Page 13 of Everything We Found

His fingers twitched at his side. “How much did you overhear?”

Her heart pounded behind her ribs. “I don’t understand. James?—”

“How much did you overhear?” He stalked toward her and a cavernous rift in her perception split wide open.

She mourned the loss of James. They all did. He’d been an integral link to their inner circle. But she’d been worried about her best friend. Aimee had let Claire Donato push her to the brink of emotional exhaustion.

James’s mom had insisted his funeral would be held on the same day and in the same church as his and Aimee’s wedding would have been. Then she demanded Aimee personally notify each invited wedding guest about the “change of plans.” Claire was too heartbroken and couldn’t be bothered to help. She alsocompletely shut out Aimee from James’s funeral preparations, deeming the event a family matter.

Claire was a bitch. Nadia had always thought so. But her behavior toward Aimee these past couple of months had been appalling, leaving Nadia to fume on her friend’s behalf.

Aimee was the sweetest, kindest, and most generous person Nadia knew, and Claire had been taking advantage of her. Nadia would lay into the woman if she wasn’t concerned about further alienating Aimee from the Donato family.

Nadia worried about Thomas too, who’d taken on the burden of James’s funeral arrangements. He spent weeks flying back and forth from Mexico, working closely with search and rescue, then coordinating James’s return when his remains had been found. Nadia could hardly perceive the psychological hell he was in.

Thomas had told her he’d try to meet up with their friends tonight after he finalized tomorrow’s details with the funeral director when she’d invited him to dinner. Kristen and Nick were having everyone over. Knowing Thomas, he wouldn’t show. He always had an excuse, either it was work or travel, which was still work for him. Though tonight he would likely spend the evening alone in the company of his dark thoughts and a bottle of Johnnie Walker. So, she’d left a little earlier than planned on her way to pick up Aimee to stop by the mortuary and convince him to come.

Then she’d overheard his phone conversation.

Do not call him James.

They’ll find out he’s still alive.

Nadia stood beside James’s opened casket. A casket lacking a body.

James’s disappearance hadn’t sat well with her since she first heard about it. The excuse he’d given Aimee about why he needed to go to Mexico had been flimsy. He’d never taken aclient fishing before, let alone taken a trip with one to another country. Then to have his body wash conveniently ashore after Claire had bemoaned she was devastated James wouldn’t be buried in the family plot. Nadia had marveled at the coincidence, though she’d kept the thought to herself for Aimee’s sake.

She lifted her chin. “Enough. I heard enough.” Holding Thomas’s glare, her confusion gave way to molten anger. She didn’t know how it was possible or why Thomas was lying to everyone, but James was still alive. She felt the truth of it to her core.

She knew Thomas well. She’d cared for him deeply since they were kids. But as much as it hurt her—because she had a sense what she was about to do would destroy any loyalty between them—she had to tell Aimee.

Her gaze darted to the exit.

“I know what you’re thinking.” Thomas shifted to the side, blocking her line of sight to the door. “Don’t you dare.”

“What am I thinking?” She looked contemptuously at him. His intimidation tactics didn’t work on her.

A tic pulsed in his cheek. Lips pressed firm, he slowly shook his head as if he was anticipating her to run from him.

She had thought about it but changed her mind. She wanted answers for Aimee.

She crossed her arms. “I’m thinking James is a chicken shit. He wanted out of the engagement and you’re covering for him.”

Thomas cocked his head to the side, eyes narrowing in consideration. Her explanation didn’t make sense even to her own ears. It didn’t fit within the context of Thomas’s phone conversation. Something was at play here. James had to be in some sort of trouble.

“Where is he?” she asked. “What happened to him?”

“He’s dead, Nadia.”

“Bullshit.” She’d known Thomas since she was eight, long enough to watch him close himself off from everyone else while leaving a door cracked open for her. Long enough to have memorized his tells. He once told her from across the gameboard she was the only person who saw through his poker face, the mask he wore when he wanted everyone else to believe he was indifferent. “You can’t lie to me, and we both know it.”

His expression didn’t change so she didn’t expect him to make a move. She gasped when he snatched her elbow and marched them from the viewing room toward the women’s restroom. It wasn’t lost on her that it was one of the only places in the building without a security camera.

“Let go of me.” She jostled her elbow free and, with her insides twisting into elaborate knots, veered toward the exit. She shoved open the double doors and raced down the steps to the parking lot and her car. The heavy doors slammed shut behind her and she could hear Thomas’s footsteps close behind.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” he demanded, his question radiating barely concealed panic.

She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes blazing. “I’m going to get Aimee so you can explain to us both what is going on.” She unlocked and opened her car door. Thomas slammed it shut, the metal handle reverberating in her hand, and her anger ignited. She wanted to tear him a new one. But as she looked up at Thomas, she saw something in him that gave her a pause. Terror. Raw and unfiltered. It shined through the cracks of his rage.