Page 73 of Romeo

“When are you planning to head back?”

“I want to talk to Odie tomorrow.See if he knew anything about how that publishing contract got switched or about the money problems Dodger claims Landers was having.”

“I’m betting he does.Oh, you should know, I put in a call to Frank Loyotta.He’s using Find Me’s resources to see if he can track down security footage of Dodger taking Jules out of the country.With how long it’s been, he’s not overly confident, but he’s looking into it.”

“Great.Thanks.”If we can nail Dodger for that, we can put him away for sexual assault of a minor as well as kidnapping, and likely hit him with a trafficking charge since he took her out of the country.We just needoneshred of proof.One thing to back up Jules’s word.Because, as much as I hate to admit it, even if she came forward, the likelihood he’d walk is high.

She was an alcoholic who spent years in and out of rehab.She’ll be asked why she stayed quiet—why it took her ten years?—

I take a deep breath.It’s not right, but that’s the way it works when high-profile people are involved.

The door opens, and a few minutes later, Elliot and Jules are walking around the corner.Her eyes are wide and full of laughter as she carries a bag of groceries.A vise tightens around my heart at the sight of her.

She’s beautiful.

But it’s more than that.In this moment, there’s a sliver of light radiating past the darkness.And all I want to do is permanently remove her shadows so that light is all she feels.

Chapter25

Jules

Why am I here?It’s a question I’ve asked myself every few minutes since I all but begged to be brought along to the hospital while Riley spoke to Odie.I don’t doubt that I’m one of the last people Odie wants to visit him, but I just need him toseeme.Maybe, when all of this is over, there will be some shred of our family to save.

Maybe.

My heart is so heavy it might as well be full of lead as I step onto the elevator alongside Riley.I imagine Odie’s furious about the fact that our grandfather deeded the house to me, and I’m hoping he’ll understand that I was just as surprised as he was.That I never would have cut him out of it.It’s just a house.He’s family.

“Are you okay?”Riley asks.

“I’m all right.”It’s not even close to the truth though.I haven’t had the courage to ask him about earlier today when he met with the Dodgers, and thankfully, he hasn’t brought it up.

“It’s okay if you’re not.”Riley reaches down and gently squeezes my hand then releases it.I flex my fingers, trying to resist the urge to reach for him again.To hold on to him as I rip open old wounds to find the truth.

The hospital is buzzing with activity, though a few nurses definitely take a moment to pause and eye the man walking beside me.It would make me jealous if I wasn’t so amused by the fact that he’s so blissfully unaware of it.

How does he not see the effect his mere presence has on people?Or does he know and just chooses to ignore it?

Odie’s security guard is stationed outside his door, though he steps to the side when we approach.Riley pushes open the door, and Odie glares at us as we step into the room.He’s standing and dressed in slacks and a white button-down dress shirt, one arm in a sling.

“Unless you’re here to tell me you did your job and found the man who shot me, I’m not interested in having visitors.I’m actually on my way out.”

“You better get in the mood,” Riley replies, shutting the door behind us.“We have some questions for you.”

Odie eyes the manila folder in my hands.It’s copies of the ones I found in the theater room, but he doesn’t have to know that.“What’s that?My release paperwork?”

“No,” I answer before Riley can then cross over and set the folder down on the bedside tray.

Using his uninjured arm, he opens it, his expression remaining completely neutral as he flips through the images.“What am I supposed to do with this?”

“Explain to me why our grandfather kept them from you,” I say.“I’m assuming he was since I found them hidden in the theater room.”

Odie glares at me.“I have no idea what that old man was doing.He started to lose his mind toward the end.Something you would have seen if you’d been paying attention.”

“He wasnot.And the fact that you say that is an insult to his memory.He hid that from you; I want to know why.Did he have suspicions about Dodger?About what happened?Did he find out that you knew?”

“You know that I don’t like to repeat myself.”

“Then try telling the truth, and we won’t have to ask you again.”Riley crosses his arms.“I’m good at what I do, Mr.Landers.Which means, if there’s a thread to find, I’ll be the one tugging on it and bringing Dodger’s entire world crumbling down on top of him.Just likeyoushould have done ten years ago.And if you know something?I’ll find that too.”The subtext is there.He’ll bring Odie’s world down right alongside it.

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