Page 33 of Before Broken Vows
"No. He would have told us. Besides, half of those people serving, our father put in office."
"Yeah. It's just, the accounts where all the money is flowing from are closed off and restricted."
"You know what. Hold on."
A few moments later. "Check your email."
I wake up the computer and an image loads on the screen. It's of our dad meeting with someone. I remember it instantly. It's from a security feed right around the corner from where Dad was murdered.
"Did I show you this?" I ask.
"Yes, but maybe that man owns one of these restricted accounts. Since your lead is dead, focus on this. Find out who he is."
I nod. "Okay."
"Anything else? How are you doing out there alone? You know. Because..." Ares trails off.
"Because of Stassi?"
"Wow. I didn't expect you to say her name, but yes."
I take another breath, heavier this time.
"It's not like I'm expecting her to just show up out of nowhere, needing my help, and staying in our damn family's house."
Ares laughs. "Yeah, I doubt that'll happen, but?—"
I cut him off. "It already did."
"What did?"
"Stassi. She showed up. Said she needed help. She's here. All of it. It happened."
"Are you fucking serious?"
"Yes, brother. And I haven't even begun to unpack what the hell it all means."
He's silent. I'm silent.
"Damn. She's your Achilles' heel, Theo. I can't believe this."
"It's fine. I'll take care of it and I'm sure she'll be out of here within a week."
"Did you ask her what happened? Where she went? What the hell she needs?"
"I'm working on it."
I can almost hear Ares going through it all in his head.
"Look, Theo. You've always been the level-headed one. You don't break. You don't bend. But she's the exception. She's the one who can throw you into chaos."
I grind my teeth.
"You tore through three cities looking for her. Sent men into places we'd blacklisted. Called in every favor you had. It became too personal."
"I know what I'm doing."
"I'm not so sure you do," Ares says. "Because the last time a woman got under your skin, she vanished and took pieces of you with her."
