28. Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Stephen
The next day, Owen calls me to meet him at the office, and I reluctantly go. Thankfully, we hadn’t cancelled my parents’ care yet, and a nurse showed up this morning to find out she was minding Ava and Landon instead of my parents. She seemed surprised but otherwise unbothered by the change.
I can’t really afford to pay for both the nursing care and my parents’ place in the assisted-living facility, so I’ll have to have an uncomfortable conversation with Ava later.
It stings to think about, given what she said to me the night I left Bellerive.
Maybe she’s decided she doesn’t actually care about any of that, but old habits die hard—for both of us.
Owen’s secretary shows me into his office, and I slide into the chair across from his desk, waiting for him again. We’re all stretched thin with how quickly the security company expanded, which is going to make my conversation with him tricky today too.
Ava—making my life better and thoroughly fucking it up all at once.
Just like old times. Because I have to admit, waking up to breakfast with her and Landon in the apartment was on par with the best Christmas morning of my life.
Soon, I’ll have to man up and ask her for a re do on the DNA test, but given that even laughing makes her chest hurt, I’m in no rush to upset her.
After our conversation the other night, I’m ninety-nine percent certain she has no idea that her mother might have forged the results, that questioning the results any harder than getting a second test never crossed her mind.
But everything I learned about Celia when I worked for her tells me she wouldn’t have hesitated to alter those results if they didn’t fall in the direction she wanted.
I just don’t know if she did. It may have taken her kids years to see all Celia’s true colors, but they’ve been bold and bright to me from the moment she plucked me out of the force to handle her dirty work.
“Sorry I’m late,” Owen says, storming into his office and sliding into his leather chair on the other side of the desk. “I was at the police station, and traffic was bad.”
“They still have the road closed from the accident?”
“Raul Santos still might die, so yeah,” Owen says. “His estate will come after the police if they fuck this up. I don’t need to tell you this, but it’s a big case for them. That man’s vindictive enough to have a clause in his will about suing for incompetence, even if he dies.”
“Ava’s under the impression he’s going to wake up at some point.”
Owen stares at me across the desk, and he raises his eyebrows. “Is she? And she still shacked up with you? She used to be a real firecracker; did you help her light that fuse again?”
“If he survives, she’s divorcing him.”
“Who’s her divorce lawyer?”
“Caitlin Smith,” I say with more confidence than I feel. Ava told her mother she’d ask for a divorce, but that’s another area I haven’t prodded with any intention. Part of me just wants to live in this in-between for a few days, where I have hope that Ava and Landon could be mine.
“She’d be better to get Jake Lockwood nailed down. Just returned to the island from some fancy family law practice in England. Guy’s a shark. Talk of Bellerive at the moment.”
“I’ll mention it to Ava, but Caitlin’s family.”
Owen takes a deep breath and releases it. “You sure about this? I’ll defend you and the choice you two are making. I don’t have a problem with that. But divorces with such extreme wealth are rarely smooth sailing, and if Raul makes a full recovery, you might have a nasty fight on your hands.”
“I understand that I’m taking a risk, and that risk isn’t just personal. If that means I have to take a step back from the company…” I swallow because that’s the last thing I actually want. “Either way, I need to make myself somewhat available to help with Landon and Ava’s care.”
“Why?” Owen asks. “The Tucker Trust would cover any medical necessities for Ava and Landon.”
I nod slowly. I do know that. Ava explained a lot about the trust to me while we were together, but I hate the idea of asking her to manage their care. It goes against every fiber of my being. “It’s important to me to take care of them in whatever way I can.”
“Must have been scary for all of you,” he says. “Could have so easily gone in the other direction.”
I swallow and nod again. That thought has also been at the forefront of my decisions.
Another reason I want to make the most of whatever time I can get with them.
Their accident is another warning that life and happiness aren’t guaranteed.
If anything had gone even a little differently that night, one or both of them might not be here.
“If you’re okay to keep our deal for the Bellerive division, even with the Ava situation, I’ll do my best to juggle the two commitments.”
Owen rocks in his chair and steeples his fingers in front of his chest. He’s impossible to read, so I just wait. The high-level military training he had after he left high school has made him an emotional fortress, probably without even trying.
“Honestly, we could use a little less work in Bellerive until we get our staffing solidified. If you’re okay with a bit less money, I’m fine with the risks we’re taking.”
“Yes,” I say more emphatically than I should. Less money is definitely not good for me, but no money would be horrendous.
“All right,” Owen says, laying his forearms on his desk.
“Now for why I called you here. The police have no confirmed culprits, but they’ve narrowed their focus to the union.
And…” He releases a deep sigh. “Your sister’s name was being thrown around at the station today.
I understand she played a big role in the union’s initial organization.
There are people at the station who believe there’s a high likelihood she was also involved in the car accident. ”
“Absolutely not,” I say with conviction, even though my insides are screaming that it is possible. “If we’re being completely candid, I did ask her after the accident if she was involved. She had an alibi. She was at a job interview in Rockdown.”
“At night?”
“I asked the same question, but it was a night-shift manager doing the interview.”
Owen’s lips twist, and he leans back again. “I shouldn’t even be giving you this head’s up, but if it was one of my brothers who might be involved, I’d want to know. Verify that alibi, and if it’s a lie, figure out how you feel about that. You either help her or you let her go down.”
My heart thuds at the idea of letting my sister go to jail, because that’s where she’ll end up. The island’s justice system has harsh penalties for murder, attempted murder, or even being convicted as an accessory to either. “She swore to me she had no part in it.”
“As we both know, when people are backed into a corner, they’ll say all kinds of things to save themselves.” Owen runs his hands along the armrests of his chair. “You need to be sure who you’re supporting and why you’re doing that.”
“Understood,” I say. Owen doesn’t seem to be passing judgment in either direction, which I appreciate, but fuck me, another complication. And just like the others, solving this one might actually make my life a whole lot worse.