“Because I needed to know who tried to kill me.” Her voice hardens. “And I’m still not sure who I can trust.”
I take a step toward her, my heart pounding. “Amara, you can trust me. Whatever you think you know—”
“I want to,” she interrupts, her voice cracking. “But I remember things now. I wrote in my diary that your brother is Detective Miles and you were asking me weird questions.”
“I was not.”
“You did and then I found out that your brother headed the raid.”
The accusation is there, and it stings, but I can’t blame her. I reach for her hand, but she pulls away.
“Is that what you think? That I was using you to get information for Jack?” I shake my head, desperate for her to see my side. “My brother and I barely speak. We haven’t been close since my wife died.”
Her eyes search mine, looking for deception. “Was it just a coincidence?”
“Listen to me,” I continue, lowering my voice. “Jack told me something was happening at the club that night. He warned me to stay away, but I told him I never wentthere. But I promise I never knew you were going. I only knew because he confronted me afterward, wanting to know if I knew anything about Dom’s business. I told him nothing.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because I want you.” The words escape before I can stop them. “I know it’s wrong. I know the age difference is—”
“I don’t care about that,” she whispers. “I only care that you didn’t do this to me.” She touches her face with her fingertips.
“Dom is my best friend, but you...” I swallow hard. “You’re everything to me. If I were working with Jack, why would I have kept our relationship secret? Why wouldn’t I have used that to get closer to Dom? I don’t want to know about his business, Amara. I like my peaceful life.”
Something shifts in her eyes. She steps closer, allowing me to take her hand.
“I believe you.” She touches above her heart with her free hand.
“You do? Thank fuck!”
“Because I was being blackmailed,” she admits quietly. “Before someone tried to kill me, they were contacting me through the Pampered Princess website.”
My stomach clenches at the mention of the website. “What did they want?”
“Information on Dom. About what was happening at Angels and Sinners that night.” She looks up at me,her blue eyes swimming with tears. “I think whoever was blackmailing me is the same person who tried to kill me.”
I squeeze her hand, pulling her closer. “Then it’s time for us to figure out who it is. Together.”
“Okay.”
I search Amara’s face, trying to piece together what she remembers. The fact she’s kept her returning memories hidden shows how little she trusts anyone right now—even me. Despite what she says.
“Do you have any suspects?” I ask, keeping my voice low despite the empty house. “Anyone who might want to hurt you? Or anyone acting strange before the accident?”
She fidgets with the handle of the cup. “Con threatened me that night at the club. Right before everything happened.”
“Mateo Conti?” My jaw clenches. I don’t mention that Dom also has Con at the top of his list. “What did he say?”
“He said if I didn’t keep my mouth shut, he’d shut it permanently.” She shudders at the memory. “He was furious, cornered me near the bathrooms.”
“Fucking mafia bastards,” I hiss, unable to contain my disgust. “They think they can do whatever they want.”
Her eyes flick up to mine. “Obviously, I just told you that you were on my list of suspects, too. Because of your brother.”
I can’t blame her. “Jack and I may share DNA, but that’s about it these days.”
She lowers her head and glances at the floor, then lifts it slowly. “But there’s something else. Mayor Anderson wasn’t one of my clients on Pampered Princess, but my blackmailer only ever used pictures of me with him against me.”
