pack a bag, I overheard Vincent talking to some guy in his study. They were talking about my mom, and the mystery guy assured Vincent that no one would suspect murder. And your dad said, ‘I can’t get blamed for this. Everyone needs to believe her death was an accident.’”
When Leo didn’t say anything, I forced my gaze upward. He was peering off in the distance, his face as expressionless as I’d ever seen it. “Leo?”
Unusually solemn aqua eyes met mine. “Are you sure?”
“I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve never been surer of anything. That conversation has been burned into my brain since that day. I’ve tried to forget it, but I can’t.” I moved back a step, so I didn’t have to tilt my head to look at him. “I know what I heard. It’s why I ran. I freaked out, and even though I didn’t really understand what was going on, I knew I had to get out of this house.”
He nodded, and some of my tension eased when he didn’t immediately tell me I was wrong. “You think my dad killed your mom.”
It was a statement rather than a question. “I don’t know. But I think somebody did, and Vincent helped cover it up, at the very least.”
“Why search his study?”
I was a little embarrassed to admit this next part. “I don’t know where else to look for clues about what really happened. Also, I found something else.” I retrieved my phone from my back pocket and pulled up the photo I’d taken of my mother’s note. “Here,” I said, handing it to him, “I found this in my mother’s things.”
Leo read the note aloud.
“Vince, I’m putting this in writing, because I know if I try to say it to your face, you’ll pull me into your arms and kiss away my worries.
“So, here goes.
“We can’t get married next week. You know it, and I know it.
“I love you, but I have to do what’s best for myself and my daughter. And that is leaving before someone gets hurt.
“Please forgive me. I hope we find each other again someday.
“Forever yours, Amber.”
He scanned the image several times, re-reading it, before handing the phone back to me. “So, what? Someone was threatening her? Threatening you?”
“I don’t know. But it makes sense, doesn’t it? She knew she was in danger, and that’s why she was going to leave. Except, someone got to her first.”
Leo scrubbed a hand over his bristled jaw. “I just can’t believe my dad would have ever hurt Amber. I know he’s not the most loving, attentive father in the world, but...” He looked at me. “Murder?”
My throat tightened as guilt washed through me. This was why I hadn’t wanted to tell him or his brothers about my suspicions. Well, one of the reasons. I didn’t have any concrete proof right now, and there was the very real possibility that I was wrong about Vincent’s involvement.
“We don’t know what happened.” Which was the whole problem.
“Yeah, okay. Let’s go search his office.”
He started toward the door, but I stopped him with my next words. “You don’t have to help me.” His questioning look urged me to continue. “This isn’t your fight. It’s mine.”
“Did you not mean it when you agreed to be my girlfriend less than three hours ago?”
“Of course, I meant it.”
He took my hand once again, threading his fingers through mine. “Then, that means I’m your boyfriend, and your fights are my fights. End of story.”
“But he’s your father.”
“And, if he’s guilty, he can be my father in prison.” He opened the door and asked, “Together?”
I squeezed his hand. “Together.”
Chapter Sixteen
Hayle
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I ignored it. If I wanted to stay on schedule, I needed to get through my philosophy reading before my next class.
A few seconds later, it vibrated again, and I sighed. What would Aristotle have thought about cell phones? Probably that they detracted from the pursuit of happiness, and I wasn’t sure I disagreed.
I withdrew my phone and glanced at the screen. A security alert for Dad’s home office? That didn’t make any sense. He’d left early this morning and shouldn’t be home until sometime tomorrow.
Switching to the live security feed, I almost swallowed my tongue at the sight of Thea and Leo inside the office. What the fuck were they doing? And how had they even gotten in? I knew Dad always kept the door locked.
Quickly finding my earbuds in their designated pocket of my backpack, I