She hugs me back before pushing away to swipe a detested tear from her cheek. “Don’t ever change—you’re perfect. You come to a fork in the road and say fuck it to the safe path. I’ve never said fuck it in my life until I met Eli. I’m usually the boring one. But your story is a monster, and you not only conquered it, you made it your bitch because the deeper the love, the greater the wreck. Don’t look back and don’t think about years lost. It’s time to be happy.”
My eyes wander to the back of Faye’s property to where the soul stands who’s guilty of loving me, breaking me, and putting me back together again. I know for a fact my heart looks different than it did ten years ago, but in a way, it’s stronger. And the way I feel right now, I wouldn’t trade that for anything. My core burns deeper, my blood runs hotter, and my heart—responsible for giving me life and at the same time physical pain—is stronger than ever.
And it only beats for Trig.
“I think I see a bromance brewing.” Jen gives me a side-hug and kisses my temple as we both look out to where Trig is standing with Eli. They’re deep in conversation as Jen goes on. “I mean, what do you think they’re talking about? Baseball? My drama is far behind me, you’re back together with your long-lost love … the world is spinning on an even axis for once, right?”
I pull in a big breath and hold it.
I hope to the holder of broken hearts she’s right.
* * *
Trig
I exhale and look out to the lake. “Well, that’s a coincidence I’m not at all happy about.”
“You mean there’s a link?” Eli asks. “Who does your dad know in Highland Park?”
I turn to him. “You know where I grew up. You think he would know anyone in Highland Park who would want him driving up and down their street?”
“He’s casing someone. In the last two hours, he’s circled the block five times. He even stopped once for a few minutes. My guy got pictures and video of him sitting in his truck. I’m surprised no one reported it. Highland Park PD patrols that area heavily.”
“Shit.”
Eli frowns. “Who would he be interested in?”
I cross my arms and shake my head because this can’t be good, not after what I learned last night about my mother, the doctors she worked for, and the baby she gave them that wasn’t hers but belonged to my father. I’m still trying to make sense of what she did, let alone process the fact I have a sister.
I look over at the man I’ve only known for a matter of months. Sure, I can trust him with the shit I’ve thrown at him so far, but my own mother kidnapping a baby?
That’s something I’m not anxious to shout from the rooftops.
“I have a couple I need you to look into for me, and before you say anymore, I’m paying you for this shit because your men are working full-time on my drama right now.”
He has the nerve to smirk. “Your list is growing by the day.”
“Tell me about it. His name is Dr. Aleron Chenard Toussaint. He’s the most renowned neurosurgeon in North Texas. From what I read on him last night, if it weren’t for the talent at MD Anderson, he’d be at the top of the list in all of Texas. His wife is a pediatric cardiologist—name’s Dr. Tommie Endo.” I fill him in on the sordid history of my family.
“And why am I investigating them?”
“Because they live on that street my father seems dead set on poisoning.”
Eli frowns. “Do you know them well enough to reach out to them?”
“Doesn’t matter. I was going to make a visit anyway and now I’ll be doing that sooner rather than later, thanks to my damn father.”
“Let me know if you want me to go with you,” Eli offers.
I shake my head and look at my watch. “I’m good. This is something I need to do myself.”
“Sounds good. I think you might keep me in business.”
I turn back to the house and toward the mess we’ve got going on in every room of the place. Ellie and I spent the night poring over the rest of the shit in my mother’s locked wooden box and I was grateful it didn’t reveal any more felonies. Without looking at Pettit, I add, “And while I’m contributing to your retirement fund, find out everything you can on the doctors’ daughter—she’s adopted. I couldn’t find a thing about her online, not even her name. They’ve got their shit tied tight.”
“Got it. If I find out they’ve got pets, I’ll throw that in for free.”
I open the door to the sunroom my mother loved so much and that Ellie has made hers since we’ve been here together. “Everything, Pettit. If my dad is making a move, I need to stay one step ahead. I need to know everything on the doctors—and fast. ”
