Page 140 of A Dangerous Proposal

“Start with the bloggers.” Alex crossed his arms, his mind racing. His voice dropped, colder now. “And while you’re at it, dig up everything you can on Opal Amherst’s death—autopsy reports, witness statements, police files. I want to know what she was doing in the weeks before she died. See if there’s any connection to Armstrong or Felix. Places they could have met, run into each other… anything.”

Liev’s eyes darted to Madison.

“I think my sister may have been trying to blackmail either the Senator or Felix, and that’s what got her killed.”

His eyes widened. “You don’t think it was an overdose?”

Madison shifted, her fingers twisting together. “Opal had been in a good mood before she died. She talked about giving Jax a better life. She was happy. It didn’t make sense she would relapse.” Her shoulders rose in a sad shrug. “But I honestly don’t know.”

“If she was blackmailing him, I want proof. I want to know what she had on him and how far it went,” Alex added.

Liev nodded. “I’ll start with the official records and see what I can track down.”

Madison took a breath. “I’ll check her personal things again. There might be a few boxes left at my parents’ house. I’ll go there tomorrow. They’ve been asking to see Jax, so I’ll let them watch him while I go to the storage unit.”

Alex frowned. “Not alone.”

“I’ll be fine. My parents will have Jax, and I’ll go directly to the storage unit and back. It shouldn’t take more than an hour. I’ve been through the stuff there before, but I didn’t go through the pockets. I might have missed something.”

“Ask Angela to go with you. She can stay with Jax at your parents while you’re gone.”

“My parents aren’t the greatest, but Jax will be safe with them. They wouldn’t do anything to hurt him.” Her smile was wry when she added. “They can’t really emotionally manipulate him in an hour, and that’s their weapon of choice.”

Chapter Forty-Two

The French Colonial house looked the same as it always had, white shutters, glossy black door and not a weed in sight. From the outside, it seemed like the perfect family home. Madison knew better.

She tightened her grip on Jax’s hand as he slowly climbed the front steps, balancing a diaper bag on her other shoulder. The familiar knot tightened in her chest. This house had never been a home for her.

She’d left home before Opal and her parents had moved there, but any trace of the warmth it may have once held disappeared after her parents kicked Opal out. Part of Madison didn’t blame them, Opal wasn’t easy, but there was another part that always would—the part that also blamed herself.

Her mother must have been watching for her, which was unusual, because the door swung open before she could knock. Her bright smile was a tad too forced to be believed. Madison’s eyes ran over her mother’s tailored slacks and crisp blouse, every blonde hair perfectly in place, as if she were expecting a lady’s luncheon rather than her daughter and grandson.

That white blouse is toast.

“Madison.” Her mother’s eyes swept over her, the slightest bit of disapproval pinching her lips as she took in Madison’s leggings before settling on Jax. “Oh, and there’s my darling grandson. Come in, come in.”

Madison stepped inside, the faint scent of her mother’s favorite lavender air-freshener hitting her nose. Glancing at the walls, she noticed there were several familiar pictures missing. As she scanned the framed photos, she realized there wasn’t a single one with Opal in it. They had deleted her from their family history.

Her father appeared from the living room. “Madison. Good to see you.”

“It’s nice to see you too, Dad.”

Madison couldn't help but compare her parents' formality to the way Jax was being raised. In her mind, she saw Alex rolling on the floor, play-wrestling with the toddler, the sound of laughter filling the house.

On the nights Alex was home for dinner, he never once commented on the absolute carnage Jax could create—whether it was the mess he made with his meals or the toys that, despite their best efforts, ended up scattered in every room of the house. Alex never said a word.

She thought about what he’d said to her the day before in his office. Alex would most likely never give her the three words she longed for, but she had something better.

She had a man who showed her every day how much he valued her.

“He’s gotten so big.” Her mother’s overly friendly voice pulled her from the memory, and Jax tucked his face against Madison’s leg. “Such a handsome little guy.”

Madison’s brow lifted.

They’ve barely shown any interest in him before, and now they’re doting grandparents?

Her mother reached out to touch his head but hesitated, her hand hovering awkwardly in the air, before she dropped it when Jax ducked his face. “He must be tired.”

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