Her father had finally cut her off, and she’d lost it.
She’d been paying a private investigator to help her, and when her funds dried up, so did her way to fix it.
When Boston had gone missing, she’d freaked.
But, her overprotectiveness had proven warranted, and the small tracker she’d placed in the bottom of all of Boston’s shoes had become useful.
She’d traced Boston here.
To her brother.
And to her salvation.
Twenty-Two
I see what the problem is here. I’m speaking in English, and you’re listening in Dumbass.
—Weaver’s secret thoughts
Weaver
I listened, hearing a constant pound in my chest, as my sister described her years of hell.
When she was through, her tears finally dried up, face drawn, I couldn’t stop myself from picking her up and curling her into my arms.
“I’m so sorry, Winnie. I’m so sorry. I tried so hard, and I couldn’t see a way out.”
“Why didn’t you go to the police?” I asked.
“I tried,” she admitted. “More than once. I went to the local police. And when they couldn’t help me—more like refused to help me—I went to the state police. Then when they said it was outside of their jurisdiction, I went to the FBI. They refused to help. That’s when I started paying the private investigator.”
“I got everything that’s listed in the PI’s notes,” Apollo said into the ensuing silence. “And let’s just say, for the amount of money you paid him over the years, he should have way more than this. It’s like he’s only doing this as a side quest when he’s not busy doing something else.”
“I’ve often thought that myself,” she admitted. “But he’s the first one that would actually work with me. All the others I went to said no. Sonny Gibbons’ reach is just too far.”
“Why didn’t you come to me?” I asked.
She pulled away and hastily wiped at her eyes, then cupped my cheek with both of her hands before saying, “And you would’ve done what? Been scared and frustrated from inside of the jail cell that I put you in? Winnie, I tried. I really did. I wrote you so many letters. But I couldn’t send them. Because what would that have accomplished? I didn’t know that you knew the kind of people that could break you out of prison, though.”
“Speaking of.” Apollo frowned. “How did you get here? I’ve been watching your activities for a year now.”
“Learning how to hide my movements became necessary when Sonny…” she trailed off. “I stole a car.”
“You what?” I barked.
Pippa looked sheepish for a long moment. “It was the only way.”
“Jesus.” I chuckled. “Straightlaced big sis stealing cars.”
“I’m a half a minute older than you,” Pippa pointed out, swiping once again at her eyes. “I’ve done a lot of stuff I’m not proud of since Stanton died, Winnie. I’ve turned into someone he wouldn’t even recognize. Hell, my mom and dad hate me. Boston can’t stand to be around me. You…the way you looked at me that day in the courtroom when I gave my testimony? I’ll never, not ever, get that look of betrayal out of my head.”
I squeezed her shoulder. “I may not exactly like how it went down, Pip, but I sure the fuck can’t blame you for protecting my kid the only way you knew how.”
She leaned her head on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”
A voice cleared.
I looked up to see Black looking our way.
