Page 120 of War

In the window upstairs, Ava’s silhouette appears. She’s in the girls’ bathroom, getting them ready for bed while I’m down here about to unravel our entire life.

“This can’t be happening,” I mutter.

“Tyler, there are text messages. Transcripts were sent to the court and to my office. They were sent anonymously, but our IT guy tracked them to a computer in your father’s office.”

Rage ignites in my chest. “Fucking Xander.”

“Is it true? The texts were to her sister. Or at least that’s what we were told.”

I frown. “What does that even mean?”

She sighs, the line between us crackling. “There are hundreds of messages. She’s been texting her for months with no response.”

Eyeing the window above me again, I rake a hand through my hair. “That doesn’t make sense. Right? Why wouldn’t her sister reply?”

Madi doesn’t respond, as if she’s weighing her words.

“Just say it.” Teeth gritted, I straighten and pace the driveway. My wife has been keeping secrets from me this whole time. I’ve given her the space, hoping she’d eventually open up to me. But now? Fuck, now I could lose Josie.

“Her sister died over two years ago.”

My heart plummets. It’s as if it’s landed with a bloody splat on the concrete in front of me.

Upstairs, Ava spots me and offers me a small wave. I stare at the woman I bared my soul to. The one I thought I was building a life with, and realize I barely know a thing about her.

“Send me the text messages.”

“Tyler—”

“It was real, Madi. It was real for me.”

FORTY-SEVEN

AVA

“I love you, sweet girl.”I press a kiss to Josie’s head before heading for the door.

She didn’t make it past the fourth page of her story. As much as I love this time with the kids, I’m exhausted, so I’m glad she fell asleep easily. I head for our bedroom, surprised that Tyler didn’t sneak in to say good night to the girls. He never misses bedtime when he’s home.

When I open the door and find darkness, a niggle of worry forms. “Ty,” I call, in case he’s in the bathroom. When he doesn’t respond, I head down the hall, passing Scarlett’s room first and then Bray’s. When I press my ear to each door, I’m met with nothing but silence, so I continue moving downstairs. The living room is blanketed in darkness, the glow of the moon streaming in through the windows the only light.

“Ty,” I say softly as trepidation builds inside me. Something is off.

“Right here,” he rasps.

Spinning, I blink into the darkness and find him sitting near the unlit fireplace.

“Is there a reason you’re sitting in the dark?”

“I’m drinking.” The clanking of a glass is followed by the splash of liquid.

“Okay.” I step farther into the living room, moving slowly while my eyes adjust to the darkness.

Tyler sits on the hearth, his forearms on his knees and a glass dangling from his hand.

“Why are you drinking in the dark?”

“Just got off the phone with Madi. I didn’t like what she had to say, so I decided I’d pour myself a glass of bourbon.”

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