Page 21 of So Close

“Basically, it’s more convenient for you. Who cares what the rest of us had planned?” Ramin puts his phone away and leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, suddenly focused and all business.

He might complain about the effort involved, but when it comes to family, Ramin is the first person to show up with a shovel to bury the bodies. That loyalty is a real credit to the way I reared him.

“You know we’re all here for you,” Amy says vacuously.

“What a lovely reminder, Amy,” I tell her, my tone soft and sweet. “Even if it’s entirely unnecessary.” My smile widens when she shoots me a murderous glance.

“Are we going to meet our new sister-in-law or not?” Ramin asks. “Or is itformersister-in-law? Was she declared dead? Or divorced in absentia?”

“She’s finishing up with a visitor, but she’ll be joining us shortly,” Kane replies. “And no, she’s not new, not dead and not divorced. I’ve been married over six years.”

“Who’s visiting?” I press sharply.

The traffic camera footage of Lily’s hit-and-run was covered on local news channels in the week following the accident, with police asking for tips to identify the driver and vehicle, which had license plates registered to a different make and model car. Mercifully, Lily’s name wasn’t disclosed. It’s of utmost importance that we keep her under wraps until we know enough to defuse any possible explosive revelations. I’ve tried to discuss the need for discretion with Kane, but reaching him privately has been a struggle, and when I have, he’s been curt.

He waves off my alarm with an irritated flick of his wrist. “Someone to run out for things she needs.”

“Why can’t Witte do that?”

“Why don’t you leave the running of my household to me?” he retorts.

My pulse races. His defensive protectiveness doesn’t bode well for making him see reason. If he’s convinced she’s more important than Baharan and his family, I’ll have to deprogram him. “Can I ask where Lily’s been this whole time?”

Darius returns to his former position by Amy, forming a united front with his wife.

Kane shrugs negligently as if it’s no great matter either way. “We don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know?” I demand. “She won’t tell you?”

“She’s been diagnosed with dissociative amnesia.”

“What does “dissociative” mean?” Rosana pulls her legs onto the couch and hugs them to her chest.

Kane plays with his wedding band, spinning it around his finger. It’s not like him to fidget. Long ago, yes, but not since we reconnected.

“While she was gone, it’s believed she had no memory of her life before. Now she knows who she is and has regained most of her memories, but she’s been living as someone else and has no memory of that time.”

Ramin straightens. “So, she’s brain-damaged.”

Kane eviscerates his brother with a piercing sidelong glare. “Eloquent, as usual, Ramin. We’re discussing a psychological condition that affects a person’s autobiographical memory, usually brought on by trauma.”

“Well, that explanation came straight out of a doctor’s mouth,” Ramin drawls. “So, her brain is fine; she’s just crazy. Got it.”

“Ramin.” There is warning in my tone.

“What?”

Rosana frowns. “I’m not sure I understand. Something happened to Lily that was so terrible her mind made her forget you and your life together …? Why did you think she was dead without a body?”

Kane’s expression turns savage.

“Sorry,” she says swiftly. “I didn’t mean it to come out like that.”

He takes a moment to rein in his temper before addressing his sister. “It’s fine, Rosie. Lily took her sailboat out and didn’t return. The day started out beautiful but was forecast to turn squally in the afternoon, and it did. The Coast Guard launched an exhaustive search that lasted for days, and eventually, they found debris, but that’s all. After a lengthy review, they officially declared her lost at sea.”

“Wow. Being stranded out in the ocean during a storm …” Rosana shudders. “Terrifying. Does she remember it?”

“Her most recent memory, before regaining consciousness a couple of weeks ago, happened several days before she went missing.” He pauses. “While we were still dating.”

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