Page 112 of Reckless Love

“I just found out from my mother that she’s been fired from The Nile. It’s more than that?”

“I just came from the police station. I was there on another matter, and one of my contacts called me into her office. She told me they’ve got evidence that points to Vanessa being an accessory to murder. From what the police have put together, your sister knew their union organization was planning a car accident. Your sister may not have known when or where it would happen, but she knew it was in the mix. They have clear documentation.”

My throat tightens at the realization. “She knew Landon and Ava would be targeted too?”

“I don’t know.” Owen releases a deep sigh. “You know your sister better than me. Would she agree to that kind of risk just to get to Raul?”

No. Maybe. God, I don’t know anymore. “It was a stupid plan.”

“Very,” Owen agrees. “But desperate people do desperate things.”

“It’s unforgiveable.” My disbelief is slowly being replaced with anger. “She lied to me about her involvement. She lied to my face.”

“I don’t know when they’re laying charges and bringing people in. If you’ve still got contacts with the force, you may want to apply some pressure. Up to you, obviously. I’ll stand behind whatever you decide. You’re in a tough spot.”

Part of me thinks, fuck it, she can rot in jail, but another part of me can’t let go of my little sister that easily. If she hadn’t lied to me, this truth would be slightly easier to swallow. Maybe not easier, but at least I’d have felt like she was prepared to own up to her mistake. We could have talked it out. I could have helped her come up with a plan. Hell, I could have helped her cover up her involvement if it came to that.

Instead, she lied. Refused to take responsibility for her irresponsible actions.

“I don’t know what I’ll do,” I admit. “I’ll be in touch.” I heave myself out of the chair, and I storm through his house back to my vehicle.

The first thing I need to do is confront Vanessa. Whatever she says will determine her fate.

I drove Ava and Landon to Sawyer and Logan’s mansion as soon as I got back to the house. Whatever goes down between me and Vanessa, I don’t want them within hearing range. Since Landon had been invited to some sort of Tucker cousin mini-sticks tournament, luck was in my favor. When Ava had asked why I wasn’t staying, why I seemed so tense, I’d had a hard time not spilling everything at her feet. Instead, I’d claimed a work complication and promised to get them by Landon’s bedtime.

In Vanessa’s apartment, I pack her things. Wherever she is, she’s going to come home to an empty apartment. Fucking lying to me. Putting the two most important people in the world in jeopardy. For what? Better work conditions? A bit more money? It’s such bullshit that it makes my chest fill with rage.

The lock tumbles on the door, but I don’t stop packing. Bags and boxes litter the floor. In her bedroom, there’s a suitcase on the bed where I’ve tossed her clothes. The fact that she has so little, that I’ve packed so much of her life so quickly, sends a little frisson of regret down my spine. But it’s not enough to push out my fury.

“What’s going on?” Vanessa asks, flicking on the bigger overhead light and taking in the boxes and bags scattered around the room. “Was there a break-in?”

I let out a huff, and I turn to face her. Something in my expression must tell her that I know. She goes pale.

“I can explain,” she says, holding up her hands.

“The time for explaining was when I asked if you had a part in the accident. That was the time to explain. Because I fucking warned you, Van. I warned you. If you had anything to do with the accident, and you didn’t come clean with me, I’d disown you.”

“Fuck you, Stephen. What difference would it have made? Disown me then or disown me now? We both know Ava Tucker has somehow become a hell of a lot more important than your own family. Which is really on brand for you, isn’t it? If it’s not work, it’s a woman.”

“Don’t make me sound like I’m some feckless playboy who can’t keep his dick in his pants. For fourteen years, it’s been the same woman. Just one. Her. That’s it. But you wouldn’t know what that’s like because you’ve never been in love with someone for fourteen years.”

“I’ve never been in love at all. When was I supposed to do that? In between working multiple jobs? Scheduling nursing visits for our parents? Nagging you to go to your therapy? You pile all this on me and then you criticize how I handle it.”

“Because you almost fucking killed them, Van. They almost died. Ava is my whole god-damned world, and Landon,” my voice catches, “he’s my son. You almost killed your nephew.”

“What?” Van sinks to the floor as though her legs gave out. “What?” She stares up at me. “How?”

“That doesn’t matter. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the last piece of my life you get to know anything about.”

“Stephen,” she says, her voice catching on a sob. “No.”

“If you’d been honest, I’d have been mad. But I’d have helped you. It didn’t need to come to this. You didn’t trust me, and now I don’t trust you. You put my family in danger.”

“I didn’t trust you?” she asks, her tone returning to steel. “You just told me I have a nephew, and it’s clear you’ve known for a while. I don’t know what’s happened to us, Stephen, but we’re a long way from okay.”

“I agree with that,” I say, straightening. She’s right to call me out, but it doesn’t dull my rage at her involvement in Ava and Landon’s accident.

“I have nowhere else to go. I don’t have a job right now.”