Page 100 of The Mastermind

I wasn’t going to have a text conversation with her about this. Throwing on a pair of jeans and a blue T-shirt—a new one from the collection she’d gotten me—and headed to the door. My phone rang with Melba’s name flashing on the screen.

I picked up the call, and my blood boiled. Mallory had just given my dad a poisonous drink and left the house. Melba had called the police like I had asked her to, and Dad was on his way to the hospital.

Fucking hell. Things were happening too fast, flying at me in every direction. I had to think carefully, or my scheme would fall apart.

Brian’s visit had been planned by me. I knew he was in severe debt because I knew his debtor. So I told the man to whisper into Brian’s ear that I could be helpful if he gave me something valuable. Blackmail would only work if Icaredabout the information enough. I needed him to contact me so I could lay out the breadcrumbs that would lead me to his crew.

Brian had come with a photograph to make it hard for me to explain myself to Audri. It wouldn’t have mattered what he brought. He was just a pawn in my game. What would he do now that he knew I had evidence of his crimes? What would Mallory do?

I wanted them to think I had evidence about the Yale attack, but they had no clue I knew what they did to my dad.

Though I hated Brian, he was just a small and irritating snake. I was more interested in the jackal, the man pulling Mallory’s and Brian’s strings. I had to lure him out.

When I got to my car, I left a voicemail to move my plan along. “It’s me. Everything is set in motion. Do as we discussed. I need to head to the hospital to check on my dad. Later.”

CHAPTERFIFTY

AUDRI

I didn’t even knowwhy I waited for Remi to show up at my apartment. Maybe I wanted to hear the excuse, but he never showed up. Needing fresh air, I headed out.

Driving to a quiet neighborhood that overlooked the shoreline, I pulled into a sandy lot. Not many people knew about this private cove unless they lived nearby. Kiera brought me here one time after she’d broken up with her college boyfriend who used to live down the street.

The lovely weather brought out more people than I expected. In shorts, a tank top, and flip flops, I put on my sunglasses and walked the shoreline, looking at the boats out on the water. Inhaling a deep breath, I emptied my mind and walked to the end of the private beach, then turned around. I didn’t know how many times I walked back and forth, but my legs weren’t tired. The heaviness in my chest lessened a little, and I was able to see my next step.

A little girl and her mom set up a lemonade stand, and I bought a large drink and found a shaded spot, where I sat for hours. I didn’t eat lunch, and before I knew it, evening had come. I remained in the same spot, watching the red egg yolk descend into the horizon.

“See you tomorrow,” I said to the sun.

It must have been nice to have a new beginning each day. I could be like the sun and start over, right? It sounded easy, but I had to give it a try. Life didn’t end just because my heart broke.

I had my jewelry line to focus on. As I prepared to leave, laughter boomed to my right and a massive bonfire lit up the shore. People danced and sat on the ground around the flames, and a thought percolated in me.

When I had stood near the fire basins at the WaterFire event, I didn’t feel any negative reactions to the flames because Remi had been with me. He was my safety net. Would I still feel safe if he wasn’t around?

My heart raced as I strode toward the bonfire. College kids wearing their university T-shirts waved at me to join them. They probably thought I was one of them. I smiled, nodded, and found a spot extremely close to the fire, but away from the singing and dancing groups.

Though I sat among the celebration, there was no joy in me. I welcomed the emptiness as I stared at the fire, pretending no one else was around. The fire crackled, and the flames snapped. Red and blue flames whipped around when a breeze blew by. My body jerked when someone tossed in more logs. The flames erupted, sending sparks everywhere. My heart drummed, and my body tingled, but not from a negative sensation.

Fear didn’t surface, and I realized I was okay. I didn’t need Remi or anyone to make me feel safe. I had come to terms with the source of my fears. I was healing on my own.

Fire is symbolic of destruction, resurrection, and renewal.Remi’s words echoed in my head. Fire had destroyed parts of me, resurrected me, and offered me renewal. This was my rebirth, and I grasped it with all my heart.

I didn’t realize I was crying until the tears dripped onto my hands. I wiped the tears away before people noticed and started asking questions. I sat with the fire for a while, just staring at it, befriending it, absorbing its strength.

The flames that burst from the bonfire created these unique linear sparks. I didn’t know why, but I started doodling on the sand with my finger. I drew a smile, reminding me of him. Then I created various line segments that took on a life of their own. I sketched faces, shapes, and abstract designs.

Creativity is vital to who I am.

An idea flickered in my mind. I could create a line art collection for my jewelry. They could be earrings, pendants, brooches, cufflinks, and so on—Dynamic Line Segments, a DLS collection, under the Epiphanii umbrella. Excitement bloomed in my chest, and I knew it would be a bestseller. I justknewit. The simple acronym had become life-changing and sacred to me.

Though my relationship with Remi was like a squiggly line that looped in a big mess, I forced myself to find the positive side of it. Maybe Remi and I weren’t meant to be together, and he entered my life so I could find that spark in me again. Maybe one day, the squiggly line would untangle, and things would straighten out.

I could only control what I did with my life, and right now, I wanted the world to wear my creation. My jewelry line would no longer be a hobby or side job.Nothinghad the power to hold me back. I’d continue working at Starke Vision until Epiphanii was stable and ready for the world.

When Dad and Mochi died, I didn’t believe I deserved to have my dreams come true, but I was wrong. Dad and Mochi would have wanted me to succeed. I was worthy, strong, and capable of anything. This renewal burned through me, and I reveled in it.

As I got up, a girl with a pink tank top offered me a beer. “Here you go.”

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