“Says who? Him? Technically, there’s no valid proof since he took Maddy, against her will, I might add, and gave this alleged test in secret.”
“Shit, what if this entire time, he’s been bullshitting us?”
“We can’t panic yet,” Noah stresses as he grabs the computer. “We need proof.”
“And how the hell do we do that?” I question as I restlessly thrum my fingers on top of my leg. “We don’t even know if he gave her a legitimate DNA test, so it’s not like we can hack into the records. And I don’t even think he’d put it in the city's records even if it was a real test, because that would be evidence of who Maddy is.”
“I know.” He starts typing. “We need someone who will rat Grey out.”
“You think you’re going to persuade one of his bodyguards to help us?” I ask dubiously as I lift the bottle of juice toward my lips to take a drink.
He rolls his eyes. “Dude, stop being a dumbass and realize who you are. Grey’s wealth and status doesn’t even come close to yours, so use it.”
“All right, your point is made.” I lower my feet to the floor. “Do you have a person in mind?”
“I do.” He rotates the computer toward me.
On the screen is a man in his mid-forties with short brown hair.
“His name is Theo, he is married, and has three kids.” Noah gives me the details.
“Why him?” I wonder as I fiddle with a ring on my finger. “You can’t be wrong about this because if we go to this guy and ask these questions and he doesn’t cooperate, it’ll get back to Grey.”
“He’ll cooperate if you give him enough money,” he assures me. “One of his daughters has cancer, and the bills are piling up. Plus, there’s this treatment facility near Emerald Crest Cove that specializes in this type of cancer. It’s super costly, but if you offer to pay for it and pay off his debt, he’ll agree. His daughter’s life depends on it.”
“It feels kind of icky, though,” I mutter with a frown. “To use that against him.”
“Why? You’d be saving this girl.”
“It’s kind of messed up that Grey doesn’t pay this guy enough that he can afford the treatments.”
“I know, which is why I’m putting money on it that he’s our guy.”
I exhale a stressed breath. “I sure hope you’re right about this.”
“Right about what?” Lily asks as she shuffles into the living room.
She’s wearing her pajamas, and her movements are still a bit sluggish because of the surgery.
Noah and I exchange a look.
I’m not thrilled about telling her, but I realize I need to.
“Come sit down for a bit,” I say. “There’s some stuff we need to tell you.”
“I can’t believe you guys didn’t tell me this before.” Lily shakes her head as she paces the room.
“Lily, sit down,” I say. “You’re still healing.”
She blasts me with a glare as she stops in front of the fireplace and crosses her arms. “Don’t tell me what to do. Not after you lied to me.”
“I didn’t want to,” I stress. “I thought I was protecting you.”
“Protecting me,” she scoffs. “Our father is a total nutjob and took one of my best friends and my brother to do some sort of sex ritual.”
“It wasn’t a sex ritual,” I say, rubbing at the back of my neck, extremely uncomfortable. “Not really.”
“I don’t think you really believe that,” Lily snaps at me. “I think that’s why you’re trying not to freak out, but deep down you are. I can see it in your eyes. You’re about to have a breakdown.”
