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I pause. “That’s Fate.”
“What—what?” Jess asks, leaning forward. “What do you mean Fate?”
“That’s Fate, the cabin in Washington where Max took me after he broke me out.”
There’s a pause, and while they’re collecting their thoughts, I study the photo. It looks recent. Too recent. Squinting my eyes at the window, recognition soon swims through my body. I look ghastly, scared. Shocked. I’m standing, staring out the window, my eyes on God knows what. I’m still wearing my white robe, and my hair is matted with sweat against my face.
I throw the photo onto the table as if it sent a wave of shocks through me. “Who took that?”
Jess stares at me, setting her glass down onto the table. “I don’t know. It was dropped at our door in a yellow envelope. No name attached and no reason why.”
“When?” I ask, fighting down the terror that’s about a second away from seizing my bones. “When did they drop that off?”
Jess watches me carefully. “The day I called to say that we were coming back. Why?”
My brows cross in confusion. “That makes. No sense…” I stand from my chair and begin pacing back and forward. “That photo. It is possible that it is old, right?” I glare at her.
Jess shrugs, her eyes flying between me and Devon. “I mean, sure! But Isa, what’s going on?”
I lick my lips, bringing my attention to Bryant. “I remember. Max was right, when the drugs were detoxed out of my system, memories came back to me in waves. Some stronger, others not so much, but eventually, after a few days, they all came back.”
“And your point?” Bryant waves his hand.
I lean down, my hands pressed against the table. “My point is, is that that is not me.”
“What?” Bryant’s face alters to confusion, his head tipping back. “What do you mean that’s not you. That is clearly you.”
“I’m missing something.” I continue pacing up and down. Up and down. I need a drink. I need answers. “We’re missing something, Bryant. Something big.”
“No, baby. You’ve been through a lot.” He stands and makes his way to me. “Maybe the memory just hasn’t come back to you yet.”
Frustratingly, I look to Devon for back up. He’s already watching me carefully. “Hmmm.”
“What is hmmm. You know I hate when you do that, Devon!” My arms are flying around. I can’t seem to think straight or rationally, because I know deep down, that whoever that girl is in that photo—it is not me. And I don’t say that as in that’s Brooke. I mean that is not me—at all. “I remember everything. Have for a long time, as soon as the drugs were out. That is not me.”
Devon leans back in his chair. “I’m thinking out loud, you know that’s what that means.”
I drop back down into my chair.
“So, what about your brother, Max? He obviously will know something.”
Harper’s soft cry cuts through our chat and I instantly turn to her aid, removing her from her highchair.
Before I can console her, Bryant is there, his arms around her little body. “I got her.”
I relax, going back to Jess. “He will, but I don’t think we can trust him. Right?” I look to Devon and Bryant, since they’re the ones who were so forceful with putting the idea in my head that I couldn’t trust Max.
“Right,” Bryant snaps, rocking Harper in his arms. His suit shirt is rolled at the sleeves, showcasing all of his tattoos and muscles. His wedding band back on his finger. I’m paralyzed by the sight, seeing Bryant holding our daughter like I always dreamed. Love can soften even the roughest, all it needs is time. Bryant shakes his head. “I’ve never trusted him. I tolerated him around Isa because I knew where she was all along.”
I think over his words, tilting my head. “Wait, is that why you made me stay here?”
Bryant shrugs, taking a seat back at the head of the table with a happy Harper balancing on his knee. “Yes. There was no way you were leaving with Max that day—or any after. I would kill him before I’d allow him to take you away where I can’t see.”
“You really need to work on your control issues…” I mutter. “Considering who was occupying your bed while this was happening.”
“Isa, Stacey isn’t part of the problem, and she was never in my fucking bed.”
“Bryant,” I parrot in his exact tone. “She was his wife!”
“Wait! What the fuck did I miss?” Jess interrupts our back and forth. “Fill me in. Right now, before continuing with your fight.”
Devon begins yapping off to Jess, while my eyes remain on Bryant. I need to ask the question I’ve been needing to ask. Wanting to ask. But just as my mouth opens, Jer is rushing into the kitchen.
“You guys might want to come check this out…” We all stand and follow him through the foyer and into the living room, where the fire is dimly lit. Candles are scattered around the large comfortable U-lounge sofa.
