I can’t help the smile that spreads as I head into the bathroom, turn on the shower, and quickly strip.
After a swift shower, I join the others in the kitchen. “Morning,” I murmur.
Joshua pulls me close, kissing my temple. “You look beautiful.”
I feel my cheeks heat up with a blush. “Thank you.”
I still don’t feel beautiful, but I might be starting to believe that he thinks I am, and it’s a heady feeling.
“True. A beautiful, blushing little tomato,” Clay teases from the other side of the kitchen island, earning him a middle finger from me.
“Lina, can we talk?” Sophia’s voice carries a hint of seriousness, causing a knot of unease in my stomach.
“Of course. What’s up?” I ask.
Is she going to tell me I must pack my things and Chiara and I need to leave her house so it’s no longer drowning in chaos?
She glances around the table, taking a deep breath. “Would it be okay if I share the information with everyone? It’s about your parents’ case.”
Well, that sure as fuck wasn’t what I expected.
Clay’s eyes narrow in confusion. “There’s a case? I thought it was an accident.”
“You can tell them everything.” I nod, wringing my hands.
I would have told them someday, anyway. I was just too chicken to do it yet. I hope this doesn’t change anything between us. I mean, Clay and Josh are cops. If they believe the file and think my parents were drug addicts, would it bother them? Would they see me differently?
I look over at Josh, who has worry in his eyes but a reassuring smile on his lips.
They won’t,I tell myself.
They already know so much about me, and I feel like a part of this family now. It’s time they knew the whole story.
“Carolina’s and Chiara’s parents died in a car crash,” Sophia starts. “The police report states the accident happened because they were high on heroin.”
Joshua gently tucks a strand of hair behind my ear while Clay nearly chokes on his bagel in surprise.
Xander’s gaze is intense as he looks at me. “But that’s not what happened, is it?” he asks, and I shake my head.
Sophia takes a moment, sipping her tea before continuing. “Five years ago, when it happened, Carolina insisted that her parents never touched drugs. But no one listened to her. We requested the file two weeks ago, specifically the toxicology report. It did indicate a high concentration of heroin in their system. However, the levels were so high that it would’ve been impossible for anyone to even drive a car. Not to mention that the blood in the report is the wrong type.”
Joshua squeezes my hand. “You think the case was tampered with?”
I nod, waiting for Sophia to continue to the part I don’t know.
“We both suspect it,” Sophia adds. “There was other stuff that was suspicious, but I couldn’t look further into it because they took the file away from us again.”
“Who took it?” Clay asks, his brow furrowing.
“The detective who originally handled the case,” I murmur, hating that it all connects back to the Del Moros.
Clay’s eyes narrow as he asks, “Who was that?”
Sophia and I exchange a glance before she says, “Del Moro senior.”
Joshua jumps up from his stool, clearly irritated. “Is that why his son has it out for you?”
“Possibly, but I don’t know. I don’t know what happened. All I know for certain is that my parents weren’t doing drugs. Everything else is a mystery to me too. But his father having a fall out with my uncle and him starting to bully me happened shortly after my parents had the crash.”
