Asher laughed dryly. “I’m starting to think there is no one in this equation who hasallthe info. They know about Zeller because I gave them the heads-up that he’s searching for his child, but I didn’t tell them your name or your connection to my family.”
“Why not?”
“Because when I talked to them, I was still under the impression that you were an asshole who ran out on my brother. Since Zeller disappeared, my sole focus has been on finding him. Your role feltincidental.”
Valentin hmphed. “You truly don’t have any leads on him?”
“The PI that he hired, Dawson, is out of the province for the next six months. I tried, but he can’t be reached. When he’s back, I’ll tell him I have the info my brother wants.” Asher sighed deeply and made anughface.
“What?”
“The one thing I’m not sure about is whether I should tell my nephew’s adoptive parents about you. Now that I know where you are, and that you’re not some deadbeat who abandoned Zeller.”
Valentin shook his head. “My first instinct was to push you on it, but I think you have the right idea to let Zeller decide what happens next. If I understand the law correctly, I’m the only person who might be able to challenge the adoption in Low Court, since I never technically gave up the rights to my son. I don’t want my kid’s parents to worry about that.”
“You wouldn’t fight for custody?”
“Only if Zeller wanted me to, and he’s not around to say. As long as you’re promising me these betas aren’t jerks—”
“They’re not, they’re fantastic parents.”
“Okay. Then I trust you and we can wait to see what Zeller wants. Once we find him.”
Besides giving Valentin the startling information about his son, Asher had offered more details about what happened in Warburton eight years ago.
Valentin had been dismayed to find out that Zeller believed he’d taken Keyes’s bribe and left town.
“Zeller honestly thought I would leave him? For money?”
“For the longest, he wouldn’t believe it,” Asher conceded. “Even after the baby was born, he was angry with you, furious, but he always thought there was more to the story. I’ve hated you this whole time for doing that to my little brother, but I see now that hatred was misplaced.”
The part of Valentin that feared Asher was in on the plan to frame him had been mollified by Asher’s genuine shock upon learning that his fathers had Valentin arrested for a crime he did not commit. Valentin explained that he’d been snatched off the street and thrown in jail on theft charges, then convicted quickly in Low Court after receiving incompetent public representation with no ability to contact anyone.
Zeller’s brother seemed most distraught to discover that Antoni had been privy to the scheme.
“I find it hard to believe that Antoni condoned letting you rot in jail for six years.”
“Do you?” Valentin countered. “Your fathers wanted me gone until Zeller’s twenty-fifth birthday. More than anyone, Antoni believes your parents are untouchable. I imagine he decided fighting them was less important than maintaining their trust so he could be there to help Zeller. I still fault him for his cowardice, even if I understand it, but at least he assisted me where he could.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I got out of prison, Antoni was there waiting for me. He warned me that your parents weren’t aware of my release yet, and that I should get out of town before they took an interest. He also brought me my cat, knowing what having him would mean to me.” Valentin closed his eyes, remembering Zeller’s excitement over pictures of the tabby. He kept the memory to himself, saying only, “Antoni picked up Decoy from my apartment after your parents had me locked up and paid someone to keep him all that time.”
As if on cue, Decoy strutted into the office, settling himself in Valentin’s lap.
Valentin grimaced.
“Why are you making that face?”
“Antoni told me Zeller didn’t have the baby. At least, he strongly implied there had been a miscarriage. He told the truth about Zeller leaving your family home after his birthday, but he lied about that.”
“He must have thought he was protecting Zeller. And you, maybe.”
“Still tough to forgive.” Valentin petted the cat calmly, even as he raged inwardly. “I asked around town, too, because I didn’t fully trust him. But everyone I talked to had no memory of theParkensons’ youngest son having a child. It makes sense now, after you explained.”
Valentin thought he was angry realizing Antoni had deceived him, but it was nothing compared to how he felt learning about the baby’s birth. The unnecessary removal of Zeller’s appendix was like something from a horror movie.
Once the two men had laid bare all the facts, Valentin was left with a mountain of regret, even if he had gotten some long-awaited answers about his baby. No. Notbaby. He reminded himself. His little boy. The son he and Zeller conceived would be almost eight years old.