Page 39 of Finally Found You

Days after Cécile broke things off, he came back to her. It surprised her that he asked her to leave the country—for both their sakes.

“He let you go without a fight?” I ask with disbelief. I wouldn’t just let go of the woman I loved. Unless… It really makes sense. Why would he simply disregard her?

“There was nothing to fight. He had a family—I was the other woman.” Her voice trembles, bittersweet.

A flicker of insight sparks within me. “Something tells me Dad pushed you away, afraid my mother would do something to you,” I murmur, the sudden certainty heavy in my chest.

Cécile hesitates, her breath catching in her throat. “You really think your mother tried to kill Atzi, don’t you?”

“We’re not sure,” I admit, my words barely audible as fear coils like a serpent around my heart.

“If she did, I hope you bring justice for Esme and everyone she’s hurt—or I will,” Cécile murmurs the threat, her voice trembling with raw emotion. Then the line goes dead, leaving me with the weight of her words.

I’m flooded with regret as I remember the day I saw Mom adding drops to Dad’s food. At first, I believed it was a supplement. Earlier that week, Dad had complained of vertigo. Tara, my then girlfriend who was studying medicine, suggested that I investigate his diet, as the cause could be any number of things.

I managed to swipe the bottle Mom had used and took a sample of the mysterious liquid. A friend of mine analyzed it for me, but the results arrived too late—after Dad had died and been cremated. It was tetrahydrozoline. If ingested, it could cause difficulty breathing, changes in blood pressure, fast or slow heartbeat, nausea, and vomiting.

But it was too late to get an autopsy. I’m pretty sure Dad hadn’t suffered a heart attack. He had been poisoned with tetrahydrozoline. Tara knew it. But before I could confront Mom, she retreated into a catatonic state. Tara urged me to push for an investigation, but the thought of shattering my siblings’ world was too much to bear.

They had already lost one parent. To learn that their mother had killed their father was a truth too cruel to reveal. Not then, at least. But now, with danger lurking in the shadows, I have to dig up everything I once buried in order to protect them.

The question haunts me, as relentless as the tide: Will I be able to do it?

Chapter Twenty

Camilla

Why did I ever think this was a good idea?

Instead of heading to San Diego with Lysander and Kenzy, I chose to fly to Denver. I wanted to avoid him but also to check on the house and spend time with JJ on her weekend off. But as I arrive at Nonna’s place, I find the window beside the door shattered and the door slightly ajar.

Panic surges through me, and I quickly jump back into the rental car. I put on my earbuds and dial Lysander’s number.

“Did you regret not coming with us?” he teases, unaware of the situation.

“Somebody broke into Nonna’s house,” I stammer.

“Where are you, Cam?” Lysander’s worry seeps through the phone, sending a shiver down my spine. “Please tell me you’re far away from there, safe.”

“Outside in the rental car,” I reply, my voice wavering.

“Okay. I need you to do a few things. Text me the address and stay in the car—or better yet, go back to JJ’s place,” he instructs, steady and reassuring, a balm to my frayed nerves.

“No, I’ll stay here,” I argue, stubbornness flaring within me. “I’m going to wait until they’re out, or maybe call the police.”

“Cam, I need you to listen to me,” he says, calm and in control. “I’m going to call the security company and my cousins. One of them will be there soon.”

“You don’t have to bother anyone,” I say, with a tinge of regret. He’s in San Diego with Kenzy. Why did I call him? I should’ve tried 9-1-1 or the Dragos. “I’ll come back later with one of JJ’s brothers.”

“Text me the address,” he insists.

I comply, and when I glance up, I notice the car parked in the driveway. How could I have missed it before?

“There’s definitely someone in the house,” I murmur, hastily typing the car’s plate number and texting it to Lysander. “Clearly, they don’t care if they’re caught in there.”

“Listen, Finn is close by. He’s going to be there soon. But it’d be safer if you leave,” he insists.

“Is Cami okay?” Kenzy’s concern filters through the line.

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