One Night With the Billionaire: Book Four (A Billionaire Romance) by Cassie Cross Page B

whatever she can to make sure she never sees this look on his face again.  
    “All these years I thought they were murdered because we were rich, because there were people out there who wanted what we had and were willing to do whatever they had to in order to take it.”  
    His voice wavers, and Kaia’s heart breaks. His eyes are watery, and even though she doesn’t know exactly what he’s getting ready to tell her, she thinks he’s doing a remarkable job of holding himself together.  
    “Why…” Kaia can’t bring herself to ask him outright why they were murdered, so she settles for an easier question. “What kind of people were they?”  
    Jason takes a deep breath, then answers, “Thieves.”  
    He must read the shock written on her face, because he doesn’t wait for her to respond to that, he just continues. “They built an empire on software that they stole from someone else.”  
    Kaia doesn’t need Jason to tell her that the ‘someone else’ he’s speaking about is one or both of the men who were in his house that night.
    “The guy who killed them, it was his software. My dad hired him as a contractor, then stole the code. He made it better, my mom marketed it, and the two of them made unspeakable amounts of money off of it. This,” he says, motioning to the scars on his chest, “was part of the payment. My parents’ lives were part of the payment.”  
    Kaia leans forward, and wraps him up tight. Even though he’s so much larger than she is, he feels so small in this moment, in her arms.  
    And she hears what he doesn’t say. That him living his life in fear that everyone he loved was going to be taken from him was also part of the payment.
    Kaia doesn’t know what to say to him. She doesn’t know what he needs or wants to hear. She feels completely helpless, and all she knows how to do is hold him, to kiss him, and to be here for him in whatever way he needs her to be.  
    “Did the mens’ families not have any claim on the estate, or…” Perhaps it’s not the right time to ask such a question, but Kaia can’t help herself.  
    “From what Elise says, they were both estranged from their families,” Jason explains. “So there was no claim on the estate. I’m not sure I believe her.”  
    Kaia decides to be the voice of reason. “Why would she lie at this point?”
    Jason shrugs halfheartedly. “I never thought she’d lie in the first place, so…honestly, I don’t know.”  
    “She wanted you to have good memories of your parents, Jason. What they did professionally has nothing to do with how much they loved you. She wanted you to have that, even though you couldn’t have them.”  
    He looks up at her, utterly wrecked. Like he hadn’t completely understood her reasoning until now. He seems calmer, if not less upset.  
    “It makes sense, Jason,” Kaia whispers, sliding a soothing hand up and down his arm. “How long did she know?”  
    “She said she found out shortly before my parents were killed. She was stunned, too. I remember that Elise hadn’t come around much right before their deaths, but I never knew why.”  
    Knowing how betrayed she felt probably compelled Elise to want to keep it from Jason. Having her own memories of her friend ruined would’ve made her do whatever she had to in order to keep Jason’s intact.  
    Kaia knows this isn’t the time to bring that up, though.  
    “Why on earth did she decide to tell you this tonight?”  
    Jason wraps his fingers around Kaia’s, then brings the back of her hand up to his lips.  
    “I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you that I’ve been a little closed off from her.”  
    From everyone , Kaia wants to tease, but she doesn’t. She understands now. “You told me you were afraid of losing her the same way you lost your parents.”
    Jason’s quick intake of breath and the forlorn look in his eyes makes Kaia realize that this probably wasn’t the best time to bring that up. Still, he