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“That sounds an awful lot like abuse,” she observes slowly. I don’t respond, because I can’t. She’s right. But there’s nothing I can do other than endure it. Paulo has a hold over me, more than the drugs and the addiction. He’s the one who’s got my family’s lives in his hands, and that means more to me than my happiness.
“I have nobody else to turn to, not right now,” I implore her, praying silently that she says yes, that she’ll help me.
A long sigh from the other end of the line comes through loud and clear. She’s not happy about me asking for her assistance. “Fine, but I want to see you,” she finally says, and I let out the breath that I’d been holding. “We need to meet before you see him because there is something I need to say.”
Nodding once more, I respond, “Sure. I’ll meet you at the entrance to the forest, where we used to park for the parties.” It will be strange going back there, but I need to do this.
“Six forty-five, don’t be late. And Kalyn, I’m only doing this because he wants it,” she informs me easily. She’s never been one to bullshit or beat around the bush, so to speak.
“Okay.” Knowing that if I’m going to be playing this game with Cassian, I need to be there at seven. It gives us fifteen minutes to hash out whatever it is she wants to say. “Thank you.” My words might have been lost to nothing because when I realize the line is dead, I wonder if she even heard me.
At least she’s agreed to help.
I glance once more at the rose, and my stomach flutters at the thought of seeing him again. The party was nothing short of magical, and even in those short moments with Cassian, anger dancing in his beautiful eyes, I could see he still wanted me. There was desire laced with rage in his words, and that gives me hope that someday, he’ll forgive me for what I did.
Even though I am almost certain Cassian knows the truth, I must play the part of the dutiful fiancée. For now. Cassian doesn’t need to know what Paulo’s doing because I have a feeling that it won’t go down well, even if Cassian still hates me. He will hurt Paulo, and it won’t end with Cassian walking away without blood on his hands.
16
Cassian
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Finn asks as I shrug on my black hoodie.
Am I?
No.
But I need to do it.
I’m about to respond when his phone buzzes in his pocket, dragging my thoughts away from my answer and to his expression when he pulls the device out. He glances at me before answering the call; I know it’s Harris. James emailed me an hour ago, confirming that Kalyn’s father is ill, a life-threatening disease that he’s getting treatment for. But the thing that doesn’t make sense is that the figures don’t add up; she doesn’t seem to have the money to pay for it, even though her career looks like it’s taking off.
The other note he made in the file he sent over was that the Narros are selling their house as well as any belongings they own in Thorne Haven, meaning they’re leaving for good. The problem with that is, it makes no sense.
They were loaded.
I recall the moment they moved into town, flashy cars, expensive furniture, they even renovated the mansion somewhat, with a tennis court, personal spa, and state-of-the-art theatre. Something happened, and I need to find out what the fuck it is. And if Kalyn can’t tell me anything tonight, I’ll have the team on it the moment I get back from my meeting with her.
“Well now,” Finn says, interrupting my thoughts, and I realize he’s finished his call while I’ve been lost inside my mind again.
“What’s Harris found?” I ask, knowing that’s who he was talking to. I’m tense, my shoulders are bunched up, and my hands are fisted at my sides. Every muscle in my body is screaming for release, for some answers that will make sense of everything to me.
“It seems the cashflow from the sale of the house is going directly to Paulo Morales, the fiancé.” Finn settles on the chair at my desk that overlooks the back garden. “Another interesting tidbit is that this asshole has been keeping Kalyn home with him for the past two years. Her short stint in rehab was nothing more than a smokescreen, a lie told to the press to keep them from digging too deep.”
“But that makes no sense. Why would she lie about going into rehab?” My mind works as I try to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but each time I try to fit my ideas into place, they don’t feel right. I should’ve asked her the last time we were together, but the moment Kalyn stepped up to me, my mind blanked out. She’s always done this to me. Made me feel things I wasn’t prepared for.
