Page 3 of What's Left of Us

“Yes. Um, Beverly Heather went on the air rambling about the case.”

That makes a new headache form thinking about Ms. Heather. She wanted all the gossip when we last spoke, and she will only cause issues if she’s sharing the wrong intel. “Is it bad?”

Finley nods. “Bad enough I planned to show you. She was also walking the hospital earlier. She’s friends with one of the nurses out here apparently. She wanted to talk to you about a box she has?”

That sounds weird, and like the last thing on my mind right now. Beverly is a pain from what I remember, but not a dangerous one. My biggest worry is she will share misinformation and either freak out the public, or piss a lot of people off sharing details that she doesn’t need her nose buried in.

“We’ll do damage control on anything she says once the team can meet up and get a status on everything,” I say, trying to think rationally. If I open the video right now and she’s skewed evidence or just completely making things up, it’s going to makemy headache worse and ruin my composure. “Gabe is best with the media. Has he seen the video?”

“He found it before I could show it to him,” she admits.

“Then he can start thinking about how we can make a statement to curb any hysteria if he’s so damn determined to be useful,” I sigh. This is not what I wanted to wake up to. With the tangled web of lies, timelines and involved parties in the case, I can only imagine what’s getting mixed up with a big media scoop. “Where the hell are they getting this information?”

“It's a mix of omitted information, gossip the news station collected on Constantine and the current news reports. Even though it's all wrong.” Finley rolls her eyes, and I can tell she’s just as unimpressed as I am. Beverly is going to stir up drama, not help close the case.

Unless there's some hidden agenda, some big reveal the news stations are leading up to, there's no reason things should be that far off. I can feel a headache already forming, and my throat is screaming for some sort of water. I’ve let myself get distracted talking to Soto, needing as many details as I can get.

Before I say anything, a doctor pushes through the door into my room, offering me a strained smile. “Agent Gideon, glad to see you're awake.”

I nod, glancing at Finley as I clear my throat. “Go check on Gabe again for me. If he’s trying to get discharged, make sure he follows the doctor's advice.”

Her lip twitches, and she fights a smile. “Will do.”

As she walks out and the doctor starts speaking to me, I notice someone passing by in the hallway. The doctor continues reviewing my symptoms—but my attention is fixed elsewhere.

That was definitely Vinny walking by, but Jo was not with him. I’m positive the man by his side is Xeno. I try to zone in on the Doc so I can get out of this room sooner than later, butmy mind keeps wandering back to three specific people: the one who surprised me, and the two lovers that I want to see.

Part 1: Free Roads

Chapter 1

“Spend the night.”

My voice echoes through the room, making it seem like there’s more space between the two of us than there actually is. Alastair is rarely here without Vinny, mostly because my two boys come as a packaged deal. But lately with all the things going on around the grove, I’ve had more days with one of them alone than the both of them together. I don’t like it. Not when the three of us are destined to be together, and all the problems sprinkled through Citrus Grove are just holding us back from the rest of our lives.

Unlike my mother, I don’t plan to grow my roots here. I can’t wait to be as far from Florida as I can get.

Alastair chuckles, shaking his head as he pulls his shirt back on. Usually to avoid all the problems at home we go to Vinny’s place, but he’s got things to handle with Massimo tonight. He warned us to stay away for the evening, and Mom’s out late, so the two of us got to spend some extra time together.

“Porscha doesn’t like me,” Alastair reminds me, wiggling his eyebrows. It’s still light outside, but that doesn’tmatter with Mom’s chaotic schedule. Some nights she doesn’t even bother coming home, so there’s no guarantee she would even know he’s here. “She’ll be back from work soon, right? I should head home.”

I grip his hand, unwilling to let go. Alastair turned eighteen recently, so he’s no longer a ward of the state but he doesn't really have anything to go home to either. Without Emeric and the Franks living here, he’s all alone. He practically lives at Vinny’s place, but with tensions running high in the Ajello family, he decided it was best to stay out of the way tonight. Going home means he’s going back to a place he doesn't feel wanted, and I absolutely hate that. It’s basically a cheap motel because he doesn’t have much money and doesn’t want more of Vinny’s charity.

Being unwanted… it’s a feeling I know a little too well. “Don’t go.”

He shakes his head. “Jo-”

“I’m eighteen now,” I remind him with a frown. “Vinny’s eighteen, you’re eighteen. We don’t have to act like children anymore. We’re applying to colleges-”

“You’re applying to colleges,” he reminds me with a smile. “Wherever you choose to go, we will follow. We can build our lives wherever your dreams take us.”

I lean forward, kissing him for a long moment as I cling to his shirt. I really don’t want him to leave. “We could all meet up tonight at Vinny’s. How long can his father keep him?”

Alastair gives me an uncomfortable look. “There’s a killer around, Jo. I don’t want you out and about in the dark like that, and I don’t have a car-”

“I could pick you up on my way there,” I try.

He kisses me again before standing, already heading towards the door. “Your mom will probably be home soon, Jo.I don’t think it’s a smart idea for her to see me with you. She already doesn’t like that you’re with Vinny, and he has money.”

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