Page 80 of Brew
She rolls her eyes. “I think we’re good.”
I shake my head as she exits the van, and I follow behind her. I check the mail on the way up to the apartment. Thanks to Luna’s connections, we have an apartment in a really nice area. It’s a lot in rent, but worth it to feel safe, and there’s a park close by.
I stall when I get in the doorway, fingering through the letters. I stop when I see the one with the stamp mark from Iowa.
Olive goes into the kitchen to make a shake, and I drop everything on the hallway table, my bag falling to the floor. I rip the letter open with trembling fingers.
How the hell did he get my address?
Dear Erica,
You may have heard by now there’s been a new court hearing, and I don’t want you to worry.
Nothing has changed in the way I feel about you. I know you left because you were scared, but I forgive you for that. You were always my favorite, my number one girl. You took Olive from me, but I understand why.
I want us to be a family again. Not like before, but a family no less.
If I get out, will you agree to see me? I’ve never stopped looking for you since you left. I tried. Vincent made things very hard, and for that I have regrets.
Please know I had nothing to do with anything he was involved in.
I want to see you and my daughter.
I’ll be seeing you soon, my love. We can all be together again.
Your loving husband,
Steven
I stare at the writing, my breath caught in my chest. Is he actually delusional?
He still maintains his innocence, which I don’t buy, I never have. I believe he and Vincent had the whole thing set up. There’s no way he was working alone.
I begin to panic, but I can hear Olive in the background asking me what’s for dinner.
“Uh, lasagna and salad,” I say, mindlessly. “Finish up your homework, I just have to call Aunty Amber.”
She takes off to her room, backpack in tow, and I dial.
Amber picks up after a couple of rings. “Hey,” she says. “How you doi?—”
“Steven knows where I am,” I blurt.
“What the hell?”
“He sent a letter, I just got it in the mail today.”
“Shit.”
“I know. How could he know? I changed my last name.” Of course she knows that, but I’m more saying it to myself. “He has someone on the outside, he must have.”
“I think you need to come over to our place until we figure this out,” Amber says. “Like now.”
I start to pace. “That’s the thing, he’s known for a while, the post mark was over a week ago. I mean, we’ve been here for almost two years, Amber.”
“Don’t panic, whatever you do. You have a doorman, nobody can get in, but you still need to take precautions. I’ll send Bronco over and he’ll let Cash know.”
“It’s not the MC’s problem,” I start, knowing my argument is futile.
