Daring Dylan (The Billionaire Brotherhood Book 2) Read Free Page B

death.”
    “Curious
timing,” Natalie murmured.
    Hair stood
up on the back of Dylan’s neck. Neither the family nor the authorities had ever
been satisfied that all the facts had been uncovered regarding Matthew
Bradford’s drowning twenty-five years earlier. Now, a new wrinkle added to the
mysterious circumstances.
    “What steps
have you taken to discredit this lie?” Natalie asked.
    “We hired a
detective.” Lawrence dipped his chin and looked at the trio over his reading
glasses. “The investigation has been inconclusive, I’m sorry to say.”
    “Have you asked
Uncle Arthur about it?” Their father’s younger brother would be the obvious
source of information.
    “Your
mother wanted to hold off on that, but I’m afraid we can’t put it off much
longer. The matter has suddenly become more urgent.”
    “Why?”
    “With her death,
the young man is no longer prepared to wait. If there’s no word from the
Bradford family before the foundation awards ceremony on July first, he says
he’ll take his story to the press.”
    “But that’s
only five weeks away.” An uncharacteristic curse escaped his sister’s lips.
“Normally, I’d say let the jerk do his worst. But I don’t want the awards
diminished because of some disgruntled nutcase.”
    The old man
nodded. “The negative publicity would certainly tarnish the event’s image.”
    “Has he
requested DNA testing?” A slow anger at the bastard’s audacity scalded its way
through Dylan’s stomach.
    “Ultimately,
I believe that’s what he’s after, but no papers have been filed.” Lawrence
blinked. “If you wish to lay the matter to rest, the request could come from
the Bradford family.”
    “No.” Dylan
rejected the idea with a slash of his hand.
    “Why not?”
Natalie asked. “That might be the quickest way to disprove the accusation.”
    “That would
imply we’re entertaining the possibility of a link between this man and our father.
I think it’s too soon for that. Let’s make him produce something more
substantial than a ‘rumor’ before we give him what he wants.”
    “I agree,”
Linc offered. “If you don’t insist on hard evidence, you’d be laying the
groundwork for anyone out there with blue eyes and big feet to claim a
relationship.”
    A familiar
expression of Bradford stubbornness stole across Natalie’s face. “What could be
more decisive evidence than a DNA test?”
    “Mother
asked me to protect and honor our father’s good name. I didn’t know this threat
existed, but she wouldn’t want me to allow the first schemer to come along to
muddy Dad’s reputation within a week of her death.”
    “You’re
pretending to be reasonable, but you’re seething inside,” Natalie observed.
“That’s never a good sign.”
    Because she
was right, Dylan ignored the comment. The discontent that had dogged him
lately, combined with the sorrow and helplessness over his mother’s death, now
coalesced into a plan. Propelled by his mother’s last request of him, along
with his own desire to preserve his father’s reputation, adrenaline shot
through him. He shook off the emotional and physical lethargy that lingered
after the inactive weeks spent at his mother’s side.
    “Let’s see
the detective’s report.” He loosened his tie and reached for the folder.
    Natalie
studied him. “What are you cooking up?”
    He
understood her dread that his restlessness would lead him into trouble, but he
also knew she’d chafe at being sidelined by her pregnancy. The two of them had
raced neck-and-neck in their quest for adventure most of their lives. But now,
her focus had narrowed to her own little family. Just as it should. Dylan would
handle of the bigger picture. “Maybe I should take a look over my East Langden
property.”
    Her
eyebrows flew up to her hairline. “When?”
    “The sooner
the better. Apparently, we don’t have much time.”
    “Tell me
what you’re planning,” she said, still skeptical.
    I owe her the truth .