Page 51 of Finding Her Strength

“Quite a bit. Why?”

After a quick glance at Quinn, Cooper looks back at me. “I pulled her background like I do every time someone rents Quinn’s house.”

He pauses long enough to make my gut tighten. “And?”

“Well, there’s basically nothing in her background until she moved to Sonoma. She’s twenty-eight and has no history until a year ago? It’s a little weird, Levi.”

I grit my teeth to keep from yelling at my brother. I know he means well. He was looking out for his family. In fact, if I had dealt with a murdering lunatic who kidnapped my wife as Cooper did, I’d have done the same thing. It’s just that this is Hope. Her history is her own. People don’t need to know what she’s been through unless she deems it okay.

“She’s been through hell and back, Cooper. I’m not going to tell you anything else because it’s not my story to tell, but know there’s a good reason.”

Cooper stares at me for a minute. I can tell he doesn’t want to let it go. I keep eye contact with him, making sure he knows he won’t get anything else out of me.

Finally, after a long beat of silence, he nods his head. “I trust you, Levi. If you say things are fine, I believe you. I just wanted to make sure everyone was safe.”

“I know, but this isn’t something to dig further into. If she wants you to know the story, she’ll tell you.”

I get another nod, and Quinn moves the conversation on to something else. The best thing about my family is knowing they aren’t going to push Hope into telling them about her past. They respect that everyone has a story—backgrounds they don’t want to share with the world.

It took Tucker months before he told us about his horrible childhood. Having gone to school with him, we could hardly believe he lived in such an awful situation. It showed us that no matter what it may look like on the outside, you never know what someone has been through.

We finish dinner pretty quickly, and I make my excuses about having to pick Hope up at her shop. I’m ready to seemy girl. Especially after what Cooper told me tonight. I know her history made it so having an online presence wasn’t likely, but if I’m being honest with myself… it doesn’t make sense that she wouldn’t show up at all.

She should’ve come up both from being in the system when her grandmother died and having worked full time for a florist. I don’t want to question what she went through, though, because I’ve seen the effect it’s had on her.

There are still times she flinches if I move too fast or sneak up on her accidentally. I know the abuse was real, so I have to trust that she doesn’t show up in the system for a good reason.

I just thought all our secrets were out in the open already.

29

“ROSEMARY”

THREE YEARS AGO

“Hey, Jerry, I left my sneakers at home,” I say to the one man I’m allowed to interact with, my driver. “I’ll miss the first spin class, but there’s another one right after if you don’t mind turning around so I can get them.”

“Sure, Mrs. Malatelli.”

I sit back in the car, mad at myself for forgetting the one thing that’s majorly important when you work out. I’ve been going to these classes for about a year; you’d think I’d have mastered packing a gym bag by now.

I’m glad this doesn’t affect anyone but myself.

Jerry pulls up to the back of the house so I can sneak in and grab my shoes without disrupting anyone. I’m not supposed to be here right now, which is why I was allowed to start going to classes at the gym. Antony put it so nicely when he offered them to me.I need you away from me for a couple of hours. Plus, you need to get rid of the weight you’ve gained sitting around on your ass. Spin classes will achieve both of those goals.

I head inside through the back door, keeping my steps light so as not to alert anyone when I hear voices at the endof the hall. Antony must be having a meeting in his office. Since he has no idea I’m home, I take advantage of the moment to listen to their conversation.

With the door cracked, I can hear every word they’re saying.

“What do you mean the whole shipment is gone?” Antony growls.

“It was seized right after it crossed the border, sir. We’re still looking into the details, but there’s an obvious leak in our operation.” The voice of one of Antony’s trusted advisors, Dominic, floats through the doorway. I’ve met him several times over the years. He’s one of those men who, at first glance, seems like a decent human, but when you look deeper, evil swirls in his eyes.

“I want all the information as soon as you have it. This is the second shipment in the last year to be seized. I won’t have this happening again. Find the mole.” Antony’s voice is hard, unrelenting. I would not want to be Dominic right now.

“The guns arrived at their destination as scheduled. We’re outfitting the cars now to ship them out. Should be done this week.”

Guns?I always knew Antony’s business dealings weren’t exactly legal. Me being the biggest example, but he trades in guns? And what shipment got seized? Something other than guns? This is monumental. I’ve never gotten an opportunity like this before to gather information. Now, I have to figure out how best to use it.

---