The By Request Collection. Kate Hardy

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СКАЧАТЬ soon as he started to shut the lights off in his office, the cell vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and nearly sagged against the wall. The image of Eve dressed as some sexy goddess with a white wrap hugging all her tempting curves had him gritting his teeth and cursing himself for telling her he’d give her space. The little vixen was playing games with him. She wanted him begging. He was sure that was her angle.

      But two could definitely play at that game and he never played without every intention of winning.

      * * *

      Sutton Winchester’s house was a vast estate not too far from the offices where he’d once controlled the real estate world. Graham and Brooks moved in behind Carson as they were led toward the back of the house. The butler was solemn and said nothing as he gestured for them to follow. Not that Graham was expecting a warm welcome, but still.

      He tried to take in the surroundings, tried to imagine Eve growing up in this cold mansion. There wasn’t a thing out of place and it looked more like a museum than a place where children played.

      Graham instantly thought of his penthouse and cringed. Not exactly a playground, but he would make damn sure his child had a fun place to be a kid even if he had to remove his wet bar and put in an indoor jungle gym.

      How pathetic was this? He was already one-upping Sutton in his own mind in regards to parenting. Ridiculous.

      The servant escorting them motioned toward a set of double doors. Carson thanked the man and threw a glance back at his brothers.

      “We’ve got your back,” Brooks stated. “Go in when you’re ready.”

      Carson turned back around, placed his hands on the knobs and eased both doors open. Graham didn’t know what he expected, maybe a gray-toned man lying in bed hooked up to machines keeping him alive. But the reality was Sutton sitting up in a plush chair with his feet up by the fire in what Graham assumed was the master suite. A thick, plaid blanket covered his lap.

      Sutton was once a kingpin in the corporate world, but right now he looked to be someone’s loving grandpa waiting for children to gather around for story time.

      Actually, this was his child’s grandfather, but Graham would rather forget that little fact and focus on the reason for their visit now.

      “I was hoping you’d come alone,” Sutton stated. “But I’m not surprised you brought your brothers.”

      Graham didn’t reply. This was Carson’s show...for now. Carson had received the invite and it was Carson who had the most to get off his chest. Graham and Brooks were most likely beating the proverbial dead horse. Okay, really poor choice of words, but he couldn’t help what popped into his head.

      “My brothers and I are a unit. You know all about family loyalty, right?” Carson mocked.

      Sutton merely nodded, not answering the rhetorical question.

      “I don’t even know what to say to you,” Carson admitted.

      Graham exchanged a knowing look with Brooks. They both knew Carson was on edge, and it definitely cost him to admit it. The poor guy had been on the fence about whether to fully accept Sutton as his father, whether to approach him and listen to what the old man had to say. But they were here now and Graham was more concerned about Carson’s feelings than anything else.

      “Have a seat.” Sutton turned his attention to the twins. “All of you.”

      Carson remained still, staring at his father. Graham moved first to take a seat on the sofa on the other side of the oriental rug across from Sutton. Brooks sat beside him and finally Carson took the last spot on the end.

      Sutton shifted in his seat. Graham wasn’t sure if it was nerves or if the old man was simply trying to get comfortable. Sutton wasn’t the type to show his emotions, so Graham doubted he was feeling anything but smug. He’d called Carson to come, and he had.

      “Why did you want me here?” Carson finally asked, breaking the silent tension.

      “You’re my son.”

      Graham snorted, ignoring Sutton’s frown and quick, disapproving look.

      “So you’re expecting us to get to know each other now that I know the truth and you’re sick?” Carson asked.

      Sutton turned his face to the fire. Orange flames licked against the black stone. The Chicago air was cooling quite a bit, hinting at an early winter. Graham found it easy to focus on the weather, on the fire, on anything other than the fact he didn’t want to be here. Oh, he wanted to be here if he was going to get a name, but the chances of that happening were about as good as Sutton recovering from lung cancer.

      “What you decide to do is up to you.” Sutton coughed, and that’s when it was apparent how sick the man was. This coughing fit wasn’t short and it wasn’t quiet. Finally, when he was done, he turned back to Carson. “I wanted you to know that I truly loved your mother.”

      Brooks tensed beside Graham. Of course he’d bring their mother into the conversation. He’d pretend that he knew her well, that he was heartbroken to leave her. Sutton had left Cynthia alone and pregnant, just like he’d found her. Only this time she’d been pregnant with his kid and he hadn’t known it. Still, a lowly waitress and outsider wouldn’t have fit into his high-society world of luxury homes, cars and diamonds.

      The atmosphere of anger and bitterness in this room enveloped them all. There was so much to be said, but at the same time they were dealing with a dying man...and Eve’s father. The grandfather of Graham’s baby.

      Graham stared at Sutton and tried to imagine the man from the picture on Eve’s mantel. The man who held his daughter on his shoulders at some amusement park. Sutton may be ruthless, he may have had countless affairs, but he loved his children. Considering that he had been shocked by the news of Carson’s paternity, Graham wasn’t surprised he’d called Carson to his home. Sutton wouldn’t sit back and just ignore his child.

      But he had no problem ignoring his ex-lover’s other children.

      “If you loved our mother, then tell us the name of our father,” Brooks stated. “You were with her long enough. She would’ve confided in you.”

      Sutton shook his head. “It’s because I loved Cynthia that I won’t betray her confidence. If she’d wanted you to know, she would’ve told you.”

      “Tell them.” Carson’s low demand shocked Graham.

      “It’s not my place, son.”

      Carson let out a humorless laugh, eased forward and rested his forearms on his legs. Hands dangling between his knees, he glanced toward Brooks and Graham. Trying to offer silent support, Graham nodded for Carson to go on.

      “My brothers deserve to know their father,” Carson said, looking back at Sutton. “They keep hitting dead ends. If you can help them—”

      “I didn’t call them here,” Sutton interrupted. “I wanted to see you. I don’t have much time, though my doctors keep telling me I’m a fighter. I’m realistic.”

      “All the more reason for you to tell us,” Brooks stated. “You may be the only other person who knows. We don’t even know if our birth father СКАЧАТЬ