tell her that her sister was a psychopath. I couldn’t get the comments she’d made at the club about her father out of my head. “Did she ever tell you how her father died?”
Slowly, Tyra shook her head.
“Selena killed him. Or at least the police think she did. She was out on bond when she skipped town. For some reason, they didn’t think the crazy bitch was a flight risk. She’s been hiding out here ever since. Selena sought you out because she blamed you for killing her mom. Quite frankly, I’m pretty sure she’s insane.”
“How do you know all of this?”
“Because after I knocked her out and locked her in my trunk, I did some research.” Digging into my back pocket, I pulled out the folded slip of pale, pink paper. “I also found this.”
Recognition erased the wariness in Tyra’s eyes as she took it from me. Her lips were parted as she slowly unfolded it. The final page of her mother’s letter to her father. The one Selena had claimed never existed. I already knew what it said, along with the rest of the letter.
I know by now that you must have grabbed your keys and coat and plotted the quickest route to get to me…to us. I want you to know that there’s no need. I might have broken my vows to Sam, but the promise I made to you is the only one that ever mattered. I’m leaving him, Cedric. I’m coming home to you, and I’m bringing our baby girl, both of my girls, with me. I love you. No matter the trial and doubts we’ve faced, that has always been true. And will never change.
Forever yours,
Monica
…loves Cedric
Tyra’s hands were shaking uncontrollably by the time she’d finished. Her mother’s affair with her father, the lies Selena sowed, had broken apart everything Tyra believed in love. Even if I couldn’t win her heart back, I hoped to give her this last healing kernel before she walked away for good.
“Thank you,” she said when the tears clogging her throat finally cleared.
“You’re welcome.”
“So…what happens now? We can’t just let Selena literally get away with murder.”
Taking a quick glance at the clock on the wall, I nodded toward the window. As if on cue, Selena appeared on the other side of the street. Tyra wasn’t the only one I’d asked to meet me.
“You called her here?” Tyra spat. She was already standing before I could respond. This time, I let her go, but I was right on her heels as she stepped outside into the warm spring air.
It didn’t take long for Selena to notice us, wariness in her gaze when she saw us together. Still, she kept coming, that cocky boldness returning to her eyes with each step. She never made it past the line dividing the street before two squad cards appeared, blocking her path and any chance to escape. They were out of the car, guns raised, screaming at her to put her hands up.
The mayor appeared and spoke to the arresting officer before making his way over to me. “I appreciate you notifying me of her presence, nephew. I’ve collaborated with the chief, and we’ll have her extradited soon enough.”
“Thanks.” It was all I could muster for the man. My mother’s family hadn’t been any kinder to me than my father had. For years, they stood by and let my father abuse me out of fear of standing up to him. Neither of them had thought to protect anyone other than themselves. Taking a page from my father’s book, I pointed this out to him, and fear of me tarnishing their good name had my uncle using his influence to arrange Selena’s arrest quickly. I’d already deleted the video of Tyra from her phone and cloud drive.
My uncle scurried away, and while Tyra was distracted, I used the opportunity to pull her back into the coffee shop. I sat next to her this time to keep her from running away though neither of us spoke as we watched the cops do their job. Selena was still hurling obscenities even after she’d been put in the back of a squad car and had the door slammed in her face.
Once they drove away, Tyra’s head turned, her whiskey eyes glistening. I said a quick prayer that I hadn’t hurt her more. “You did this?”
Grimly, I nodded. She didn’t speak, and I was ready to admit defeat when she threw her arms around me.
“You really didn’t sleep with