Page 110 of The Broken Note

“Why should I believe you?” I growl.

“You gave Cadence a vintage platinum ring, didn’t you? A brilliant diamond solitaire.”

My back snaps to attention. “You’re the one who stole it?”

There’s silence on the other end of the line.

I let out a stunned breath. Last night, during our game of truth or strip, Cadence refused to tell me who pawned the ring. She also kept quiet about her fight with Vi. If this woman is to be believed, the two incidents were caused by the same person.

“Can we meet? I have something important to tell you,” she says. “It’s about Cadence.”

“What about her?” I ask urgently.

“We can’t talk over the phone. I’ll text you a location. Meet me there in thirty minutes.”

The bathroom door clicks open.

I whip around and lock eyes with Cadence just as her mother warns, “And come alone.”

“Wait—”

The line beeps.

She’s gone.

Cadence must see something in my face because she stops in her tracks.

“Is something wrong?” she asks carefully, running her fingers around the collar of her T-shirt. I bought three cheesy ‘I SPENT THE NIGHT IN A TREEHOUSE’ T-shirts for her, Vi and me. The fabric swallows her whole.

“No.” I shake my head after a moment of contemplation. “You ready to go?”

She nods.

I climb down the ladder first and she follows. This time, I wrap an arm around her waist and help her down, not even giving her a chance to slip and fall.

As I hold her, I notice the red hickeys and bite marks on her neck and shoulders. I’ve thoroughly marked Cadence Cooper, and though I haven’t taken a look in the mirror, I’m sure there are signs of her all over me too.

Rather than feeling pleased, I feel frustrated.

I thought I’d stripped away everything that stood between us last night, but she was keeping such a big secret from me.

Her mom is alive.

No wonder she broke down that morning when I brought her breakfast. No wonder she screamed that I didn’t understand.

“What are you doing? Put me down.” Cadence smacks my chest.

I realize I’m just standing here, holding her and I quickly set her on the ground.

We walk to the car and I mull over every encounter we’ve had since last week.

Her mom is alive.

It’s insane to think, but the pieces line up so perfectly that it’s almost comical. Why didn’t she trust me with the truth? Why did she keep such a big secret to herself when I was right there, ready to make it all go away?

And more importantly, what does her mother want to tell me that Cadence can’t hear?

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