms to elation. “That means, you’re my cousin!” He yanks my arm and pulls me into a hug. “Yes! This is so awesome!”
Joey clears his throat.
Lance looks over his shoulder, still smothering me. “Oh, right. Not for you. No wonder you’re gonna cry.” Joey punches his arm. “Ow!”
Joey stands and leans against the counter by the pedestal sink with his arms folded. “If Lana’s Kaden’s daughter, then why did Cassandra lie about Lily’s father?”
“What does Lily’s father have to do with Kaden?” Lance asks, continuing to squeeze me as I try to wriggle out of his arms. Finally, I elbow him in the ribs. “Ow! Dammit, Lana. Why is everyone beating the crap out of me?”
Joey shakes his head, not willing to reveal more.
“C’mon! Don’t give me only half the information! That’s bullshit!”
Joey silently seeks permission. I shrug in resignation. My mind is so full of jagged pieces of information, it’s shorting out. Today’s toll is starting to set in, and my body is shutting down along with any rational thoughts.
“You have to promise not to say anything … to anyone. Not even Parker.”
Lance hesitates long enough to be notable. This isn’t an easy ask for him, apparently. “Okay. It stays between the three of us.”
“And Brendan.”
“Why the hell does that guy get to know everything? You know I don’t trust him, right?”
“I don’t either. But he knows things, whether we want him to or not, and honestly, I’d rather keep him in the circle, so he’ll share too.” It burns more than I want to admit to say this, but Brendan holds too many pieces of this puzzle to exclude him.
“You really think he tells you everything?” Lance scoffs.
“No. He only tells me what he thinks will help him. Everything he does is self-serving. I’ve come to terms with that.”
“So what does this have to do with Kaden or Lily’s father?” Lance asks Joey.
“We found paternity tests that match Damon Thorne to three kids. Two boys and a girl.”
Lance looks even more confused, not recognizing the name. Then it clicks. “Dad’s friend? From Chicago? The guy who died on Nantucket before we were born?”
“Yeah,” Joey breathes regretfully.
“Maybe,” I interject.
“What does that mean? Are you guessing he’s the father, or do you know for sure?”
“Guessing right now,” Joey admits. “Once Brendan confirms the birthdates of the kids, we’ll know.”
I cover my face with my hands and groan, wishing this were a nightmare and I’d just have to wake up for it not to be true.