Page 173 of The Broken Note

My lungs burn.Well played, dad.

Our psychopathic father found a way to keep me away from Cadence, while convincing my brothers I was happily spending time with my fiancée.

“Did you hire a lawyer to get me out of jail?” I ask, stomping to the car.

“The cops couldn’t charge you with anything. You were being released today anyway.” Finn stops me and prods me back. He gets into the driver’s seat instead. “It was just a coincidence that Jinx told us your location around the same time.”

I scowl as I climb into the passenger seat. “Jinx? Why would she know I was in jail? Dad told the cops to keep it private. They didn’t even take me in through the front because they were afraid I’d get my picture taken.”

Finn shrugs. Despite his outward calm, his fingers are squeezing the life out of the steering wheel. “We don’t know how Jinx knows anything.”

“Here.” Zane shoves a burger at me from the backseat. “I’ve heard that prison food tastes like crap.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Eat it.”

“Give me your phone instead. My battery’s shot.”

“I’ll give you when you take a bite,” Zane insists.

I grit my teeth, swallowing back a wave of anger. My brothers are being ridiculous. I’m fine. I don’t need coddling. In fact, I’m burning with energy.

Zane gives me a hard look. It’s enough to convince me I shouldn’t push my luck.

My fingers close around the burger. It smells like heaven. Especially after eating that jail gunk for three days.

I take a bite for my brother’s satisfaction.

He hands over his cell.

“I’m calling Vi.” The phone is heavy in my palm. My fingers tremble. “It’s been three days. By now, she must know where her sister is.”

“Before you do that…” Finn murmurs.

“What?” I stare at the side of his face.

“Show him.”

Zane takes the phone away from me and my gut reaction is to lunge for it.

“This video appeared on my feed two days ago,” Finn explains.

Zane presses play and the video begins.

On screen is a slim woman draped from head-to-toe in a sparkly veil and face mask. Even covered up, she looks sexy and alluring. The fabric of her veil is slightly sheer and the dress underneath shows off her body.

I suck in a sharp breath. Something about the way she moves over to her piano is familiar.

In the video, the woman sits.

She takes a breath before she presses on the keys.

At the first note, I know.

“It’s her,” I whisper. The music is full of emotions, ragged, raw, and real. Like a girl stripping down bare and opening herself up for the world.

I’d recognize that music anywhere. Cadey doesn’t know how to play any other way than honest.

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