Page 185 of Perfect Pitch

She places her fingers over my lips. “I’m just so grateful to hold you, darling.”

We remain locked to one another for long moments before a deep voice interrupts us both. “Can I get in on this part?”

Blinded by tears, I open my arm to receive my father.

Then, there’s a voice I’ll never forget coming from the doorway. Charlie says, “Kid, are you ready to spring this joint?”

For a moment, I panic. I can’t fathom returning to New York, let alone returning alone to the bed where I slept with Mitch by my side. My mother, wise beyond her years, says, “We’ll take it one step at a time. Let’s start with the hotel. You’re staying with us in Asheville.”

“I don’t want to be a burden—‍” I begin but one look at my father’s thunderous face stops my words.

That’s when Sonia steps inside the room. She briskly shakes hands with everyone before asking for a moment alone with me. When it’s just the two of us, she hands me a card. “Use it, Austyn. You don’t have to go through this alone.”

I’m surprised to find her personal email and cell on it. “You don’t have to do this.”

She squeezes my arm before murmuring, “Sometimes it helps to talk with someone who has endured the same agony you have and come out the other side.”

I swallow repeatedly before whispering, “I’m grateful to know there is another side.”

That’s when I squeeze her shoulder and walk out to be embraced by my family, minus one very important piece I’ll leave behind in Seven Virtues, North Carolina.

* * *

CHAPTER NINETY-ONE

There are days I debate having someone trip so I can hire Hudson Investigations to see what it is they really do.

—Jacques Yves, Celebrity Blogger

Do you really want to find out?

—Coquille St. Jacques

Christ, who the hell hacked my account?

—Jacques Yves, Celebrity Blogger

“Enter,” I call out. I’ve been waiting for the person about to fly through my door.

In my head I recall when Beckett Miller asked me to find out why his daughter wanted to hire Charlie Henderson specifically to head her personal security detail. “There are younger, more experienced agents, Caleb. Females who would blend in better. I want answers and I want them yesterday.”

Now, I’m about to receive the answers. My heart stutters erratically as the handle turns. I shove my hands through my hair and mutter, “Christ, this is going to be a goddamn mess.”

Hudson’s long-time executive team admin slides in and shuts the door behind him. Tony’s face is so pale, it’s chalky. In his shaking hand is a tamper-evident envelope that’s been unsealed. I asked him to read the report so he could brief me but seeing his reaction causes every muscle in my body to tense. Christ, if it affected Tony this much, what’s it going to do to the rest of us?

Clearing my throat, I ask, “What did Sam find?”

Tony still clutches the envelope. “Everything except the whereabouts of the person driving the car.”

“It’s bad?”

“Worse. So much worse.”

Shit, fuck, damn, is repeating over and over in my head when Tony interrupts my mental diatribe. “Caleb, I’ve never demanded anything in all the years I’ve worked for you.”

My brow furrows. “What do you want?”

“Put me on the team to protect her. I want to kill the bitch when we have her in our crosshairs.”

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