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John?” Max questioned as he took a step towards the eldest brother.
    “I’m saying you look too much like a damn pirate to suit me. Mayhap you are or were one. How else could you acquire a fully crewed pirate ship?”
    “Enough!” Robert yelled. “I had not expected this evening to go well. But one thing I will not handle is false accusations against any of my children. Eli, if you know something, then by all means share it with us now. But if you are just lashing out at Max—”
    “Believe whatever you wish, Father, just do so without me present,” Eli growled as he walked to the French doors leading outside.
    “Where do you think you’re going?” Robert questioned.
    “For a walk,” Eli snapped as he jerked the door opened. He slammed it closed with such force the glass broke on both sets of doors.
    “Well, that went well,” Michael said as he walked to the liquor cabinet. “Take no offense, Max. He hates all of us.”
    “I don’t care,” Max replied as he turned to his wife. “Let’s go.”
    “Go?” Kristina exclaimed. At Max’s look, she turned to Madison. “Do you mind keeping an eye on Sophia?”
    Madison shook her head. “No, not at all.”
    “I’ll just be a few minutes.”
    Kristina grabbed Max’s arm and dragged him to the corner of the room. “I know you’re furious, husband. But we both knew this would happen sooner or later.”
    “And it’s happened. A startling revelation has been made.” His words oozed with angry sarcasm. “But it’s time to leave.”
    “No. I know you hold hard feelings towards this family, but it’s not your brothers’ fault.” Max turned his gaze away from Kristina. “You forgave Madison. And she has forgiven you for attacking her family when we were pirates,” she whispered. Kristina took a controlling breath. “I know what you’re feeling, Max.”
    “Do you?” he questioned heatedly as he looked at his wife.
    “ Si . You are my husband, and your pain is my pain. Your happiness is mine. Do not allow Sybil’s bitterness towards this family to affect your judgment. Don’t judge Robert harshly. You yourself said that you did not blame him for not believing her when she presented you to him.” Max looked out the window as his wife spoke. She took a deep breath. “You have longed for a family.”
    “I have all the family that I need,” Max replied as he looked back to Kristina and gently stroked her cheek.
    She placed her hand on his. “We need you, too. But you will not be at peace with yourself until you fully accept your other family. Go. Make amends with your brother. Besides,” she began with a twinkle in her chocolate-colored eyes, “I want to visit with Madison.”
    “Can’t we just go to Nicholas’s house?”
    “No,” she answered as she looked around her husband. “I believe our daughter is enjoying the attention.”
    Max turned to find Robert and Elizabeth sitting on the floor playing with Sophia and Alexandra. Sophia pushed Robert and he fell backwards taking her with him. He held her up high above him. She let out a scream of delight.
    “She needs to know her grandfather. This is her only grandfather,” she reminded him. Kristina had longed for her child to have a relationship with her grandparents. However, Kristina’s parents had been murdered several years before. But now, thanks to fate, Sophia had a chance.
    “Very well.”
    Max turned and headed out the double set of doors. The broken glass crunched under his booted feet. How in the hell did his wife do it? She could always manage to calm him down and make every irrational situation seem . . . well, rational.
    Once outside Max scanned the grounds looking for Eli. It was late in the evening and the darkness hindered his view. Max squinted his eyes to get a better look. He spotted Eli’s silhouette going down the path towards the beach. Max took a deep breath and headed in the same direction. He knew he needed to follow, for if he didn’t make amends with