Donovan's Child Read Online Free

happens to be my half sister Elena’s father. And the adoptive father of my sister-in-law, Mercedes.”
    He sipped his scotch. “All right. I’m thoroughly confused.”
    â€œI kind of guessed that by the way your eyes glazed over.”
    â€œMaybe just a few more details…”
    She swirled her glass. Ice clinked on crystal. “My father and Javier’s wife, Luz, had a secret affair years ago.”
    â€œAn adulterous affair, that’s what you’re telling me.”
    â€œYes. That’s what I’m telling you. Luz was married to Javier. My dad to my mom. The affair didn’t last long.”
    â€œDid your father love your mother?”
    â€œHe did—and he does. And I believe that Luz loved—and loves—Javier. But both of their marriages were troubled at the time.”
    â€œTroubled, how?”
    She gave him a look. One that said he’d better back off. “I was a toddler when all this happened. I don’t know all the details, all the deep inner motivations.”
    â€œMaybe you should ask your father.”
    â€œMaybe you should stop goading me.”
    â€œBut I kind of like goading you.”
    â€œClearly. Where was I? Wait. I remember. Javier—and everyone else except Luz—believed that Elena, my half sister, was his. But then, a few years back, the truth came out. It was…a difficult time.”
    â€œI would imagine.”
    â€œHowever, things are better now. Slowly, we’ve all picked up the pieces and moved on.” She uncrossed her legs, put her elbows on her knees and leaned toward him. With the glass of scotch between her two fine hands, she studied him some more through those arresting golden-green eyes of hers. “So what did you do while I was busy talking on the phone?”
    â€œMostly, I was downstairs in the torture chamber with one of my physical therapists.”
    â€œYou mean the gym? You were working out?”
    â€œTorture really is a better word for it. Necessary torture, but torture nonetheless.” And he had no desire to talk about himself. “What made you become an architect?”
    She sank back against the sofa cushions. “Didn’t I explain all that in my fellowship submission?”
    As if he remembered some essay she had written to go with her original concept for the children’s center. As if he’d even read her essay. Essays were of no interest to him. It was the work that mattered. “Explain it again. Briefly, if you don’t mind.”
    She turned her head to the side, slid him a narrow look. He thought she would argue and he was ready for that—looking forward to it, really. But she didn’t. “Four of my seven brothers work for the family company, Bravo Corp. I wanted to be in the family business, too. BravoCorp used to be big into property development.”
    â€œAnd so you set out to become the family architect.”
    She gave him one slow, regal nod. “But since then, BravoCorp has moved more into renewable energy. And various other investments. There’s not much of a need for an architect at the moment.” She set her drink on the side table by the arm of the sofa. “What about your family?”
    He put on a fake expression of shock. “Haven’t you read my books?”
    She almost rolled her eyes. “What? That was a requirement?”
    â€œAbsolutely.”
    â€œWell, then all right. I confess. I have read yourbooks. All four of them, as matter of fact. Will there be a quiz?”
    â€œDon’t tempt me. And if you’ve read my books, then you know more than anyone could ever want to know about my family.”
    â€œI’d like to hear it from you—briefly, if you don’t mind.” Those haunting eyes turned more gold than green as she gave his own words back to him.
    He bent to the side and set his drink on the floor, then straightened in the chair and braced his elbows on the