Page 67 of Secrets & Desires
ChapterTwenty-Six
January slunk onwardsas the surviving friends worked with the police to find Roan. More convinced than ever that Roan was the killer, Nox asked the police to compare any old DNA that didn’t belong to his family to Roan’s. Detective Jones agreed. “We’ve issued a countrywide search for Saintmarc, but if he is the one who shot Ms. Duplas, he’s obviously around New Orleans, waiting to finish the job. Do you have adequateprotection?”
Nox nodded. Sandor looked at Livia and Nox now. “Look, being at the hotel doesn’t work. Come stay with me. It’s no mansion but there’s a hell of a lot less dark places for a stalker to hide. Odelle, you too. We need to stick together until Roan isfound.”
Sandor’s homewas large but comfortable, and Livia felt safer there than she had anywhere else for a while. She worried about her friends though, knowing one of their own was responsible for so much of the mayhem and murder. She had hatred in her heart for Roan Saintmarc, and although she wouldn’t say it aloud, she almost wanted him to come for her so she could avenge her friends. Avenge Moriko, avenge herself. Even if itkilledher.
She could feel Odelle keeping an eye on her, though, and knew that if she needed to break down, Odelle would be the one to help her. She didn’t want to add to Nox’s pain. Of all of them, he was the most affected, she thought, seeing Amber killed in front of him. He looked shell-shocked still, even after a few weeks, and it was hard to tell if it was from Amber’s murder or Amber’sadmissions.
“What I don’t understand,” she said to him, “is how Roan knew to shoot her at the moment she was about to tell you about him. He couldn’t have been bugging her, for crissakes, he didn’t have theresources.”
“It may be that hedoesn’tknow she didn’t reveal him,” Nox said, “in which case, he knows we know and will hopefully trip himself up out ofdesperation.”
“Or do something reckless that takes someone else’s life.” Livia sighed. “God, what a fucking mess…but what the hell is his motive? I don’tgetit.”
“I can’t help you there. I honestly havenoidea.”
Livia chewed her lip. “And what did Amber mean about Roan’s discarded condoms? That makes no sense…Unless…”
Nox was studying her closely. “Unlesswhat?”
Livia was sickened. “Unless she was telling us someone was using Roan’s semen to frame him. AndAmberknew.”
Detective Jones cameto see them one afternoon at Nox’s office. Having given up her job atLa Chat Noir,Livia now worked on her college projects at Nox’s office during the day. She found, to her surprise, that they didn’t get tired of seeing each other all day and allnight.
“This bodes well,” Nox grinned as she said as much one night, and she laughed. It was a relief to laugh and be happy, and they made love often, clinging to eachother.
They also talked more about their charitable foundation ideas, asking Charvi to be involved. Charvi—who, much to her disgust, also had a protective detail—was enthusiastic. “For a rich dude, Nox Renaud, you’re quite the guy.” But she looked at him with proud eyes and Livia knew her approval meant the world to him. Charvi got tearful when Nox told her they were naming the foundation after her former lover, and she huggedGabriella’sson.
“I always thought you might resent me,” she told him, wiping her tears, “for being with your mother before she met your father. But she loved me truly, and she loved Tynan truly. There was not a bad bone in thatwoman’sbody.”
Nox got choked up then, and nodded. Livia smiled at them both. “Family isn’t just blood. I know that. I’m looking at minerighthere.”
When Detective Jonescame to see them, family was on their minds again. “Something strange, Mr. Renaud. When we went to compare your father’s DNA to your friends, we found a match. A familial match. The thing is, the lab messed up the labelling. So, we need to take your DNA again to test against the sample, in case, for some reason, we’ve made amistake.”
The detective was being cagey, and Nox and Livia shared a look. “What aren’t youtellingus?”
Detective Jones drew in a deep breath. “Look, if the lab is right then one of your two closest friends, is also your half-brother.”
Nox’s eyes widened. “You’re fuckingkiddingme?”
“No,sir.”
When the detective had left,Nox and Livia stared at each other. “Mybrother…”
“This is just bizarre. I’m sure they must have gotten Teague and someone else’s DNAmixedup.”
“It must be. My parents didnotcheat on each other.” Nox was fierce in his denial, but Livia could see the doubt inhiseyes.
“Look, it can only be Roan or Sandor if it’s anyone. I can’t see any physical similarity between anyofyou.”
“It’s a mistake,” Sandor was at the door then, obviously having heard the conversation. “The police fucked up. Dude, as much as I think of you as my brother, it’s not possible. Dad had a vasectomy after they had me, and Mom died before even Teaguewasborn.”
“It doesn’t explain how it can be ahalf-brother, if Teague’s DNA got mixed up. Teaguewasmy brother, you can see the likeness between us.” Nox sighed. “Okay, so maybe my dad wasn’t akiller,but—”
“What?” Sandor looked surprised at that comment, and Nox and Livia exchangedalook.
Nox cleared his throat. “I’ve been passive for too long, Sandor. I do not believe my father killed my mom and Teague. I do not. Someone else killed them and I want toknowwho.”
