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“When Sloane’s parents’ house was vandalized for the third time, I spoke to Elliott, asking him to put a stop to it. To get the P.D. involved to protect innocent people, but he just laughed and said it showed the level of Marcus’sdevotionthat he was unwilling to let Sloane go without a fight.”
Lennon shakes his head with a deep frown, his wordsmorethan a little unsettling.
“My in-laws have moved to the city, and we have cut all ties with that cesspit. Though initially, Matt claimed he wanted to continue having a relationship with me. I was willing to try until I came home from work early one day to find he’d let Marcus into our apartment totalkto Sloane, and that was the end of playing nice for me.”
Sloane slams her eyes closed, clearly remembering something horrible from that day, as Lennon presses a kiss to her brow. “That’s not to say they haven’t pretty much stalked us since.”
His eyes hold mine intensely. “You canseewhy I’m a hard man to pin down, Mr. Burton. I’m simply protecting my family from the crazy that follows us.”
Once we’ve exchanged details, I quickly wish the couple well and tell them I’ll be in touch with an update before I slip from the office.
“Right on time, V. The good doctor just arrived downstairs.”
I nod toward the smiling secretary before embarking on the elevator. “Did you hear that, Ford? They’re all fucking crazy. I think it’s time we paid them a visit, don’t you?”
It’s at that moment my cell rings. When I see it’s Jules, my stomach dips nauseatingly, and I answer with a harsh, “What’s wrong?”
“She just flew out in a chopper.” My jaw clenches tightly, but before I can respond, his next words are a stab to my gut. “I’m almost sure it was Porter’s.”
Ford’s voice fills my ear and truly twists the knife. “And I’ve just received data that confirms Abrams Island as the location from which the Prince Charming emails were sent.”
My blood whooshes through my ears as I place my head against the elevator mirror, banging my forehead sharply just once, but enough to snap me back into the game.
“Someone get me in the air right the fuck now.”
CHAPTER37
WREN
Once I’ve explained the situation to a still-prickly Elodie, she promised to text Jules twenty minutes after my departure in the Porter’s chopper, but it was unnecessary. His eagle eyes had spotted me embarking onto the helipad, and my cell had chimed with a text moments later.
JULES
He’ll murder us both, kid. Don’t do it.
I turn off my cell, too absorbed with the thought of seeing my mother within the hour that I don’t care about the repercussions of later.
My eyes follow the path of the helicopter, perking up as we fly over South Brook, past my house, and out onto the sound. Abrams Island quickly comes into view, with Matt waiting by the shore to the south of the helipad.
Once we’ve landed, Matt comes closer, helping me down to give me a tight hug before pulling back to palm my cheeks. “You’re finally here. It’sfinallyhappening, Neve.”
I’m too fixated on seeing my mother to give his words more than a passing thought, and when he grabs my hand in his, presumably to take me to Mom, I let him.
We pass the beach with the small dock through the landscaped gardens, and within minutes, we’re stepping inside the vast mansion I vaguely recall from my teen years.
“Wow, this place brings back memories.”
Matt squeezes my hand. “It sure does. We can make a whole host of new memories now, myBiancaneve.”
I chuckle. “That sounds familiar. Wasn’t that the name of the end-of-year play in our drama class back in, like, seventh grade? Snow White, right?”
He nods with a bright smile. “Yes. It’s where I got Neve from. It means snow.” My brow creases when he trails the back of his knuckles down along my cheek. “Your skin is as white as snow.”
His eyes are fixed on the motion of his hand when I break whatever spell he’s under as I step back out of his reach.
“Where’s Mom?”
Matt blinks several times before shaking his head. He gestures noncommittally. “Oh, she’s around here somewhere.”
