Chapter 18
18
MILA
With my back against the headboard, I stared at the screen in front of me.
I still couldn’t believe what I was looking at.
The door to the hotel room pushed open, and anticipation filled me. Ethan and I hadn’t spoken about what happened when we were dancing last night. Instead, when we got back to the room, I blabbered endlessly about the party we were invited to and the odds of Kevin Samson being there. Then we texted Brody, and he and Kyle called us. We explained what had happened and asked Kyle to find us a hotel room so we could at least have something for next weekend in case we needed to stay.
After the call, I announced I was exhausted, changed my clothes, and crawled into bed. Ethan was on the balcony when I eventually fell asleep, and the bed was just as empty when I woke this morning. I assumed he needed some time to himself, something neither of us had very often, so I didn’t text him. Instead, I decided to spend more time digging around on my laptop.
Lifting my head, I watched Ethan walk into the room and smiled when he finally glanced in my direction. Ethan studied me suspiciously before he dropped the two bags carrying take-out food onto the dresser and turned to face me.
Tilting his head to the side, he lifted his eyebrows. “Why the smile?”
“I found something.”
He took a few steps toward me. “On Samson?”
I nodded, and my smile grew. “Yep.”
He came to stand next to the bed, and I pointed at the screen, but when he leaned down, I scooted over. “Sit.”
He slid onto the bed next to me with one leg hanging over the side and his foot on the floor. We both leaned in closer to the screen, but he only shrugged. “You found a picture of Samson?”
I stared at the side of his face until he looked at me. “Yes.”
“I’m missing something.”
I smiled. “Do you know who the man beside him is?”
He looked at me and then the screen. “No, do you?”
“That’s Beth’s father.” I paused and then corrected myself. “That’s Beth and Daniel Sullivan’s father, Martin Sullivan.”
Ethan’s eyes shot back to the screen. “They knew each other?”
“It appears so.”
“Beth never mentioned it.”
“I doubt she knew. But isn’t it interesting that Samson was in a picture with Martin Sullivan?” I paused and glanced at Ethan. “Samson looks like he’s maybe in his early twenties.”
“How the hell did they know each other?” Ethan wondered aloud.
I smirked. “That’s what we need to find out, but I have my suspicions.”
He gestured toward the screen. “What are you thinking?”
“Beth was the result of Martin Sullivan having an affair. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to believe he had more than one mistress.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him.” Ethan shook his head, obviously in disbelief. “We need to call this in.”
“I agree,” I acknowledged before leaning my body across the front of his. Glancing up, I met his stare. “Sorry, just getting my phone.”
I shifted my attention from his and grabbed my phone from the end table, barely holding back the smile. I loved getting close to him, not only because I wanted to be close to him but because of his reaction. I knew he felt the chemistry between us, and he had an awful poker face, so he couldn’t hide his interest.
I leaned back against the headboard again but kept my thigh pressed against the side of his while I pulled up Kyle’s name in my phone. I hit the call button and speaker before holding it up between us.
“Kids,” he called out.
Rolling my eyes, I couldn’t help but smile when I spoke. “I found something.”
“Something good?” he asked.
“We think so.”
“Then lay it on me.”
“I found a picture of Beth’s dad, Martin Sullivan, standing with Samson,” I replied.
His tone grew serious. “That is good.”
"Samson looks young in the picture, maybe early twenties, but it’s definitely him.”
“We thinking Dad of the Year Sullivan had another illegitimate?” Kyle asked.
“That’s my guess.”
Kyle whistled. “Wow, that man does not buy into the whole monogamy thing, does he?”
Ethan chuckled. “Whole monogamy thing?”
“Yeah, I mean, I don’t subscribe to that either, but at least keep shit wrapped up, you know.”
“What the hell does that mean?” I asked.
“Means don’t leave any proof, especially a baby.”
I rolled my eyes. “I really hope this is one of those times when you’re just saying shit to get a reaction.”
“Guess you’ll never know,” Kyle replied, but it was obvious from his tone that he was looking to get a rise out of me. “Unless you’re into that shit,” he teased.
“I’d have to be involved with someone to have someone on the side, wouldn’t I?”
Kyle snorted. “You can’t tell me you two have been sharing a bed, and you’re only sleeping.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, Kyle, but we’re only working,” Ethan replied, then directed the conversation back to business. I could tell he wasn’t enjoying Kyle's teasing, especially after last night. “Samson being another half sibling could’ve caused a lot of tension between Daniel and Samson. Beth said Daniel didn’t like him.”
“It could have. Especially if Samson thought he was entitled to more after Daddy dearest died,” Kyle agreed.
“If Martin Sullivan is Kevin’s father, do you think the house Beth told us her father talked about was given to Samson? Maybe a little hush offering to keep Samson’s mother quiet about who the baby’s daddy was?” I asked Kyle.
“That’s top-tier detective work there,” Kyle teased, and I rolled my eyes at Ethan, who grinned. “Give me a sec.” We heard typing while he spoke. “I’d already pulled Samson’s birth certificate, so I know his mother’s name was Heather Samson. I looked her up, but she’s deceased and didn’t own any property in Devil’s Lake. Neither does Kevin Samson. Although...” He paused, and I glanced at Ethan.
“Although...?” I encouraged.
“Patience, woman,” Kyle stated. “I’m looking for something.”
“What the hell are you looking for? Maybe I can help.”
He ignored me, but I heard the smile in his voice when he spoke. “Bingo.”
“What?” I asked impatiently.
“I pulled Heather Samson’s birth certificate, and her mother’s name was Margaret Redding. A house in Devil’s Lake has a deed with that exact name on it.”
“So Martin Sullivan gifted the house to Heather’s mom?” Ethan asked, confusion clear in his tone.
“Searching the deed...” Kyle sounded distracted until he spoke again. “Son of a bitch. The original owner of the house was Martin Sullivan. He gifted the house to Margaret Redding about three months before Kevin Samson was born.”
“Where is Margaret Redding now? Is she still living?”
We listened as he typed. “No. She passed a few years ago. I pulled up her will, and it looks like Samson is the executor, but he never settled her estate. Considering all she had was the house, it’s still in her name.”
“Why would they use her mom’s name?” Ethan asked.
“Harder to find,” Kyle explained. “We ran every other name we had. Samson. Sullivan. Even his fucking aliases and got no hits. Someone would have to look very hard to find this. I have a feeling that’s how Martin Sullivan was able to keep this illegitimate baby a secret. My guess, Samson’s mother made some demands to keep baby Kevin a secret, and I’ll bet if we had a way to trace it, we’d see that Martin Sullivan not only gave them the house but put a lot of money in her pocket.”
“And in doing so, he made sure they stayed hundreds of miles away.”
“Exactly.”
“This is good.” I smiled. “This gives us something to go on. Did you find us a hotel?”
“Booked it this morning,” he confirmed.
“How close is the house to the hotel we’re moving to?”
We heard more typing, and then both of our phones beeped with a notification. “Just sent you both addresses. Looks like it’s about fifteen minutes, though.”
“Think you can get us in a hotel that’s closer?” I asked.
Kyle snorted. “I had a hell of a time getting this room, considering bike week starts and everywhere is booked. Had to make some promises to the girl takin’ the reservations to get you what I did.”
Ethan smirked. “What kind of promises?”
Kyle laughed. “That’s between me and her, brother.”
“Poor girl,” I teased and heard Kyle chuckle. “How long is our reservation there?”
“A week.”
“So all of bike week,” Ethan concluded.
“That should give us enough time to see if he makes an appearance,” I added. “And to check out the house.”
“Just getting eyes on it will help improve the mood around here,” Kyle stated.
I lifted my eyebrows. “How is everything?”
“As good as it can be. It’s hard for this team to have patience.” Kyle stated what we already knew. “Striker’s pacing like a caged tiger, but at least he hasn’t come looking for you two yet.”
“We figured he might be soon.” Ethan spoke up.
“Beth seems to know the secret to keeping him calm,” I pointed out.
Kyle chuckled. “I think we all know what that is.”
“Does it always have to go there with you?” I sighed. “You know, you’re getting predictable.”
“Just love pissing you off.” He laughed. “By the way, Ethan, your sister stopped in, and Brody introduced her to the whole team. Well, those of us who couldn’t be there to help her move in.”
“Really?” His eyebrows drew together. “Was that her idea?”
“Negative,” Kyle replied. “Brody wanted the team to put a name with a face. He doesn’t like the ex sniffing around and told us he’s been doing that for a while.”
“Is he in town?” Ethan asked, concern marring his expression. “I just talked to her a few days ago to make sure she got moved in okay, and she didn’t say anything.”
“No, he’s not in town, but when she was here yesterday, she said he still calls her.”
“Dammit,” he swore. “I hate to ask, but can you...?”
He trailed off when Kyle spoke. “Already done. He’s still in Florida. Used his credit card this morning. I’m tracking his accounts to make sure he’s just being annoying.” Kyle paused before continuing. “This dude dangerous?”
“He hasn’t been, but I wouldn’t put it past him. He’s been bothering her for years. If he planned to leave her alone, he would’ve when she left town.”
“Don’t worry about it while you’re there. We got eyes and ears all over her. If he even thinks about coming to New Hope, we’ll know about it before he makes the move.”
“Appreciate that, brother. And thanks for helping her move in. Brody told me he got a bunch of guys to carry her shit in for her.”
“No problem. Your niece is hilarious. I’d help again just to listen to her tell all of your sister’s secrets.”
“Oh god,” Ethan groaned, but he chuckled. “How’d Everly take that?”
“Seemed to me she was used to it.” Kyle laughed before moving on. “Alright, kids, I gotta get back to it.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “Good work finding that picture, Mila.”
“Thanks.” I smiled, appreciating the compliment. “Why the hell are you working on a Sunday?”
“I didn’t say I was getting back to work.” He snickered. “Unlike you two, I have a personal life.”
When the phone went silent, I looked at Ethan, who was smiling. “Why do I like him?”
He laughed and threw his leg over the side of the bed before standing. “He doesn’t give us a choice.”
“That was nice of Brody to get people to help Everly move in.” I was surprised to hear the team had jumped in to help Everly when Ethan couldn’t.
“I’m not surprised.” Ethan put his hands on his hips. “He and Jax do that shit all the time. Honestly, they would’ve all shown up to help even if I was in town.”
I hadn’t met many people like the ones I’d been meeting in New Hope. Growing up in the city had its advantages, like Chinese food at four in the morning if I worked late or all the incredible shopping, but it also had a lot of disadvantages. I never knew my neighbors, let alone the girl who worked in the coffee shop because those employees changed all the time, but now I not only knew my neighbors but was becoming friends with the girls who owned the coffee shop.
It was different, but maybe exactly what I needed in my life.
“I’m starving.” I pushed off the bed and pointed at the bags on the dresser. “What did you get?”
Facing me, he gestured toward the bags. “Bagels, cream cheese, fruit.”
“Grape jelly?”
He raised an eyebrow. “The last time I bought bagels and didn’t get grape jelly, you made us go back.” I smirked when he continued. “You really think I’d forget?”
“I’m impressed you remember things like that.”
“You make it hard not to.”
I tilted my head to the side, but I was still smiling. “What does that mean?”
He studied me, and I wondered if he was trying to talk himself into answering or out of answering. I didn’t have to wait long to find out. “Means, you leave an impression.”
“I do?”
“Yeah, when someone eats weird shit like you do, it’s hard to forget.”
Laughing, I walked toward the dresser just as he turned and headed toward the bathroom, completely unaware that his words and actions were changing the way I felt about myself. That he was single-handedly forcing all my memories of bad experiences to the side. I never doubted my work, not once during all those years in the FBI, but I had lost a part of myself. I lost my humor and the freedom to be myself in front of my coworkers for fear that it could be used against me somehow. I became solitary and secretive, never sharing too much about myself, and because of that, no one really knew me.
But Ethan was encouraging me to be myself just by his reactions to me. I loved that he felt comfortable teasing me, but even more than that, I didn’t feel defensive when he did. It seemed so small, but for me, it changed everything, and I doubt he even knew what he was doing.
I began unloading the bags, chuckling when I saw the small grape jelly containers at the bottom. He would’ve had to ask for them specifically, which meant a lot to me. A small grin tugged at my lips when I found a carton of chocolate milk in the second bag.
He said I’d made an impression on him.
What he didn’t realize was how much of an impression he was leaving on me.