“Everyone is happy, and I want to keep it that way. None of you want to get pulled into this shit.”
“Your happiness matters too, Drew.” She squeezes my hand before leaning back against her husband.
Charlie is quiet, studying me with knowing eyes.
“I think you’ll be happier if you tell everyone what’s going on,” Demi adds. “You have protected and supported us for years. Let us do that for you now.”
ChapterEighteen
Drew
I’m still mulling over Demi’s words as I drive to Moonlight to pick Vera up for our graveside visit. It will be Vera’s first time seeing her sister’s final resting place. I ran it past Felicity and Selena after Vera asked me on Friday, only agreeing after they endorsed the request.
I punch the button to call Ezra while I drive. “Did you run that check on Athena Lewis again?” I ask the instant he picks up.
“Yep. I don’t know what you want me to tell you. I didn’t detect anything out of the ordinary.”
“My gut is telling me she’s up to something.”
“Then I think your solution is obvious.”
I groan, knowing what he’s going to say next.
“Fire Genesis Marketing and hire Athena’s company. Put her right under your nose where you can see exactly what she’s doing.”
“She’ll fucking gloat,” I grit out as I take the next exit off the highway.
Ezra barks out a laugh. “You’d do the same in her shoes.”
“Yeah, and I know you’re right, but even pretending I was in the wrong pains me.”
“You’ve got issues, dude.”
He doesn’t know the half of it. “Did you get any more leads from the surveillance tapes?” I ask.
“There really is nothing to go on. Whatever vehicle he used was out of the range of the cameras, and the footage we do have is blurry. The weather was not our ally that night.”
“I don’t understand how this could happen. I’m always careful, and no one has ever come sniffing around the hotel before.”
“You did say you thought someone was following you a couple of weeks ago. My guess is you are right and whoever this person is trailed you there.”
“Why now?”
“Maybe you’re getting too warm.”
“Perhaps. I’ve got to go. Keep me updated.”
I hang up and call Charlie. High-pitched crying greets my ears as he answers.
“Bad time?” I ask.
“Give me one sec,” he says, and I listen to the sound of his footsteps as the noise grows more distant in the background. A door closes, and there is blissful silence. “You still there?”
“Yeah. Sounds like a warzone there.” I chuckle.
“You’re not far off the mark. Abby is here with the kids, and she has Darcy in tow because Zayn and Emery have their first ultrasound today.”
Little Anderson’s wife is expecting their second child. Something they only announced a couple weeks ago. Emery is due in mid-April, and my mom is over the moon. In every way that counts, she’s a mother to the Anderson brothers, and two-year-old Darcy already calls her Gramma. It’s sweet, and I’m happy for Mom. She’s always at her best when surrounded by her grandkids.
