United with the Family - Cherie Benjamin (book reader for pc txt) 📗

as leader was coming to an end, but he had many reservations concerning his oldest grandson. Kurtus was so much like his father, quick temper, self-centered, and had a lust for women, and, rumor had it, with men also. Zachary knew that Kurtus had become a Dominant, or, at least said that what he was, but Zachary had heard sick stories of Kurtus’ brutal abuse of women.  Zachary didn't practice BDSM, but he knew what it meant to be a true Dominant. A true Dominant was someone who didn’t use the title to take advantage of women. Zachary knew that Kane Leone was a Dominant, but, unlike Kurtus, Kane didn't play being a Dominant, but truly was a Dominant. Never had he heard anything bad about Kane.

Zachary wondered how exactly Ara and Kane’s relationship worked.  The way Kane positioned his body toward her, and the look in his eye, lead him to believe that he might that very strong feelings toward her.  And, of course, the way Ara stood up to him made him chuckle. She was very spirited and beautiful, very much like his mother Arabella. However, he didn’t know what he was going to do.   

"Zachary, you asked to see me?"  Liam asked.

"Yes, Liam, I need you to go to Phoenix, Arizona and find Luna White.  You need to tell her that I sent you, and that I what to know the truth about her daughter."

"Her daughter?"

"Yes, Ara White.  Tell Luna that I know who she is, but I want her to say the words."

"Okay, Sir."

"Go now, Liam, I have the private jet waiting for you and I need you to keep this between you and me.  Not a word to Sebastian or Kurtus."

Liam left to catch the plane, but he wondered who Luna and Ara White were and what the information had to do with Sebastian or Kurtus, for that matter.  He quickly boarded the plane and a few hours later were touching down in Phoenix. Liam met up with Geoffrey, a private investigator Zachary had hired. Liam had done business with Geoffrey before, and knew that Geoffrey was the best at finding someone.

"Geoffrey, good to see you again, my friend."

"Same here, Liam."

"Do you have the information I need?"

"Yes, come; let's go over to the diner across the street and talk."

They walked across the street and found a table in the back.

"All right, I found Luna White.  She is in a long term care facility."

"What is wrong with her?"

"Cancer."

"How bad?"

"She has only weeks to live."

"Shit! Is she coherent enough for me to talk to her?"

"Yes, but she is really weak."

"Shit, I guess I will go first thing in the morning then."  Liam said.

"Come, my friend, you can stay with me tonight."

"Thanks, I really do hate hotels."

The next morning Liam arrived at the long-term facility and found Luna White’s room.  Walking into the room, he found her lying in the bed with tubes and machines hooked up.

Her skin was a sick yellow color and she was very thin.  Liam knew if he looked at her long enough, he would be able to see her bones.  Luna opened her eyes and looked at Liam.

"Who are you?"

"Luna White, I have been sent by Zachary Morotti."

Luna knew that name well and thought that she would never hear it again in her life.  He was the man that drove her away from the only man she ever loved.

Thinking back to the day when she and Sebastian were interrupted by Zachary, she could understand how he could have mistaken what was going on between them as abusive.  She and Sebastian had been talking for months. She was falling in love with him.  Sebastian had told her that his father had made him marry Portia, but he did not love her, that he loved only her.  She knew that Sebastian loved to dominate women. Sebastian had tied her up, ate her pussy until it was raw, and had her suck his cock deep down her throat; these activities brought her great joy.  Sebastian wanted to play a game, where they role-played him taking her for the first time. "Luna, my love, it would bring me great pleasure if you act as if I was taking you by force.”

The day arrived and she played her part, but Sebastian was so excited that he got carried away.  However, before they could finish their little game, Zachary broke in and assumed the worst. He grabbed her from the room and had given her a few hundred dollars to keep her mouth shut.  A few days later, her family had friends from America come to visit. This was the first time she saw Mave White. Their parents pushed them together, so she spent the next few weeks talking and showing him around the countryside.  Mave was a nice person, but he was no Sebastian.

One morning, when she got up, she was suddenly sick to her stomach.  As she finished throwing up, she glanced over saw a box of tampons. She soon realized that she had missed her period.  Fuck, what was she going to do? She knew Zachary would never let her near Sebastian and, now that she was pregnant, her parents would demand to know who the father was.  Then Mave came to mind. So, that evening she came onto him, and he fell for it. A week later, she told him that she was pregnant with his child. At first, he was surprised, but he had fallen in love with Luna, so he asked her to marry him.  A speedy wedding was performed and they traveled back to America. When Luna went into labor eight months later, she had convinced Mave that the baby was coming early. She gave birth to a girl, whom she named her after Sebastian's grandmother, Arabella Marie.

During Arabella’s first few years of life, Luna could barely stand looking at her.  With each glance, hate boiled inside of Luna. Arabella was the reason Luna had to leave Italy, and her only love, Sebastian. Then, the stupid child fell and broke her leg and had to have a blood transfusion, and the truth came out.  Mave was livid. He demanded to know whose child she was, but Luna would not tell him. She gathered Arabella up and ran off. Over the years, the hatred grew with each day. So, when Arabella wanted to spend the summer before she went to college with Mave, Luna rejoiced that she would not have to look at her anymore.

All was right with the world once more, so Luna had decided to move back to Italy. But, when she went to the doctor for a check-up before leaving, they found out that she had lung cancer and there was nothing they could do, just keep her comfortable.  So, now she only had a few weeks to live, and who should walk in but a man with a connection to her past.

"What does he want?"

"He wants to know about Arabella White."

Shit, how had he found out about her?  "What about her?"

"Luna, Zachary wants you to tell me the truth."

"Why?"

"Luna, we are talking about Zachary Morotti.  He has other ways to get the answer, but he wanted to hear it from your own lips."

"Tell Zachary that he has a granddaughter who was born on September 9th, 1989, and was named after his mother."

Liam stared at the sickly woman and couldn't believe what he heard.  He knew that Kurtus was born in October…so Arabella White was Zachary's oldest grandchild.

"Tell me, how is the love of my life?"

"I am sorry, but I have never met Mave White."  Liam answer.

Luna weakly laughed.  "No, the love of my life is Sebastian Morotti."  Luna then laid back and closed her eyes. She felt suddenly at peace.  The great secret that she had carried all the years was out. She didn't care that her daughter would be in the hands of Zachary Morotti.  Thinking of Sebastian, she began to walk into the light.

Liam stared at Luna as she closed her eyes and a faint smile came upon her face, then the alarms on the machines around her began to go off.  The nurses walked into the room and took her pulse.

"She’s gone."  The nurse said.

Liam nodded and walked out of the room.  Picking up the phone, he called the pilot of the plane and told him to have it ready.  He quickly arrived at the airport and boarded the plane. Liam sat back and thought of the conversation he had with Luna White and wondered what was going to happen with Arabella White.  She was Zachary's oldest grandchild and could be the one to take over the family. What was she like? Where was she? The plane ride went by quickly, and as soon as the plane landed, Liam traveled to Zachary's home.  The housekeeper opened the door and told him that Zachary was in his study. Liam arrived at the door and knocked.

"Come in."  Zachary said.

Liam walked in and stood in front of Zachary’s desk.

"Did you talk to her?"

"Yes and she admitted that Arabella White is Sebastian's child."

"Did she say anything else?"

"She only asked how Sebastian was. After that, she died."

"Died?  What do you mean?"  Zachary asked.

"She was on death's door when I arrived.  She had lung cancer."

Zachary now had the confirmation that he needed.  His oldest grandchild was Arabella White, no, Arabella Morotti.  Now he needed to make a decision on the right way to talk to Arabella, or Ara, about her heritage. Once that happened, he would begin to groom her to take over the family.

"Thank you, Liam.  Remember; don't say a word to anyone about this."

"Zachary, I promise not to, but do you know where Arabella is?"

"Liam, Arabella is here in Seattle."

"Really?"

"Yes, and soon I may need you to help me with something."

"Anything, just ask."

"Thank you, I will be in touch."

Liam left and Zachary continued to think about his granddaughter.  As he looked at the photographs on the desk, he took particular interest in the one of Sebastian, Portia, Kurtus, and Simon.  Fuck, Kurtus was not going to like this. Zachary knew that Kurtus had been demanding Zachary turn over the reins to him, but Zachary had been reluctant.  Was it wrong to be afraid to turn over your family life work to a man he knew in his heart would destroy it? His own flesh and blood was a disgrace. Zachary then began to think of Ara, the sweet but strong young woman who had just been proven to be his granddaughter.  Zachary smiled brightly; he had a granddaughter. The was a knock on his door.

"Come in."

Tony walked in and sat down in front of Zachary's desk.

"Do you have any more information for me, Tony?"

"Yes, I do.  I went over to Miss White’s apartment when everyone was away. When I went in, there were only personal items in one bedroom.  It looks like Miss Henderson is living there alone, but there are several moving boxes around."

"So none of Ara’s items are there?"

"Yes. Also, the tail you had me put on Kane, followed him and Miss White on what looked like a date.  It was reported they were very cozy and spent the evening sharing many kisses and holding each other close.  Here are photographs that he took." Tony said, handing over the pictures to Zachary.

Zachary took the pictures and looked at each one carefully; it was very clear that Ara was indeed in love with Kane, and he with her.  Shit, this made things complicated. Zachary wondered how close Ara had become to Nazario. If she had been taken in under Nazario’s protection, then it would be a fight to get her.

"Also, you heard about Puss and Boots?"

"Yes."

"I found out that Kurtus was behind it, along with stealing a large shipment of guns from the Leones."

"WHAT THE FUCK?"  Zachary roared.

"Our man that we have close to Kurtus says that he is preparing to take over the family and this was