I can’t go back to California. I’m not even sure if I can go back to interior design. I’m embarrassed of my name, of what now stains my reputation. While Carter’s legacy is legendary, mine has taken a turn for the worse. It’s my nightmare, coming true.
All I’ve ever wanted was tobesomeone.
“Ari.”
I look up from the island to my brother’s face. His jaw pulses, hand still draped over Arden’s leg.
“Youwouldtell me if you were in trouble, right?”
I swallow, but force a smile. One that he’ll probably see right through, anyway. I’m not in trouble, I’m just in turmoil. There’s a difference between those two things.
“Of course, I would.”
He doesn’t believe me. I can tell. But I don’t care. I’ve given him enough. I want him to be proud of me. He is already disappointed in all the men I date, in how I bring home the worst of the worst with a smile, demanding that he treat them nicely. The one thing I have always been is successful, and he’salwaysbeen proud of that.
He kept my college graduation pamphlet tacked to his fridge for years, only removing it when I started my Master’s. It’s in my room upstairs now, in a frame. He lives to be my biggest cheerleader. Tells everyone I’m the smart one. That I’m the toughest Forkerro.
Now, I’m none of those things.
I reach for a nugget, dunking it in plum sauce, and go back to avoiding his eyes.
Because my brother always sees me, and for once, I don’t want him to.
CHAPTER EIGHT
boston
I groan,rolling over onto my side. It’s the middle of the night. My bedroom is pitch black, so the light from my phone screen feels like a flashlight pointed right at my face. I squint through the darkness, slowly coming back to reality.
My phone is ringing. At three in the morning.
My heart sinks.
Never a good sign.
I reach for it, peering at the name on the screen. My heart drops to the ground now. Explodes a bit, flooding me from the inside until I choke.
I answer.
“Kane.” My voice is hoarse and thick with sleep.
A long, tired sigh. “Hey, Boston. I know it’s late. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I grumble, sitting up. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know how to tell you this, so I’m just going to come out and say it.”
Ice hits my veins.
“They found a female body.”
My eyes shoot open. A weird, torpedo of emotions shoots through me. Something like relief first, which is exceptionallyfucked up. I know. But this is a call I’ve been waiting years for. It finally happened. I won’t have to wonder what she’s up to anymore, if she’s cold, safe, or scared. Even though a big part of me hates her for what she did to me, how she took my dad from me, my brothers—she’s still my mom.
“Shit.”
Kane sighs again. “Yeah. I know you probably don’t care for the details, but I’m about to go down there to make an identification. They need somebody to confirm it’s her.”
Fucking Kane. My poor, little brother. This shit never stops for him.
