The pieces start falling into place, forming a picture so dangerous, so fraught with peril, it makes my heart race.“So you have the evidence my dad needs?”
“Yes.”One small word, but it carries a powerful load I can’t decipher.“I can’t hand it over to Charlie yet. Not until I find a way to keep Aalyiah’s brother out of this mess. If I don’t, I’ll lose her. But Rhett will surely figure out there’s a rat in his ranks soon. He’s already suspicious.”
My thoughts whirl, trying to grasp the magnitude of his predicament.“That’s... it’s...”
“A fucking shitshow,”he finishes for me.“I know. It’s a no-win situation. I’m trapped, Hailey. And so are you.”
“No. There must be a way out. Maybe I can talk to my dad, explain the situation—”
“No! You can’t. Not yet. Not until I have Aalyiah somewhere safe, away from—”Alex trails off, then shakes his head.“Charlie won’t care about her. It’s too risky.”
Frustration gets the better of me, mixing with fear and helplessness to create a potent mix.“So what will you do?”
He doesn’t answer immediately, his gaze somewhere in the distance.“I don’t know,”he finally murmurs.“But whatever Ido, I have to do it soon. Rhett’s not someone you play games with.”Heaving a pained grunt, he sits up, then hauls himself off the couch.“Can you make me a cup of strong coffee? I need to sober up.”
In his usual fashion, he dismisses the conversation, heading down the hallway. The bathroom door closes behind him a moment later, sending my thoughts on a rollercoaster ride until one idea stamps down the rest.
I dart to the couch and rifle through his jacket pockets, searching both sides at once for his phone.
I find two.
Of course he has two.
That’s why I never found any texts between him and his other girl. There was nothing on the cell he sometimes carelessly left in my bedroom, save for a few clipped messages to me and my father.
With trembling hands, my pulse pounding in my ears, I unlock the other phone. It’s the same passcode. My breath flattens out before the phone unlocks and then catches in my throat when a gorgeous brunette smiles from the screen. She lays in a tangle of white sheets, sporting Alex’s hoodie. Her hair’s disheveled, pink lips swollen, glossy eyes looking straight at the camera, the glee painting her face so genuine it’s blinding.
I’ve never seen anyone look so happy. So carefree.
No wonder Alex fell in love with her. She’s the embodiment of everything he values in a woman: young, perfect, girly, delicate, happy... my exact opposite.
Alex flushes the toilet and the sound sets my heart rate soaring. Tears sting my eyes when I open the contact list and find one phone number there:Baby Girl.
Water starts running in the sink.
I have less than twenty seconds before he comes back and I desperately need Aalyiah’s number. Whipping my phone out ofmy pocket, I snatch a picture of the screen, then quickly close everything down and shove Alex’s phone back where it was.
I dart across the room, so scared he’ll realize what I’ve done that my jelly-like legs barely carry my weight. The door to the bathroom opens just as I slump into the armchair and push my phone between the seat and the armrest.
“I better get going,”Alex says. He sounds tired, resigned. Like he doesn’t have much hope left. The longer he’s working on the case, the worse he looks.“Don’t tell Charlie about any of this.”
“I made your favorite pie,”I whisper.
This once, I want him gone, but if I make no attempt to keep him here, he’ll wonder what’s wrong.
“Don’t start, Hailey,”he huffs, shimmying into his jacket.
“You shouldn’t drive... you wanted coffee.”
“I’m fine. Cold water did the trick.”The usual bounce to his step returns with every step toward the door.
I stop pleading when he rounds the corner, his footsteps echoing down the hallway until the front door closes behind him.
I’m alone.
My heart rams in my chest like a caged bird once I grab my phone but I can’t see Aalyiah’s number through the tears spilling down my cheeks. I shut my eyes tight, breathing on the count of four.
A cool breeze breaches the room, making me shudder and my insides twist so hard I feel sick.
