“Um, what?”
“Yeah. Milo dug up some interesting emails between her and Remington. There’s enough of a trail to show that your father’s death wasn’t an accident.”
My blood runs cold. Dad died in a car accident. His BMW ran off the road late one night, while he was on his way home from a meeting. It hit a tree and burst into flames. The cops said he must have died on impact, but the thought of him burning to death still haunts me.
“The cops re-opened the case and the DA decided there was enough evidence to charge her with first-degree murder.”
I shove my chair back and stand. “I need some air.” The kitchen is too hot. Too stifling. If I don’t get out of here, I might pass out.
Nobody stops me from leaving, and a few moments later, I’m on the terrace. The gardens stretch out as far as the eye can see. Acres of verdant greenery, lush despite the heat.
I’d always suspected Dad’s death wasn’t an accident, but I didn’t have any proof. Besides, who would have believed me? The cops wouldn’t have listened to any wild accusations I made against the stepmother I so clearly hated.
They’d have dismissed me in a heartbeat.
Once the initial shock of his passing faded, I tried not to think about him. It was easier that way. And thenthe bitchtold me I was being married off to a man I didn’t know.
Although, it turned out we’d met before. I just hadn’t remembered.
I sink down onto a chair and pull my knees up to my chest. The day is hot and sticky, but under the shade of the gazebo, it’s a little cooler.
The door behind me slides open and Coco pads out, followed by Luka.
He pulls up an adjacent chair. “I’m sorry for your loss,” he says eventually.
“It’s been years now,” I point out.
“Doesn’t make it any easier. I still miss my mom.” He never talks about her, so my ears prick up.
“What happened?”
“She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when I was seventeen. It happened really fast. One minute she was well and the next she was dead.” He picks at a loose thread on the chair cushion. “That was when I approached Lorenzo. We needed money, and I knew he had plenty of it. The oncologist said there was a drug trial she might have benefited from. It could have prolonged her life. But he refused to help. Said it wasn’t his problem.”
“I’m so sorry.” My hand reaches out and takes his. We sit side by side for a bit, neither of us talking. There’s no need for words. Lorenzo is dead now, and I’m glad. I just hope there are no repercussions. Orange doesn’t suit my skin tone.
“Thank you for what you did.”
Luka’s soft words cut through my thoughts, and I turn to face him.
“You don’t need to thank me, Luka. What he said was awful. Nobody deserves a father like that. I hope he’s burning in hell right now.”
“Me too.”
“What are we doing with his ashes?” I stare at the box on the kitchen table.
Angelo shrugs. “No idea, but I’m open to suggestions.”
“Toss them in the trash?” Luka offers.
“Flush them down the toilet?”
Nothing would please me more than to think of Lorenzo’s remains ending up in a sewer. The man deserves nothing less.
“I forgot to add cat litter to the shopping list,” I say after a moment of thought.
Kane barks out a laugh while even Angelo cracks a smile.
“Guess we won’t need some for a few days then,” he says. Fina nods in agreement. We all watch as she picks up the box of her father’s remains and disappears into the utility room where we keep a litter tray for Felix so he doesn’t have any accidents.
