Theo was twenty-five when he discovered something that would change his life -- his adoption certificate, with any information about his birthmother other than her given names, Lilliana Nichole, blacked out. His father is dead and his mother away on business, so he can't ask them why they hadn't told him he was adopted ... and why the certificate had been defaced. He decides his only recourse is to hire a private detective agency to search for Lilliana.<br><br>It doesn't take long for Ric Baron of Moore Investigations to determine that locating Lilliana might be impossible. But he's more than willing to give it his all for the interesting young man who asked for the agency's help.<br><br>Soon after Ric begins his search, he receives a threatening email from someone who wants him to stop looking for Lilliana. From there, things escalate as Ric and Theo deal with the aftermath of the threat and their growing interest in each other. Can they learn the man's identity before he discovers Theo is Lilliana's son and goes after him? Only time will tell.

A Secret Uncovered

“That would be fine. I didn’t ask, but were there any more papers relating to your adoption other than the certificate?”


“No.” Theo frowned. “Do you think there should be more?”


“There probably were at some point, such as papers that were filed with the court by whatever attorney your parents used at the time. The Certificate of Adoption,” Ethan said as he put the copy in a file along with the forms and contract, “is all that they’d have needed to prove they were your adoptive parents if anyone should ask.”


“Like who would?” Theo replied sourly. “If they didn’t tell me, they sure wouldn’t have let anyone else know.”


“Given the circumstances, I’d say you’re right.” Ethan stood, so Theo did as well. “I’ll see you sometime before six, which is when we close. Otherwise, tomorrow.”


Theo agreed, thanked him for taking his case, and left to return to his mother’s house.


Chapter 5