head. “Though I did my best to talk Vincent out of the takeover, he became obsessed with taking control of the company. I was in charge of the project, and after Amber’s death...” He returned his gaze to me. “Something happened to Vincent. He wasn’t himself, which was to be expected, but it was more than grief. At the time, it felt like panic, and I didn’t understand it.
“The day before he made the Green announcement, we had a huge fight. I was more than happy to drop the deal, but I needed to understand what was going on. We had investors and the media to answer to, after all. But he started ranting about how I’d fucked it up from the beginning. Which, of course, pissed me off, since I’d never been on board with the takeover. One thing led to another, we both said things we shouldn’t have, and I managed to get myself axed over the whole thing.”
No one said anything for so long that I eventually picked up my sandwich and forced down a few bites. The food was probably great, but I couldn’t taste a thing. We were so close to answers. Yet, they still felt so far away.
Finally, Tristin asked, “Do you think someone at Green Industries could have written those notes and followed through on their threats when Dad didn’t drop the takeover?”
“Yes and no,” Greg answered. “It makes sense, given the timeline, but we’re talking about a shipping family. Not the mob. If it was someone from Green, I couldn’t tell you who. Jim Green, the CEO at the time, was upset that he might lose his family legacy, but murder? I just can’t see it.”
“Not everyone is who they seem.”
Tristin’s words hung heavy in the air between us. I couldn’t tell if he was talking about Jim Green, Vincent, or himself. Maybe all of the above.
Greg cleared his throat and settled back in his chair. “I realize this might be a silly question, but have you tried asking Vincent about what happened?”
I felt rather than saw Tristin move his head to look at me. Yeah, this one was all on me.
“No.” I looked down at my shredded napkin, wishing I had another to tear into pieces. “That’s pretty much a last resort, as far as I’m concerned.”
Greg smiled, though I could sense a hint of sadness in it. “I get it. I wish I could be of more help, but whatever was going on back then, Vincent apparently hadn’t seen the need to let me in on it.”
“It’s okay. Thank you for answering my questions.” Suddenly, I needed to get out of here. I pushed back my chair and looked to Tristin. “Can you find another way home if I—”
“Yes,” he interrupted. “Go. We have business to discuss, anyway.”
“Thanks.”
I grabbed my purse and stood. Just as I started to walk away, Tristin grabbed my hand, stopping me. “Are you okay?”
Was I?
Greg hadn’t told us anything we hadn’t already suspected. It was looking more and more likely that someone from Green Industries had killed my mother—or had her killed.
It wasn’t exactly good news, but I could handle it.
“Yes. I’m fine.”
He peered at me, assessing, for a few long seconds before releasing my hand. “Okay. Drive careful.”
“I will.”
Then, I walked out of the café without looking back. As I made my way to my car, I wasn’t thinking about Greg or my mother or Green Industries or even Vincent.
I was thinking that it sure felt like Tristin cared.
And that stupid, traitorous thought terrified me as much as it excited me.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Thea
My phone started ringing through the car’s system, startling me. I’d forgotten that Leo had set up the Bluetooth when we went for a drive the other day. And now, according to the name on the screen, he was calling me.
I pressed what I hoped was the correct button on my steering wheel. “Hello?”
“Hey, babe. You okay?”
Babe? Since when had he started calling me that?
“Yeah. Why?”
“Tristin texted me.”
Well, that was a shock. I was half-surprised he hadn’t deleted Leo’s number from his phone. “Okay.” Because what else was I supposed to say?
“Come meet me,” he commanded.
“Where?” When I’d left the café, I’d started driving without a destination in mind. I’d been winding through streets, and I wasn’t sure I could even get back to the mansion without checking my maps app.
“I’ll text you the address. See you in a few.”
Pulling over, I retrieved my phone from my purse and plugged it into the