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After hearing his story, she’d been in tears but determined to help him, even if she didn’t know how.
Thankfully, Mia had an idea. She’d rallied the people of Haven, and they’d started fundraising for a new house for him. In the meantime, Alec had found him a better place to live temporarily in Haven.
She’d also discovered they had a love of watching wrestling. So now she went over at least once a week to watch that on TV with him.
Beside him, Renard was scowling up at her. But, by now, she knew that was his resting growly face. And inside, he truly was a big marshmallow. He was here every night she sang as well, to support her.
The people of this town were terrific. And she couldn’t help but think how her life might be different if she and her mom had moved here after her dad’s death.
But then . . . would she have met Butch? Meeting him had changed her life. She didn’t know what she’d done to deserve him. But she’d do whatever it took to keep him.
They were working on her insecurities. On her need to apologize for everything, even when it wasn’t her fault. Day by day, he was showing her exactly how much she meant to him.
Setting down her guitar, she smiled and waved as she walked out back.
“Lara?”
She froze at that voice. Then she spun to find her mom standing in the shadows. The stage area of the bar had a small alcove behind it where she could go if she wanted to get changed or have a drink.
“Mom? Shit, Mom, what are you doing here?” She glanced around but couldn’t see Chandler. “It’s not safe here.”
The FBI really wanted to talk to Chandler about his relationship with Frank. Apparently, Frank wasn’t just in the mafia. He was the head of the Marconi family. The FBI must have been watching them and seen Chandler meet with Frank.
They’d also started investigating Chandler’s businesses and it seemed he was involved in a lot of dodgy things. Tax evasion. Bribery. Fraud.
Chandler was in a lot of trouble.
“I know. I just had to see you one last time.”
“What are you talking about? What do you mean, one last time?” she asked.
“Chandler is taking us overseas. We need to lie low for a while. It’s really all so stupid.”
Right. She was sure that everyone who no longer had a job because of Chandler thought it was stupid too. That everyone he’d ripped off thought it was stupid.
She moved toward her mom. “You don’t have to go. You could stay here. Tell the Feds you had nothing to do with any of what Chandler did.”
“That’s not the way it will go, and you know it.” Her mom smiled sadly. “I just wanted to say goodbye. You sounded so good out there. That was an original, right?”
“Yeah, my latest song.” She was finally able to compose again. “Please, Mom. Don’t leave.”
Choose me.
Choose me over them.
“I have to go. You know that. They need me, sweetheart. You don’t. You were always so strong.” Her mother wrapped her in her arms, but she couldn’t hug her back.
Her mom would never choose her.
But she had someone who had.
Her mom stepped back. “I love you, Lara.”
She was angry with her, but she was still her mom. “Love you too, Mom. Bye.”
Her mom smiled and walked away. Lara let out a small sob. She needed Butch. Turning, she nearly ran into her. The evil smile that crossed her face was one she’d seen often.
“Emily,” she said carefully as she took a step back. Fuck! What was her mom thinking, bringing Emily with her?
Or had she followed her?
“This is all your fault, you know.” Emily stepped toward her.
“What is?” She swallowed heavily, fear moving through her.
It was stupid. She was bigger and older than her sister. She shouldn’t be so scared of her.
But this girl had been her tormentor for as long as she could remember, and she always felt so powerless around her. Emily had always had the power because she’d known no one would ever help Lara. No one would believe her.
“The mess we’re in! It’s your doing!” She slapped at Lara’s face, her ring catching her lip and ripping into the skin.
Hell no. Anger filled her.
It wasn’t her doing at all!
She held a hand up to her lip. She could feel it swelling already. “I didn’t do any of this. It was all your dad. He is the one who fucked it all up, and now the Feds are after him. You can’t blame me.”
Emily shoved her into a wall, then pressed her hand around her neck.
Shit, she was so strong.
Lara clawed at her wrist.
“You shouldn’t have stolen Geoffrey from me, Lara! It’s all your fault!” She slapped Lara’s head against the wall. The room around her blurred as nausea rolled in her stomach.
