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“I’ll return when the time is right to deal with my life here. Not for a little while. Don’t tell anyone you saw me. Okay?” There was strain in Whitney’s voice, but she hadn’t wavered in her desires.
The longing to wrap my arms around her was formidable. She was a strong woman, more so than I’d given her credit for.
“Stavros will walk you to your car. He’s my brother. You can also trust him.”
Elizabeth snorted, barely throwing me a glance. “I doubt that but fine. You better call me.”
“I will,” Whitney promised.
“Soon.”
I gave Stavros a nod. After he left, Whitney turned toward me. “What’s really going on? Why did we come here?” When I said nothing at first, her eyes opened wide. “My God. You think your own brother is the one betraying you, not Jonas.”
“It’s a possibility.”
“That’s… will he hurt Elizabeth?”
“No. Your friend is perfectly safe.”
She continued to clutch the envelope, her fingers turning white from the pressure. “Can I take a few minutes to read what’s in here?”
“We’ll go out on the dock. If nothing happens, we’ll leave immediately.”
“I can’t even get a few things?”
“Too risky. I’ll buy you whatever you need.”
“You can’t buy me what I need, Phoenix. But you can give me what I require. The truth. Always.”
“I haven’t lied to you, Whitney. The betrayal is detrimental, and it needs to end.”
She studied my eyes then looking away, her body trembling. “I hate your life for you. I don’t know how you do it.”
There was no way of providing any comfort because all I felt was the ugliness of turmoil.
And uncertainty.
“Come on. Five minutes.”
She allowed me to guide her outside, both heading toward the massive docks, trying to find a spot where she could have some privacy. When she noticed one of the event locations blocked off, she moved toward it quickly, easing around the barriers. After following, I leaned against the railing, the location allowing me to keep a close eye on the activities in close proximity.
Her breathing was ragged as she peeled away the thick tape, finally managing to open the flap. I didn’t look over her shoulder or ask her any questions. She eventually sat down at one of the empty picnic tables, placing a few things on the surface.
Her only sound was a single exclamation as she placed her hand over her mouth.
I checked my watch, ready to force our departure. Maybe I’d been wrong all along. A part of me hoped I was.
A few seconds later, she lifted her head. “Everything you hoped you’d find is in his envelope. Some items are personal, letters that I’d refused to open. He didn’t take your money, Phoenix. But he knew who did. On the day he died, there are notations he’d planned on talking to Elena about what he’d discovered. I have no doubt he was murdered because of what he’d found. My father was trying to be a hero to impress me. He took the information to keep someone else from doing so. Here. Look for yourself.”
I moved closer, staring at the papers in her outstretched hand. When I slowly peeled it away from her fingers, she glanced away, her breathing still labored.
As I read the documentation, a wave of icy water coursed through my veins.
Stavros had been right all along. I’d been used as a puppet by someone I trusted and cared for.
And not who I’d thought.
Before I had a chance to react, the roar of a boat moving in drew my attention. The second I lifted my gaze, the glint off metal captured my attention in the sunlight.
