Page 103 of The Beat of My Heart
I nod, running facts through my brain like a computer.
“My second regret is that I started drinking when I realized who Jonathan Black was. By the time I figured it out, it was too late for me to get out. Jonathon threatened the lives of both Grace and Trevor anytime I tried to leave. While it’s not an excuse, I believe if I’d never started drinking to deal with the stress, I never would have laid a hand on my Grace. She was…isthe love of my life. I’ll carry the burden of that pain for the rest of my days.
“When Trevor had been in college for a few months, Grace and I decided to tell him everything. We would go to the FBI, do whatever it took to get out, even though we knew that would mean jail time for me. I deserved it, a stronger man would have done it the second he found out about Jonathon, but I was scared. I was weak. Grace called Trevor several times that week, begging him to come home. Once we made the decision, we knew we had to move quickly. In hindsight, it was a blessing Trevor refused to come home. Jonathon found out about our plans. He killed Grace himself as a warning to me. He said Trevor would be next. I lost my wife and my son that day, and there was nothing I could do about it.”
“Romero,” I attempt, but my throat feels like I swallowed razor blades. “W-why are you telling me this?”
“Because I know what Loki’s half-brother, Miles, is planning. If he succeeds, Trevor and Loki will be in grave danger. I have a plan to stop him, but I’m afraid technology is not my area of expertise,” he says.
“And you want Trevor to help you? Why not go to the police?” I ask.
“I’ve tried to get hold of Loki, but they have thwarted every attempt. My only chance of helping my son now is if I’m face to face with him,” he explains.
“And you think kidnapping me is the way to do that? He will tear you apart before you ever have a chance to explain,” I tell him.
“It’s a risk I have to take,” he says.
I think for a few minutes. I know Trevor is brilliant with software and tech in general, but I have an exceptionally high IQ as well. Knowing Trevor will never listen to his father, I make an executive decision and hope he’ll forgive me later.
“Trevor won’t help you, his rage will take over, and I think there’s a very distinct possibility that he’ll kill you before you ever get a word out. That being said, tell me your plan, give me a computer, and I’ll see if I can do it for you,” I say reluctantly.
“You?” he scoffs. “No offense, Julia, but I think we need Trevor for this. While Miles is not nearly the intellect Jonathon was, we need to be very careful. This is not the time for trials,” Romero says and has me fuming.
Standing from the bed, I stomp towards him. “Listen to me, you pea-brained misogynistic asshat. Trevor and I may work in two different fields, but I graduated at the top of my class with three degrees before I was twenty-one years old. By the time I was twenty-three, I was making six-figures. I won’t argue that Trevor has a brilliant mind, but the one fucking thing I have always been sure of is that I am the smartest fucking person in any room I enter. If you think Trevor can do this, then I’m here to tell you I can do it better and faster. If you don’t believe that, then you can just fuck off and let Trevor come ‘fetch’ me and see where that leads you, you cocksucker,” I fume.
Leaning back in his chair, he steeples his fingers and a crooked grin takes over his face. I swear I’m about to knock that smug look right into next week with a throat punch when he says, “Okay.”
“Okay?” I ask, dumbfounded.
“It has been a long time since I’ve seen a fire like that, Julia. And the last person to call me a cocksucker was my Grace,” he smiles. “I think you two would have gotten along very well.”
Feeling my own smile appear, I say, “Okay then. Let’s get started. Tell me what you need.”
Don’t ask me why I am trusting this man, I’m running solely on gut instinct here. If I end up being wrong about Romero, I hope Trevor will forgive me.
Chapter 36
-Counting Stars, OneRepublic
Trevor
Iwatch as Julia walks down the beach towards me, her flimsy white gown blowing behind her with the ocean breeze. I can’t see her face clearly through the veil, but I can see her smile matches my own. Walking through the sand towards me, I see she’s barefoot, and I am acutely aware I could never love anyone more. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Looking to my left, I see Dexter holding Charlie, and I feel the first tear fall. I’m about to make these two my family, and I’ll be able to love them forever.
“Trevor, I got an email from Julia,” Lanie screams as she bursts through the guesthouse door, startling me awake.
How the fuck did I manage to fall asleep when Julia is missing?
Fully awake in less than a second, I spring from the couch, “What do you mean? Where? Let me see?”
“I’m not sure what it says, it’s in our secret code, but I have my cheat sheet so it’ll just take me a few minutes to decipher it,” she says.
“Lanie, what are you talking about, sweetheart?” Dex asks, looking uncomfortable.
We are all thinking that perhaps the lack of sleep all these weeks has finally taken its toll on this new mom.
“When we were in college, Julia set up this account with a website she built and fake emails. Anytime I went on a date, I would have to text her. If I said it was going well, she would know to send the email that would arrive with all kinds of alerts and buzzers indicating it was a work emergency, and I would have my out to leave.” Lanie looks up and finds us all staring at her.
“That’s a little fucked-up,” Preston says, echoing all of our thoughts.
