Page 8 of Enthrall Shadows
A million more questions raced through my mind.
“You were born in Chile?” I asked, lifting the cup of tea to my mouth. I blew on the black, aromatic liquid to cool it before taking a sip.
“Yes.”
“Does she have any idea how many people searched for her? All the suffering that followed her disappearance? How much her family grieved?”
“She’s suffered too,” said Lilly. “She had to give you up.”
I failed to rally any sympathy.
She hadn’t needed to give me up—she’d chosen to.
But I’d made my own mistakes.
Like hiding away in a cabin in Big Bear after returning from the Middle East—the reason my brother had gifted me a puppy, my beloved Dex. Those who’d mattered to me had known my location. I wouldn’t have tortured my family like that.
“Where did your mom go after Chile?” I asked.
Lilly reached out and rested her hand on mine. “She’s promised to answer all your questions.”
I dragged my hand away and stood up.
I was done with this game.
“Do you live in L.A.?”
“No, but I’m hoping to attend UCLA. Thought I’d check out the campus while I’m here.”
I didn’t care about her college plans. I wasn’t there yet.
“Do you have somewhere to stay?” I asked.
“I booked a room at The Belmont Crescent Hotel.”
An interesting choice, hinting she really was from out of town.
“That place is notorious,” I said. Its reputation was as fascinating as its once prominent location.
She gave a shrug. “The room seemed nice when I booked it.”
“You flew in just to see me?”
“Yes.”
“What’s your last name?”
“I’d rather not say.”
My jaw tensed. “How long are you in town?”
“One more night.”
“Let me move you to another hotel.”
She shook her head. “No need.”
The first thing I’d do when I saw Reese—if I saw her—would be to tell her to take better care of her daughter. It should have been her who came to see me.
