You have no fucking right after what you’ve done to my heart.”
“I know, I know. I am so damn sorry,” he groans, but his contrition falls on deaf ears.
“I don’t care if you’re sorry. Tell me where you are and why you didn’t tell me you were leaving. And why didn’t you get in touch??”
“I’m in Burton at a ranch house that used to belong to our father and his wife.”
I go completely still at his grave, cryptic words. “Why are you saying his wife and instead of Mom?” I demand.
When he doesn’t answer right away, I start pacing. When I turn to face the front of the salon, I almost jump out of my skin, when I see Confidence sitting in one of the chairs in front of the large storefront window. Her face is creased with concern.
I’d forgotten she was there; I mouth Remi’s name and press a finger to my lips. Her eyes bug out of her head.
“Remi, answer me!” I bark when he doesn’t say anything.
“Reggie, you should sit down first,” he says in a grave voice.
My heart starts to pound, and I grit my teeth. “Stop trying to manage me and just answer me, right now,” I demand. My finger stabbing the air.
“Mom was his first wife…he had another –"
“What the fuck does that mean?” My voice is so sharp that Confidence jumps.
“If you’d stop yelling and interrupting, I’d already be done telling you.”
I close my mouth and bite back my retort. “Go ahead.”
“Lucas Wilde left Mom for another woman right after Tyson was born. He married her. Moved with her to Burton and started a new life. One day, he left for work and didn’t come back. She presumed he was dead and left too.”
None of that can be true. None of it even makes any sense. A new fear grips me and I turn my back on Confidence and walk to one of the product display stands across the room.
“Remi. Are you in trouble? Is this code for something? Do you need me to call the police?” I ask in a voice quiet enough not to be overheard.
He chuckles, but it’s devoid of humor. “No. Kal found me. I’m at their house. It’s all true.”
I press a hand to the wall to steady myself. “How? I’ve seen pictures of us at his funeral. Tyson was a tiny baby. How could he have gotten married, set up house and died in three months of Tyson being born?”
“Because he didn’t die. That’s what they told us and the rest of the world.”
“Who told you that?” My voice is guttural with anger.
“His wife,” he says flatly.
“You talked to her?” I screech.
“Yes.”
“Who is she? How did she find you?” My head rings like something hard hit it. I reach blindly behind me until I make contact with the chair of the arm and lower myself onto it.
“He left me a letter. All those years ago. He was planning on coming back for us. Regan, they had a child.” My hand flies to my throat as if it can stop the gasp of horror that comes.
“Oh my God.” I sit up straight, my mind racing. “Who is he? And what happened to the kid?”
“Oh God, Regan. Wait,” Confidence calls with a frantic urgency that draws my eyes to her. But she’s not looking at me. She’s typing furiously on her phone, her hands visibly shaking.
“It’s Gigi Rivers,” Remi answers.
The whole world comes to a screeching halt. “What?” croak. My voice sounds far away. All of this feels like an out of body experience.
“Regan, wait,” Confidence cries out again and everything clicks into place.
That look in Gigi’s eyes…. That expression I couldn’t read… it was guilt. She was the last person Remi saw. I stare at Confidence and remember Hayes almost having a panic attack when I asked about Remi in Mexico.
My stomach falls to my toes.
“Who is their son?” I speak into the phone, but my eyes are on Confidence’s bowed head.
Her sorrowful gaze snaps to mine. “Regan, let me take you somewhere private, please,” she stammers. I glance around. Noé is gone. We’re alone. I shake my head to say no.
“Who is his son?” I demand again. Confidence closes her eyes as if she’s in pain.
“Who’s there with you?” Remi demands.
“Is it Hayes Rivers?” I demand.
His silence and Confidence’s muffled sob are all the answers I need.
“Does he know?” It’s a rhetorical question. Because his wife clearly does. My eyes never leave Confidence. She’s sitting in one