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“And ere they that there was a concern over so in on the, rather than the sting rushing through my veins and the pain in my hand

“My father was a political strategist He died before there was an Internet, and since un to be posted until around 1985, including a lot of those archived, it was easy to keep just about everything related to him off the Web My mother, too”

“Why do I feel as though I’ conspiracy theory?”

“You sort of are,” he deadpanned

“Jesus” My eyes squeezed shut More tears streamed down my face I concentrated on the questions “What happened to your parents? How did they die?”

His tone radiated his frustration as he said, “Plane crash Their private jet went down outside of New York City after a night at the Met They saw the operatic version of Sweeney Todd Ironic” He gave a disgusted laugh “He was a murderer”

My pulse jumped “You don’t think your parents were—”

“No,” he was quick to say “I was just pointing out that it’s about tragic deaths”

I hated hearing the pain in his voice “Dane, I’m so sorry” I would have reached over and covered his hand withhand to my chest “How old were you?”

“Not quite a ht”

“A month,” I said on a heavy breath “You never even knew them”

“Aunt Lara was good atsure I did—with photos and stories They were very well respected in Philadelphia society, though apparently quite private They kept personal et to know beyond their philanthropic efforts”

“Must be where you got your secretive ways”

“Aht it was a smart tactic, due to my father’s political affiliations In DC, you never know your true enemies”

“Zoe Barnes can attest to that,” I mumbled