Clover’s once again forced to carry the weight of our history herself.
“If we’re right, and this is Terra, it means Vivi lied to me.” It’s a betrayal I wasn’t expecting, a pain I can’t process. Aunt Vivi lied to me. “Why would she do that?”
So many things flash across his features before he glances down, keeping me from reading what’s behind his eyes. When he finally lifts his gaze again, his expression is one of…resignation. “I honestly don’t know yet, but we will get the answers both you and Clover deserve, regardless of how much it may hurt to hear.” He pounds his chest with his fist. “On my life, I promise you that.”
I can see it now, the hurt hiding behind blue eyes that are an exact replica of his mother’s. If she betrayed me, what else was she hiding?
He harbors the same fears festering in me.
“We’re a team,” I tell him. “We’ve always been a team. This will be no different.”
“Always.” He nods in acknowledgment. Roman isn’t demonstrative, but the softness in his tone belies everything he won’t show.
“Are we making a mistake not involving the police or Grant’s contact at the FBI?” If I were running this case for anyone else, I would have already brought them in. “This person is able to getpast our defenses. They’re able to get ahead of Sterling’s tech. There’s no way they’re doing it alone.”
His sigh is heavy, as though he’s tired of carrying secrets, but he leans in. “Grant and Sterling are working as fast as they can on getting into Mom’s encrypted files—hopefully that leads to whoever is helping them. But there’s only one explanation for our mother’s behavior.”
“She was protecting something,” I say.
“Or someone. From what they’ve uncovered so far, we believe that Terra has knowledge of…something Mom went to great lengths to protect. And we all know there was only one thing in her life she would do anything to protect.”
“Her family.” They’ve been saying it from the beginning. Whatever Terra had over Vivi could hurt one or all of us.
He nods. “Until we know exactly what we’re working with, we need to keep it in-house. I know that’s not the answer you’re looking for, but?—”
“I get it.” I’d just feel so much more secure in this decision if I had any clue where to even start. It’s not as though Terra or Vivi saved their plans where we could find them. Not like?—
“The letters,” I say, scanning the room. “Where are they?”
Roman jerks his head toward the dining table. “Over there. I photographed everything at the compound before we pulled it down, but I knew you’d want the originals. I organized them by their postmarked dates as best I could.”
I move to the table on autopilot.
There they are.
Hundreds of them. Maybe thousands. All organized into neat stacks by year. It’s such a Roman thing to do, and knowing he did it for me settles some of the rage and fear swirling in my chest.
My hands shake as I pick up the first one.
The envelope is worn with age, the ink faded with time. The return address says Asher Springs, Virginia. I think that’s where she lived with the Danforth family. The letter in my hand is dated fourteen years ago, two weeks after the night everything went dark for me.
I sit down before my knees give out and open it carefully, as though it might disintegrate in my hands if I breathe too heavily.
With a final glance at Clover through the open doorway, I begin to read.
Dear Valen,
Miriam promised me you were safe. She said Aunt Vivi got you out and that you’re okay. I want to believe her. I have to believe her, but you’re not here. Where are you, Valen?
You promised.
You + Me = Forever.
I’m in a new place now. It’s fine though. My foster parents are nice, and they’re being gentle with me. They don’t get mad when they have to ask me to speak up four times in a row. They want to hear me, but I’m scared. There are no rules here. Not like ROS. I don’t know what to do, and I’m so scared of punishments. How can I avoid them if I don’t have rules to follow?
I wish you were here with me. I’m never scared when you’re with me.
The family has a dog named Barney. He sleeps on my bed even though he’s not supposed to. Mrs. Danforth says it’ll be our little secret, but I know what happens when you keep secrets.
