Page 103 of Illicit Obsession

I tapped the screen and set the phone on the bed between us.

“Hi, Theo.”

“Hey, Jag. How’s the shoulder?”

“Better. I should be on the field again soon, thanks to my physical therapist.”

“That’s great.” A pause filled the line. “I won’t keep you long, but I wanted both of you to know that I was contacted earlier. Samantha was taken to a hospital by an anonymous person and she was treated in Montana. She couldn’t remember how she’d gotten there, and the cops were just able to track me down. Apparently, she has Joe as her emergency contact, not me. They tried to find him for almost a week. When they couldn’t locate him, they reached out to me.”

My stomach dropped to my toes, and I forced myself not to puke. She isn’t dead.

“Interestingly enough, Gunner also contacted me. He told me to divorce Samantha and get as far away from her as possible. He shared with me about what she was involved in, kids.” Theo’s voice trailed off, and I wondered if he felt guilty for putting us in harm’s way.

“It wasn’t your fault, Theo. No one realized what she was a part of,” Jagger said.

My head snapped up, and I stared at him. The genuine expression on his face backed me down. Theo had been the only steady and decent parent Jagger had ever had. He still needed that, even if I didn’t want to have Theo in my life.

“Thanks, Jagger. That means a lot. I’m not sure how to fix the rift between us . . . for lying and allowing Samantha to manipulate me into believing I was making a good decision keeping you two apart. Maybe you can forgive me, maybe not. To try to make up for it, I’ll cover your tuition and expenses until you both graduate. You can attend anywhere you want. I also have no problem with your relationship. I hope that you’ve found something special. True, deep love is hard to come by.”

Jagger rubbed his jawline. “Actually, you have a bank account with Mom, right?”

“Yeah. But she has a separate one too,” Theo admitted. “We both do.”

“Do you have access to hers? If the FBI hasn’t gotten involved, you need to drain them, Theo. Move the money into yours and take her name off any financials, insurance policies, etc.”

“I know. I already called my lawyer to get ahead of this before it blows wide open. If it does at all. She’s convincing everyone she has amnesia.”

“That’s such bullshit. She remembers,” I said.

“She’s a great actress for sure. But, Jag, I’ll drain her accounts then set you and Ari up with those funds. If it buys you a house or whatever you want . . . Well, after all the shit you two went through, she owes you big.”

Jagger chuckled. “I like the way you think. I would be happy to take her earnings.”

“It’s dirty, blood money. I don’t want it.” I shot Jag a look, unhappy that we hadn’t discussed it.

“Ari, how you feel makes sense, but we could do something good with the funds. Money isn’t evil or good. What you do with it makes the difference. Go out there and change lives. Or, since you and Jagger saved future kids and families, consider it payment. However you need to process it.”

I frowned. I hated that what Theo said made sense. “Maybe we can donate some of it to Ashton Kutcher’s foundation. He helps bring home kids and people in sex trafficking.”

“I would love to do that,” Jagger agreed and took my hand in his.

“I’ll let you two go, but if you want . . . if either of you want to call or visit, I would love to see both of you.” Guilt and pain threaded Theo’s words.

“I’ll be in touch, Theo. I know Mom can be a con artist, and I think you got caught up in her shit.” Jagger glanced at me. He wasn’t asking me permission to have a relationship with my father, but I was okay with it. My stepbrother would be good for Theo and vice versa.

I cleared my throat. “I can’t forgive you yet, Theo. You let me think I killed Jagger and it nearly destroyed me. Maybe someday I can, but not yet. I need some time.”

“I understand, Ari. I’m truly so sorry. I love you so much.” Theo choked on his words, and I realized he was crying. Good. I hoped he felt as shitty as I did.

“Jag, I’ll reach out to you tomorrow. I’ll tap into her accounts now. I know where she hid the passwords,” Theo said.

“Thanks. Have a good evening.”

“Night,” I said before ending the call. Glancing at Jag, I rolled my shoulders, trying to break up some of the tension. “I support you in your choice with Theo, but I ask that you support mine, too.”

Jagger rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb. “Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

ChapterForty-Nine

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