Chapter Twenty
Present Day
Panic was what chased Isla awake the following morning in an unfamiliar room with all its piped-in hotel-fragrance scents. She’d slept a fitful sleep full of memories she hadn’t wanted to think about.
It took a moment for her mind to get itself in order and begin to recognize where she was. The Corrigan estate. She nodded, confirming this was correct. The next thought was why she was there. To infiltrate this family in order to find Eden.
Eden.
The revelation slammed into her as if she’d been punched in the chest. She even placed her hand over her rib cage to help steady the heart that was rapidly beating harder and faster.
Their Edie Corrigan—the elusive sister who was supposedly living abroad, practically banned from being mentioned by the family—was her Eden Galloway.
Her best friend. The friend she’d mourned all these years.
The one who’d vanished into the dark that night after telling her to hang tight and that she’d be back. Only, she never did come back.
All Isla wanted to do was get away from this place and regroup.
Go back to the tiny motel where life wasn’t like living under a microscope.
A place she controlled. She had to go now.
She’d think of another way in when she was in her space, but for now, she needed out.
She lurched out of bed and searched for her clothes.
She found them on the bench at the end of the bed, folded and placed beside a white retail bag from a high-end store. In the bag was a fresh set of clothes.
Isla shot up on full alert, searching for danger and where the person still lurked.
She stepped away from the bench as if there was an improvised explosive device in it about to go off.
When it didn’t, she paced the floor, nibbling on a nail, deep in thought.
When exactly had the bag materialized and the clothes, which she’d thrown carelessly all over the floor as she’d rushed into the room after Eden’s true identity blew up her world, been folded nice and neat?
Alarmed, she looked at the door. Someone had been in her room while she slept.
She put her hand over her mouth at the realization that she hadn’t even realized when she was not alone.
She went to the door and turned the handle.
It was locked. Then how? She couldn’t remember locking it when she’d returned and apparently slept the sleep of the dead.
Despite her unease, Isla manage to shower and dress in the new clothes that happened to be her size.
After placing her old clothes in the bag, she left the guest room.
She checked Holland’s room and found it empty, so she went ahead downstairs, nodding at the various staff who passed her along the way.
She reached where the double stairs connected and was once again in the presence of that majestic family portrait that had a whole new meaning for her now.
Before, it had held intrigue and allure.
Now Isla felt it held terrible secrets and maybe monsters behind the glamour of the perfect family.
The secret of why one of the members wasn’t in the portrait, glaring down at her like the others.
Erased as if she didn’t exist anywhere except Victor’s study.
One of the house staff happened to be passing as Isla took the last step, and Isla asked where she could find a ride back to town.
When the young woman gave Isla an annoyed look for being interrupted, Isla nearly called her on it but checked herself.
The regular Isla would have given the girl a taste of her own medicine, but she was not supposed to be regular Isla.
She was a guest and had better stay in character at all times, like Rey had repeatedly drilled into her.
“I apologize for interrupting whatever you were on your way to do. It was my first night here, and I’m feeling a little out of place and not sure how to get back home, Mandy.
” She read the gold-plated name badge. “I’m hoping you could help me?
” she asked, hoping friendliness would encourage their helpfulness.
Mandy or any one of them could come in handy.
Besides, one of Isla’s past jobs had been a brief stint in hotel housekeeping, a thankless job that overworked and underpaid.
Working here was probably a better gig if you learned the ways of the family quickly.
Isla wagered Mandy and the rest of the house staff knew more about the individual Corrigans than the actual family knew.
She’d become their friends if she could.
The house staff would know everything if they could be made to talk.
A blush spread across the sprinkle of freckles on the young woman’s face.
She was dressed in fitted navy slacks and a matching top.
Dark attire similar to that of waitstaff, to blend into the background, not seen, not heard.
She looked around nervously, as if checking to see if anyone was around to catch her blatant frustration toward a guest. Then she dropped her eyes demurely in apology for her initial reaction.
Isla could understand. Mandy was probably on a directive, and Isla was unknowingly delaying her progress. She nodded, answering Isla’s question.
“Is anyone up yet? Holland, maybe?” Isla didn’t care to run into anyone else if she could avoid it.
“Yes, ma’am—”
That word again. She was only twenty-six. She wasn’t nearly a ma’am yet. But Isla couldn’t fault the staff for doing what they were trained to do.
“—Miss Holland is in the breakfast veranda with her brothers.”
“Oh.” Isla’s hope for a quick getaway fizzled.
The way she was feeling, she didn’t think she could put up a front for much longer, not after last night.
Rey had warned that pretending would be hard.
She’d thought she could handle it. It was all to find out what had happened to Eden, but learning Eden’s true identity had been too much.
“They’re waiting for you there. Just go down this hall halfway and make a left. Would you like me to . . .” She looked at Isla expectantly.
Isla shook her head quickly. “No, I can find my way. Thanks.”
But Mandy was already gone after another quick nod, on her way without insisting she take Isla there. Anyone else might have been offended at Mandy’s hasty getaway. Not Isla.
Holland was waiting near the kitchen in the breakfast veranda, where delicious smells of cooked sausage, bacon, and eggs wafted to Isla’s nose.
Her stomach growled aggressively, and she slammed a hand over it to stifle its noise.
Luckily, the kitchen sounds and various other chatter ensured that no one but Isla heard her stomach betray her.
Holland looked distracted from the usual lighthearted self that she’d shown Isla so far.
She was probably still upset over her late-night argument with her father, Isla thought.
Remembering the conversation herself and the connection she now shared with the Corrigans twisted the screw already lodged firmly in her chest. Holland wore her fencing training gear, with the suspenders of her fencing pants hanging down at her sides, the corners of her mouth turned down. She was fidgeting with her foil mask.
“Morning,” Isla greeted her, forcing cheeriness when she felt anything but. “I was hoping to get a ride back to town. Can I call a rideshare or taxi? I’ve got some things I need to take care of.”
Holland asked, “Why so soon? Did something happen? Or someone?” She sent a suspicious glare at her brother Bennett, the one Isla hadn’t officially met yet. He was too busy taking Isla in to notice his sister’s accusatory gaze right away and did a double take when he caught Holland’s eye.
“Why are you looking at me?”
“Because I know you,” Holland said accusingly.
He held his hands up to proclaim his innocence. “This is the first time I’ve seen her. I just got in this morning.”
Holland said, “What’s wrong?”
Isla wavered. “I woke up to a message this morning saying I was let go from my job. It was probationary, and I missed a job last night, so they don’t need my services anymore.
” Just the way she and Rey had intended.
“I wasn’t even scheduled to work last night, but oh well.
I need to figure out what I’m going to do. ”
“Oh no.” Holland was genuinely upset. She’d never have to know the joy and pain of getting and losing a job.
“Care for breakfast, Miss Isla?” one of the kitchen staff asked. Isla jumped. She’d materialized from nowhere at Isla’s side. This lady was older and didn’t bother calling her ma’am, which Isla was happy about. She gave Isla a reassuring smile, which made Isla hate herself more for her lie.