“But I’m a clown like Massio, Dec. You know I am.”
“Yes, but the object of your obsession loves you back. And that changes everything. Don’t you see? You will have a family. All you have to do is accept that she loves you back. You are lovable, Connor. You really are. Mother was wrong about you.”
“Was she?”
“Yeah.”
“Hm. What’s in it for you?”
Declan chuckles. “Dina wants Renne at the wedding. She wants you to win her back. But that’s not why I’m here. It’s a part of it, but you know I would never ask you to chase after someone I didn’t think was good for you.”
“You want me to bring her back?”
“Con, you haven’t showered in days, and you have facial hair. You can’t eat. You stare at the monitors all day long. I think you should ask her if she wants to attend the wedding. Maybe she will.”
“She’s scared.”
There’s a knock on the door, and Cass pokes his head in. “Update. Daniel has been located. He’s hiding in prison. I’mgoing there in about half an hour. Endo wants to know if either of you wants to come with me.”
“No,” Dec and I say in unison.
He looks from me to Dec. We don’t do goodbyes.
“Take care of yourself,” Dec says.
“I’ll find a way to watch over you,” I tell him.
Cass nods and closes the door.
Silence speaks volumes. We’re worried that Cass’s quest for revenge might be the end of him.
“Now that he’s not coming to the wedding, you know what to do.”
Chapter 31
Renne
When I lived in Selnoa, I was under a lot of stress.
But at the time I didn’t realize just how much the stress damaged me as a person until I had an opportunity to recover and have an average, normal life. And by normal, I mean having a stable source of income that covers the expenses of the kind of life most people either have or want to live.
Sure, there are people like the owner of this exclusive resort island, whom I met briefly when I first arrived here (and would not want to meet again), who aim high and achieve everything they want. But I’m not one of them. Not even by a long shot.
The townhome I live in has a beach view from the master bedroom window. The hospital where I work has day care. And night care, for that matter. It’s absolute heaven, and I am so grateful to have been placed on this island and spared from the trial, as well as from certain death at the hands of Cassian Macarley. Or from his brother, Endo, if Cassian couldn’t do it.
On the island, I’ve met some very nice and interesting people. I’m safe, even though the streets aren’t patrolled. In fact,I’m unsure if there are police here at all. Probably no need for them since the island’s owner scares the criminals away.
It was Hanna’s birthday today. Or it is still, if you count the evening. As agreed, Connor picked her up from day care the moment I dropped her off before my shift. I thought he would come after day care, but the staff called me to ask if Hanna’s dad could pick her up.
I didn’t correct their assumption that Connor was Hanna’s father before authorizing the pickup. I promised him he could spend her birthdays with her.
It’s nine o’clock at night, and he hasn’t returned her yet, so I worry my lip while sitting on my doorstep waiting for him to pull up.
Ten more minutes go by.
I pace the front steps, then walk to my small garden in the front, smell the roses, and touch the grass. It does nothing to calm my worries. But it doesn’t have to, because a black SUV with tinted windows finally pulls up. The back window rolls down, and I see my baby sleeping in the car seat.
When nobody gets out of the car, I take my cue.
