I’d gotten better at impulse control over the years, but when it came to Shannon, I was weaker. Some part of me needed her to know that I wanted her back. That I was serious about it, more serious than I’d ever been about anything.
I’d just checked on Zara when I walked out and immediately sensed tension. Elias, Roan, Kami, and Angus were all staring at my father. My aunt and uncle were there, too, plus Shannon, who was eyeing the gathering and worrying her lip in concern.
Okay, something had clearly happened.
“I can’t believe this,” Angus said, jaw ticking.
“What have you been up to, brother?” Uncle Jack demanded.
“Listen, when you’re looking into something like this, you need to explore every angle, even the ones that are unpleasant,” Dad said, and I stepped forward.
“What’s going on?”
“Your dad has been investigating us as possible catfishes,” Kami explained, motioning between herself, Angus, Elias, and Roan.
Ah, hell. I’d been hoping none of them would ever find out about that. In fact, I’d tried convincing Dad to rule them out, but there’d been no talking to him. My gaze met Shannon’s, and her brown eyes were etched with worry. She’d known what Dad wasdoing, too, but like me, she probably hadn’t suspected it would come out like this. How exactly had they all found out?
“You knew, didn’t you,” Roan accused, noting my lack of shock. Guilt swept in. Of everyone present, he and Angus looked the most upset.
“I tried to talk him out of it.” Even as I said the words, they sounded weak. Perhaps like my dad, I’d subconsciously wondered if the catfish was someone close to me. Someone who knew things the public didn’t.
“Hey, is that why you suggested I get the band together for that street gig yesterday?” Elias questioned, frowning at Dad. “I knew there was something odd about that.”
Dad didn’t look nearly as apologetic as he should. “Yeah, it was a shot in the dark, I’ll admit. I had Alison message the catfish to say she was going to be there in the crowd. I thought maybe I could lure them out, and they’d turn up and try to approach her or at least be watching her. And if it were one of you, you’d have spotted her there and perhaps displayed a tell, messed up a song maybe.”
“And did we?” Kami demanded, starting to look at the others like one of them could be guilty. This was the problem with these kinds of suspicions, it made everyone paranoid.
Dad shook his head. “No.”
“Did anyone else show up in the crowd?” I asked. “Was anyone watching Alison?”
He seemed uncharacteristically deflated. “That would also be a no.”
“So, it was all for nothing,” Elias griped. “Wonderful.”
“There’s more, though,” Roan said quietly and everyone turned his way. “He was testing us earlier with the emails.”
“What the hell?” Uncle Jack growled, staring at Dad accusingly.
Roan stepped forward and put his hand on Shannon’s shoulder. “Shannon figured it out.” He shot her a small, affectionate smile. “I overheard her confronting Uncle Jay. That’s how I found out.” Okay, so that was how they knew. Also, I loved Roan, but I did not enjoy him smiling at Shannon like that, nor did I like him touching her.
Swallowing down the thick lump of jealousy, I asked, “What emails?”
“The ones with the tickets for Jay’s show,” Shannon explained softly.
“I saw Oliver Junior,” Dad said, looking to Uncle Jack. “He was in town on business, so I asked him to do a little tracking for me. The catfish sent Alison money through his crypto exchange. He was able to locate the wallet but not the identity of the owner. Whoever they are, they’re extremely tech savvy.”
“I wonder who matchesthatdescription,” Angus muttered, gazing narrowly at Shannon. “And who also just conveniently figured out what Jay was doing.”
“Don’t you dare,” I said. “I know you’re upset right now, but don’t you fucking dare start in on Shannon.”
Shannon’s eyes flicked up at me for a fraction of a second, and for that heartbeat, she gave me a tiny, grateful smile before looking away again. My jaw clenched. How fucking dare Angus make her feel cornered? I knew he was mad, but laying his frustrations on Shannon was completely uncalled for. She was innocent in all of this.
“So, you’re fine with us being suspects but not her?”
“No, I’m not fine with any of this, but—”
“Listen to me,” Dad interrupted. “You can all quit finger pointing because you’re in the clear.”
