“You did. You signed the paperwork that relinquished all rights to him.”
“I fucking did not. Who said I did? Your stripper sister who moonlighted as a high-end call girl?”
Unable to hold back my temper, I slap his face. “Don’t lie about my sister, you asshole.”
“I’m not lying. You didn’t know?”
“I told you she was a bookkeeper at a casino.” I honestly don’t know at this point what she did. He could be right. I recall the sexy outfits that seemed so out of character for the sister I thought I knew.
His bitter laugh sends chills through me. “So she told you.”
I’m furious he would say such things about my sister. FURIOUS in all screaming caps.
“Get out of here. Now!” I fling open the window of my apartment and throw his clothes onto the sidewalk below.
“What the fuck? I’m naked.”
“Then you might want to hurry before some homeless person grabs your clothes.” I escort his naked ass to the door, but he has the last word.
“You know, I actually thought I was falling for you, but fuck, I’m an idiot. I should’ve known you’d decimate my heart if I let you.” He turns and stomps out. I stare at his naked ass until he disappears into the darkness. Shutting the door, I lock it. I should be laughing at the position I’ve put him in, but nothing about this situation is remotely amusing, more like terrifying. He’s pretending he didn’t give up his rights, and my fears that he’ll demand custody return full-blown.
He thought he was falling for me?
If he truly didn’t know, what have I done? What did I throw away before I had a chance to explore the possibilities? And Noah? What’s to become of him? What if Drakos is telling the truth, and my sister was lying? After all, she lied about a lot of things.
As alarming as his accusations are about my sister, I’m more rattled by his admission. Thirty minutes ago, I’d have been on cloud nine if I’d thought he might feel the same as I. Now I’m devastated that whatever we had has been destroyed.
I don’t know how to fix it or if I can. I’m barren inside, like a desert with sand stretching for miles with no other living thing in sight.
* * *
The Icehawks have left on their road trip, and I’m a hot mess when it comes to Drakos and Noah. One productive thing I can do is investigate my sister’s life and determine which parts are truth and which are fiction.
Carla hired me for a couple more investigative research jobs, and I’m grateful for the work and the extra income. The downside is I don’t have much free time to go through my sister’s storage unit. In fact, I don’t have any time at all. I do attempt to call a couple of her old friends whom I met during one of my visits to Vegas. Neither answer, so I leave messages. The storage unit will have to wait, but I can manage a few phone calls.
I put in another call to the county clerk in Vegas and request any records they might have regarding Drakos’s relinquishing of rights. I looked online but didn’t find anything. They promised to do some research and get back to me within a few days.
I’ve done what I can in the limited time I have. Gardenia and I go out to dinner with the boys one night and watch the Icehawks defeat Dallas in game one. I’ve been so busy, I didn’t notice my messages until the next day, one is from my sister’s best friend, Noni. I call her back immediately. Even though it’s late afternoon, she sounds groggy when she answers.
“Noni? I’m sorry, did I wake you?”
“It’s okay. I need to get out of bed.” She’s grouchy, and I wish I’d waited a few more hours to call.
“This is Aria, Anna’s sister.”
“I know. What do you need?” Noni isn’t exactly rude, but she’s not inviting, either.
I regret calling her, but it’s necessary. “I’ve stumbled upon a few inconsistencies, and I hope you can help me shed some light on my sister.”
“Inconsistencies?” She laughs as if I’m too stupid to live. “Your sister was full of them.”
“My parents and I believed she had a doctorate and worked as a professor and researcher at the university in Vegas.”
“I know that’s what she told you.”
“The university claims she never attended school or worked there.”
“And what’s your point?”
