"He was also the last person to talk to your dad." I paused. "I wonder if Ian was involved in the robbery. The police suspected an inside job. Maybe Ian was supposed to get a cut. Maybe he didn't like living in his brother's shadow."

"He could have been involved with your mom, too. A professor-student relationship."

"It's possible. Rachel warned me against trying to figure out who my biological father is. She said he's a dangerous person. Could he be Ian Holden?"

Kade held up a hand. "Hold on. That's a big leap, Brynn. All we know is that Ian taught at the university where your mother went to school—allegedly. Let's not get too far ahead."

"Far ahead? I feel like I'm constantly behind." I paused as the doorbell rang. "Who could that be?"

Kade jumped to his feet, and I followed him down the hall. I looked through the window and saw my father and a woman on the porch. "My dad and my stepmother," I said, my stomach sinking.

"Your father came back."

"Yes, but he came back with her. That can't be good."

Kade gave me a small smile. "Only one way to find out."

"I know."

I squared my shoulders as Kade opened the door. After letting my father and Vicky into the house, Kade headed down to his apartment. I couldn't blame him. I was getting tired of all my family drama, too.

Vicky looked stylish as always, wearing black jeans, boots, and leather jacket, her dark hair pulled back from her face. But there were shadows under her eyes. The last few days hadn't been easy for her.

My father looked better than he had earlier in the day. He'd obviously taken a shower at some point and changed into dark slacks and a long-sleeve gray sweater. Only his bloodshot eyes gave evidence of the stress of the last several days.

Vicky looked around the room, taking note of the broken walls and damaged furniture. "What happened in here?" she asked.

"Someone trashed the place right after my mother was shot," I answered.

"I didn't realize it was so bad," my father said, as his gaze swept the room.

"You weren't in any condition to notice much of anything."

"I'm sorry about that, and I want to apologize for running out on you this morning."

"Why did you?" I asked.

"I couldn't stand the look of betrayal in your eyes." He paused. "It's still there. I never wanted you to find out you weren't my daughter, Brynn. I shouldn't have said anything to you."

"It's the secret, the lie, that bothers me more than the fact you're not my biological father. I can see why you didn't say anything when I was younger, but I'm twenty-seven, and it was long past time to tell me something that important."