Page 52 of Before Broken Vows
"Do you know for how long?" he asks.
"I don't know. But a few months before that came, a random toy appeared in his room on his bed. I'd never seen it before. At first, I thought maybe he brought it home from daycare. But now, I think someone had been inside our home, Theo."
My voice breaks on his name. I've been so alone, carrying all this.
"That and this," I say, pointing to the envelope, "I knew I couldn't protect him alone anymore." The admission costs me. Independence has been my armor for four years. "I need help. Your help. And I knew your father wasn't…" I trail off.
"We can unpack all that later. My father. His role in all this. Let's just focus on our son."
I instantly feel warm tears run down my cheeks as I stare at him. "You have no idea how good it is to finally hear you say that."
He smiles, but stops it and regains his composure.
"Do you have cameras? Any way to see who dropped this off?"
I shake my head no.
"Any witnesses?"
I shake my head no again.
"So nothing?"
I shrug.
Theo stops pacing. "Okay, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but why not go to the police?"
I laugh. "With what? A note? No security footage? And explain what—that my son's father is Theo Kastaris? That would bring more danger, not less." I shake my head. "Besides, whoever this is knows things no one else should. This isn't some random person. This is people from your world. This is mafia, Theo—not a random stalker or mentally unstable person. And the timing?—"
"What timing?" he asks, interrupting me.
"The toy that I found in his room. It was the same week I learned your father was killed in Athens."
"You think this is connected to my father's murder?" Theo asks, his voice dangerously soft.
"I don't know," I admit. "But it can't be a coincidence."
"Fuck," he says. "There's some stuff I need to tell you about my father's murder, but that can wait." He sits down on the bed next to me and grabs my hand.
His touch is warm, and with just his touch, I feel like I've connected with my soulmate.
"Stassi, where exactly is Xander now?" he asks.
"With my friend Marlena. They've changed locations twice and have been using burner phones to contact me."
"And you trust her?"
"With my life. With his life."
He nods once. "Well, call her. Tell her to pack his things. We're going to get him."
I let go of his hand and stand.
"I… I don't think that's a good idea."
His eyes narrow. "What do you mean? He belongs here. With me. With us," he says and stands. "I can hide him better than anyone else."
I don't speak. I think of what to say. How to say it.
