Page 90 of Billionaire's Coastal Haven

“I promise.”

Archer squares his shoulders. “Our grandfather didn’t bankrupt our family. We’re billionaires, same as you. Just in hiding.”

Zoe gasps. I bite my tongue.

That isn’t what I expected him to say. Their financial team must be fantastic. Even with all my resources, all my digging, I never uncovered a hint that the Reeves family is anything but the men they seem to be. “Why hide your wealth?”

“For safety. Thomas made a lot of enemies. Grandpa Emmett thought if he didn’t have any assets, there would be no reason to come after our family.”

“Okay, but that doesn’t apply anymore. No one wants to hurt you,” Zoe says.

“Dad disappeared with our baby sister almost twenty years ago, but that’s all we know.” Archer taps the top of one of the empty bottles. “He believedSiren’s Callcursed our family. Was obsessed. Everyone says Dad kidnapped Katarina and ran away, but what if their disappearance doesn’t have anything to do with a curse, but was a generations-old vendetta? What if we tell everyone we’ve lied to them for seventy-five years and someone attacks our mom?”

“Maybe…if we find the shipwreck, hopefully we can figure out what happened to Dad and our sister.” Collin lifts the manifest. “These can help us.”

“We’ll help you find your family.” Zoe takes my hand. “We’ll solve this mystery and put your family back together.”

And save Rainwater Bay in the process.

Starting with getting rid of Lucky.

Chapter 24

Zoe

This week has been a tornado.

Between Lucky’s coup, Dad’s panic attack, me being fired, and the whirlwind that is my relationship with Landon,Siren’s Callfeels like another nail in the coffin of who I used to be.

Dad’s coming home from the hospital today. As I sit in Pine Ridge Medical Center’s parking lot staring at the rectangular façade, the conversation I hope to have with Dad races through my mind.

For too long I’ve been hisBaby Girl.

But I can’t be that girl anymore.

I’m a grown woman.

I’m in love.

I need to choose the future I want, not the one Dad decided for me before I was born.

I toss my phone and my car keys in my purse, step out of my car, and head inside. Dad sits in the hospital bed in his room staring out the window when I arrive.

“I brought you clothes.”

A soft smile pinches the corner of his weathered cheek. “Thanks, Baby Girl.”

Pleasantries press against the back of my throat.How are you feeling? Can I get you some water? Did you eat breakfast? What do you want for dinner?

But if we start with pleasantries, I’ll never say what I need to say.

“Please don’t call meBaby Girlanymore.”

He flinches at the conviction in my voice. It’s not a temperament he’s used to from me. Amenable, accommodating, a servant to my friends and family. Those are the words he uses to describe me.

But that’s not who I am anymore. Not entirely, at least. I will always be here to help him, but I can’t put my life on hold because of his unwillingness move on.

“You’ll always be my Baby Girl. No changing that.”