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“Well, I’ll be interested to see how you respond to them. Next time, I may not set you free.” He smiles at me. “And walk away.”
“I set you free,” I call after him.
With his back to me, he waves before exiting the bar.
Chapter 17
It’s been two weeks since I last saw Chosen at the bar. So I was surprised to get a text from her today asking me to meet her at my office at five.
The parking lot is full of vehicles, including Brett’s, Cole’s, Harper’s, Cassie’s, Chosen’s, and one I don’t recognize.
What the fuck?
I park my SUV and get out. I look up at the dark, ominous sky like it’s setting up for some shit show, not a storm.
I walk into the office, round the room with my eyes, stopping at Chosen. “What’s going on?”
“Hi, Lix,” she says with a small smile. “Thanks for coming.”
I snap to Cole and Brett, then back to Chosen. Hands clenched, I wait for her to speak again. To explain herself as my stomach starts to gather into a tight ball.
Chosen takes a small step toward me. “I’ve been doing some investigating into your mom’s—”
“Nobody asked you to do that,” I say, heat surging up the back of my neck.
“Just hear her out,” Cole says.
Chosen points at the woman I hadn’t noticed until now sitting in a chair at the table. “This is Lucy Deetman.”
Lucy Deetman? She’s mom’s friend. The one Mom got the plane tickets to see before she killed my father.
Chosen moves over to me and gently sets her hand on my arm. Her eyes connect with mine. “She’s here to explain some things to you and your brothers,” she says before walking out the door.
I watch in silence, shock, and fear, not wanting her to go.
What shit show is brewing here?
What could this woman have to say to us? I turn and find the mysterious Lucy Deetman staring back at me.
She touches her mouth. “You look just like her. Your eyes are identical.” She pauses as a smile pulls on her lips. “Your mom and I were best friends all through school.” She lowers her hand. “We lost contact after I moved to Arizona for college.” She glances around the room.
Brett crosses his arms over his chest, but I get the feeling it’s not the only thing he’s holding back.
Harper and Cassie remain quiet at the table with Lucy.
My feet are locked to the floor. I can’t move.
Cole relocates to a chair. “Did you know our father?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “I never met him. Your mom met him when she was in college in Maryland. He was a few years older and came from a prominent and influential family. She met him at one of the charity events she attended. They dated for a few months. Your father fell instantly in love with her. Your mom cared for him, but she broke it off. She worked hard for her scholarships and was determined not to let anything get in the way of her education, including your father.” She places her hands in her lap and looks down at them. “What I’m about to tell you, I do so without your mother’s blessing.” Her eyes lift, painted with regret. “A few months after your mom called it quits with your father, her brother, your uncle Zach and his best friend, Jeremy Ross, came for a visit. Those two were reckless, and just turned eighteen, they were ready to cause some trouble in Maryland. Oh, your mom loved your uncle Zach. He and your great-grandma were all she had when it came to family. And Zach, he looked up to her, what with all that your mom accomplished. He was so proud she was making something of her life and getting out of Tange Cove.” She smiles, meeting all of us with her gentle eyes.
“We never met Zach.” Cole says what we’re all thinking.
Her smile dithers. “No?”
“No,” Cole replies. “Mom never talked about him. We didn’t know he existed.”
“That’s understandable, given her situation. But, oh, he was such a wild child. He was always tagging along with us. He had the biggest heart, but he was a little lost, and after the accident—well, it took a toll on him.”
