Page 115 of Hidden Memories

Anton, by contrast, shifts his weight, the corner of his mouth quirking into a half-smile that doesn’t quite meet his eyes. There’s something softer there, something close to reassurance—but not quite.

“If you two have something to say, now’s the time,” I mutter.

They glance at each other, an entire conversation passing between them in one flick of a gaze.

I whisper, shaking my head. “Nic never even showed me one single picture of his family. He said everything burned down in a fire when I asked once if he had any memories he wanted up aroundour house.”

And now it seems strange he’d lie to me about that. Why would he have kept these photos hidden when they’re important to him? I pick up one of them and bring it closer for a better view. I try to examine the age difference and transpose it over the timeline of when I knew Nic’s parents died.

I stare like it might change under the weight of my scrutiny.

“This doesn’t make sense.” Confusion is laced in every word. “Nic always said his mom died when he was nine. If that’s true, then the boy in this photo is… older. At least Theo’s age.” I lift the picture closer to the light. “And look at the background.”

They all lean in.

Snow. And cabins I’ve seen before…here in California.

My words are careful. “Nic told me he was in Greece with his grandmother until he was thirteen. But this? This architecture around the lake, this landscape…”

Something icy and hard wraps around my lungs. Nic was here? Did he live here? He never told me.

Anton gestures for me to give him the photo. “May I?” Deep concentration overcomes him. “You can see a lake in the background, too. GhostEye ran these with their image match software, and there’s a high match to Angel Lake. That’s just a couple hours east of here.”

Nic spent time in California with his grandmother? He never mentioned that once. He told me he grew up in Monterrey and when his parents died, he was sent to Greece. When she died, he came back. He never mentioned spending time in California here with his grandmother. So who is this woman? Is it even his grandmother?

Santi senses my thoughts unraveling and leans closer, rubbing my back. He remains as friendly as possible, but Ican sense he wants to gather me up as much as I want to fall into him.

“They also matched details to the architecture as you mentioned,” Gabriel says without preamble, his sharp gaze darting to the photos. “Among other things.”

“What other things?” His stern features have dread powering through my veins.

“The woman also came up with match images.” He picks another one of the photos up and studies it. “It’s not definite at all, these photos are old, but… there are some theories. That’s all.”

I stiffen, glancing at Santi, who immediately shifts into protector mode, his broad frame positioning slightly in front of me as if to be the first line of defense to the next barrage of evidence.

“What did you find?” he asks, his voice low and controlled.

“You said Nic grew up with his grandmother?” Gabriel asks.

I nod. “That’s what he told me, but at this point, I’m not taking anything for fact.”

Anton folds his hands together on the island, leaning in. “Let’s just say neither are we.”

I can’t take this. “Do you guys have to be cryptic?”

Gabriel gathers the photos and puts them back in the plastic bag. “Unfortunately, if you don’t have any details to provide us, it’s for the best we don’t divulge too much. The last thing we want is for you to start getting worried about nothing. It’s all just theories for now.”

I glance at Santi to ground me. He places his hand on my arm, and it stops me from floating away on a wave of anxiety. I get that this is a private investigation. I get thatthese guys don’t want to worry me unnecessarily, but I’m not accepting this.

This is my new life. The one where I have agency. “You two have to tell me what you’re thinking.”

They gaze at each other again, eyes speaking the same silent, secret language.

Finally, Anton concedes. “GhostEye thinks he had a family member here in California. Maybe she’s still alive…”

Gabriel adds. “Maybe she’s after you. Maybe she was involved, too.”

Oh my God. Right now, there’s no end of people after me. The Mafia. My dad. Nic’s estranged family member? I’m suddenly hot, my mouth is dry…

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