“What’s up, Jake? Got some news for me?”
“I wouldn’t call if I didn’t. It’s not much, honestly. I’m about to shoot you an email with the information I’ve got so far. There’s a few other leads I can pursue if it’s something you’re interested in—”
“What other leads?” I ask, only marginally sorry for cutting him off.
“Take a look at what I sent your way and we’ll go from there. Call me back after you’ve read it over and we’ll talk about everything else.”
I pace the floor of my office, surely wearing holes in the tiles. I run my fingers through my hair before wrapping my hand around the back of my neck.
“Don’t keep information from me, man. I’m paying you a lot of fucking money—”
“You know me better than that, Adam. I’ll tell you everything, but I’d like to think I know you at least a little bit after working for you off and on for years. The email should be in your inbox. Check it out, process, and call me back.”
He ends the call, not giving me a chance to argue.
A swipe and a few taps on the screen of my phone is all I need to pull up the email I received only minutes ago.
I don’t hesitate to open it.
I’ve been dying to get my hands on this information. I should have done this shit a lot sooner.
Inhaling deeply, I wait for the email to load.
No matter what information is contained in this message, it’s more than I knew before. It’s more than a name.
I read the short note, letting me know the documents he found are attached. Tapping, I download them one by one, waiting to access them until I’ve downloaded all of them. Seconds later, I have a split second of hesitation, but I push it back and open the first file.
I scan the contents, noting the important information.
I was right in assuming he’s Hispanic. He was born in the United States, but his parents—my grandparents—both immigrated here when they were barely adults themselves. He wasn’t born in Blackwood, but he did grow up here.
There are a few pictures of him, and I find myself studying them, searching for similarities. The resemblance isn’t highly noticeable, but it’s there. One of the pictures is a mugshot and I wonder the reason for his arrest.
My question is answered in the next document. A police report describing a domestic dispute. I don’t recognize the woman’s name, so I keep reading. The case was dropped when the “witness” changed her statement.
So far, it’s not very promising information.
I tap the next document and a sharp pang zips through my chest.
A death certificate.
Just my fucking luck. Find out I have another parent only to discover that he’s dead too. It’s a shot straight to the fucking heart. It hurts like hell, but how can I mourn his loss? It’s hard to grieve for someone you never knew.
What I can mourn are the untaken chances.
The missed opportunities.
What could have been if I’d only known the truth sooner.
Not bothering to look at anything else, I call Jake back.
“What else?” There’s a desperate rasp to my voice.
“Siblings. Well, half-siblings. All signs point to you having at least one, with a definite possibility of more. Info’s been hard to find, though. I’ve never had this much trouble.”
I close my eyes, letting it sink in.
“Do whatever it takes.”
“I’m on it.”
Maybe there’s still some hope after all.
Flipping on the light in the kitchen, I drop my keys and phone on the counter and grab a beer. I could use something stronger, but that would mean going to the bar or the liquor store. I’m in no mood for either option, so this will have to do.
I pop the top off with the edge of the counter and make my way to the living room, sinking down onto my recliner. Moving the bottle to my lips, I gulp down half in one shot.
I was supposed to stay at the shop late tonight to play catch up on all the office shit I don’t usually have time for, but by the time the last client left—I’d had enough.
The whole day went to shit after Jake’s call.
Ryker sliced his hand open and had to go to the ER. Most of his clients were understanding and happily rescheduled. But there’s always that one asshole.
Guy was the biggest pain in the ass I’ve ever had the displeasure of dealing with and that’s saying something. I finally got him to leave the shop, but not before he made a huge scene and I had to call Ryan to come deal with him.
It didn’t end there.
My supply order for the week showed up. Wrong product. Missing product. You name it. I spent almost an hour on the phone trying to get that shit sorted.
Then the girl I was supposed to interview for the receptionist job never showed.
As soon as the last client left, I locked the door, helped the guys clean up, and came straight home.
I’m beyond done.
Reached my bullshit limit for the day.
Unable to relax, I stand and head for my bedroom. Maybe a hot shower will do me some good.
Finishing off the last of my beer, I deposit the bottle onto the bathroom counter and turn on the shower. Stripping down to nothing, I carelessly toss my clothes on the floor. I’ll pick them up later.
Once the water is hot, I step inside the shower and sigh. Stretching both arms out in front of me, I brace my palms against the tile and tip my head forward, letting the water rain down over my back. The heat from the shower goes a long way toward relaxing me, but it’s not enough. In an effort to force the day’s stress from my mind, I try to think about something else. Anything else.
Images begin to flit through my mind and my dick begins to harden.
A round, bitable ass.
Plump, perky tits.
Thick thighs I would love to have wrapped around my waist.
Fully hard now, I slide one hand down my chest, over the hard planes of my abs.
Groaning, I get a palmful of shower gel and wrap my hand around the thick length of my cock, slicking down the shaft. Stroking slowly, I lose myself to the imaginary woman in my mind. I fuck myself with long, firm strokes, picturing the way I would bend her over. Imagining the feminine curves shaping her body, the tight warmth I’d feel as I slipped into her without pause.
Fisting my cock in earnest, my hand moves hard and fast as I imagine myself leaning forward, grabbing a handful of pink hair and using it to turn her face to mine. Each stroke pulls me closer and closer to the edge. My mouth meets hers in a raw, sloppy kiss as I continue to slam into her. Angling my hips so I hit just the right spot, I pull back from the kiss, wanting to see her eyes as she succumbs to the pleasure.
When a pair of bright green eyes meet mine, I fucking lose it.
A ragged moan escapes my throat as I come hard and sudden, spilling all over my hand and the tile.
Breathing heavily as the aftershocks rock my body, the reality of what I just did fully sinks in.
“Fuck!” I shout, releasing my still half-hard cock and slamming my palm against the tile.