Guilt takes over. Zep was in Las Vegas to help me while Misty needed him here? “Is she okay? Is the baby?”
“Yes, but there’s a higher risk of her losing the baby now. And it’s risky for her, too.”
“Tucker, we can’t leave. What if she needs us? You’re the first person Zep called before—”
“He wants us to go,” he interrupts. “And when we’re back, we’re on-call. If anything happens, we’ll be on Bernie duty while they handle things. But he told us to take the trip.”
Why would he do that? He and his family need us. What could be so important?
“I don’t feel right about this.”
“Misty demanded it. As long as when we get back, you make her more of those cupcakes.”
“Are you—”
His lips crash against mine, and I melt against him. He hasn’t kissed me since I was taken, and I was worried he thought I might be broken. How I reacted still has me mortified, but he saved me. He just keeps saving me.
“Please?”
“How can I say no to that?” I ask with a giggle. “We’re really going without anything packed?”
He nods. “We have to drive the bike to get the car, so I don’t have room for a suitcase, anyway. But we’ll figure it out.”
“We always do.”
Driving to Las Vegas was the last thing I expected. And being brought to a cemetery was even less expected.
“Tucker, what are we doing here?” I ask, holding his hand as he walks with purpose.
“I need you to meet someone,”he says.
I don’t have to read Joanna’s name when I see her picture. She was beautiful. And the opposite of me. Even though it’s etched in granite, I can tell. It’s no wonder Tucker loved her so much.
“Hey, Jo. I need you to meet someone. This is Phoebe. The woman who helped me find my heart again after I thought it was long dead.”
I expect sadness in his tone. Maybe longing. Instead, there’s pride.
“Hi, Joanna. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“What you don’t know—whatIdidn’t know until yesterday—was that Joanna only started dating me to help her father kill me.”
My jaw drops, and I turn to study Tucker. He’s serious. And doesn’t look that upset. “What?”
“Yep. Our love started on a lie. She fell in love, though, but things make sense now. What I thought was fate was just strategy by her father. The intense love and passion was a game. Until she screwed up and fell in love with me, too.”
“Tucker, are you sure?”
He nods and gives me a sad smile. “I’m sure. When I realized I loved you, I thought it was Joanna who brought you to me, but I don’t believe that anymore. But I know she would want me to be happy.”
What the hell happened in the hours we were apart? “You’re not angry?”
“I was. I was really pissed, but I understand it. Even though I’d never do it to her, she tried to change things. Her death was ordered, and that’s why we couldn’t get revenge on my father.”
It sounds like some elaborate game, and it hurts my heart. He spent so much time mourning the loss of his love, and knowing it was all just a ploy from her father can’t feel good.
“I wanted her to meet you. This is the last time I plan to come to visit her. Yesterday, I let Joanna go. For good.”
“Tucker, you don’t have to do—”
