I love him.
You should have known better.
I never wanted this to happen, but you left me no choice. You ruined everything.
“The man with the tattoo—The Octopus.” A cold tremor runs through me. My body recognizes the truth before my brain does. “I think the man I saw with my mom at the hotel was him.”
Chase’s hand tightens around mine, and when I look at him, his eyes tell me he’s already familiar with the name.
My brows pinch together.
Did Brax tell him?
I bury the thought for now and continue.
“Maybe my mother did send The Octopus. Maybe she stayed gone for years because she didn’t think I remembered him. And maybe whatever was in that package showed her I did, and she came to see for herself if she needed to be worried about me talking.”
I pause again.
“Her words from thirteen years ago,” I say as they rattle in my brain. “It almost sounds like she was protecting The Octopus.”
Brax releases a breath. “I think you’re right about that,” he admits. “I looked into your father’s death. The death certificate says Carlos Alvarez died in a car accident. A seizure caused him to crash into a tree.”
Air rushes out of my lungs in a strained exhale. “I always thought Roger just made it up to hurt me,” I whisper.
“There have always been rumors about The Octopus having people everywhere—judges, doctors, cops. Your dad’s case went through the proper channels. It looks clean but it’s fake.”
“You think The Octopus buried the truth?” I ask Brax.
“He has the reach. No document says Carlos Alvarez was shot. Why your mother pulled the trigger, I don’t know, but The Octopus controlled the narrative. Kept Clarissa Rose safe. My guess is because he loved her.”
“Butwhois he, Brax?” I whisper.
“That’s the million-dollar question. I’m sorry I don’t have more,” he says quietly, and I close my eyes, trying to vanquish the storm inside of me.
“So, that’s it?” I ask. “All cards are on the table?”
Brax isn’t looking at me. He’s looking at Chase.
There’s more.
Brax’s phone rings, and he excuses himself to answer it.
“Do you remember those words I told you to hold on to?” Chase asks.
“Yes.”
“Say them,” he says.
“‘It changes nothing between us,’” I whisper.
“You know we’ve been looking into what was going on with Elliot before he died,” Chase says.
I dip my head.
“The drugs we got rid of belonged to The Octopus. It’s possible Elliot and Laurel had some involvement with him. We’re just not sure on the specifics. That’s what we’ve been trying to find out.”
My lip wobbles.
