Page 81 of Reckless Love

Owen stares at me across the desk, and he raises his eyebrows. “Is she? And she still shacked up with you? She used to be a real firecracker; did you help her light that fuse again?”

“If he survives, she’s divorcing him.”

“Who’s her divorce lawyer?”

“Caitlin Smith,” I say with more confidence than I feel. Ava told her mother she’d ask for a divorce, but that’s another area I haven’t prodded with any intention. Part of me just wants to live in this in-between for a few days, where I have hope that Ava and Landon could be mine.

“She’d be better to get Jake Lockwood nailed down. Just returned to the island from some fancy family law practice in England. Guy’s a shark. Talk of Bellerive at the moment.”

“I’ll mention it to Ava, but Caitlin’s family.”

Owen takes a deep breath and releases it. “You sure about this? I’ll defend you and the choice you two are making. I don’t have a problem with that. But divorces with such extreme wealth are rarely smooth sailing, and if Raul makes a full recovery, you might have a nasty fight on your hands.”

“I understand that I’m taking a risk, and that risk isn’t just personal. If that means I have to take a step back from the company…” I swallow because that’s the last thing I actually want. “Either way, I need to make myself somewhat available to help with Landon and Ava’s care.”

“Why?” Owen asks. “The Tucker Trust would cover any medical necessities for Ava and Landon.”

I nod slowly. I do know that. Ava explained a lot about the trust to me while we were together, but I hate the idea of asking her to manage their care. It goes against every fiber of my being. “It’s important to me to take care of them in whatever way I can.”

“Must have been scary for all of you,” he says. “Could have so easily gone in the other direction.”

I swallow and nod again. That thought has also been at the forefront of my decisions. Another reason I want to make the most of whatever time I can get with them. Their accident is another warning that life and happiness aren’t guaranteed. If anything had gone even a little differently that night, one or both of them might not be here.

“If you’re okay to keep our deal for the Bellerive division, even with the Ava situation, I’ll do my best to juggle the two commitments.”

Owen rocks in his chair and steeples his fingers in front of his chest. He’s impossible to read, so I just wait. The high-level military training he had after he left high school has made him an emotional fortress, probably without even trying.

“Honestly, we could use a little less work in Bellerive until we get our staffing solidified. If you’re okay with a bit less money, I’m fine with the risks we’re taking.”

“Yes,” I say more emphatically than I should. Less money is definitely not good for me, but no money would be horrendous.

“All right,” Owen says, laying his forearms on his desk. “Now for why I called you here. The police have no confirmed culprits, but they’ve narrowed their focus to the union. And…” He releases a deep sigh. “Your sister’s name was being thrown around at the station today. I understand she played a big role in the union’s initial organization. There are people at the station who believe there’s a high likelihood she was also involved in the car accident.”

“Absolutely not,” I say with conviction, even though my insides are screaming that it is possible. “If we’re being completely candid, I did ask her after the accident if she was involved. She had an alibi. She was at a job interview in Rockdown.”

“At night?”

“I asked the same question, but it was a night-shift manager doing the interview.”

Owen’s lips twist, and he leans back again. “I shouldn’t even be giving you this head’s up, but if it was one of my brothers who might be involved, I’d want to know. Verify that alibi, and if it’s a lie, figure out how you feel about that. You either help her or you let her go down.”

My heart thuds at the idea of letting my sister go to jail, because that’s where she’ll end up. The island’s justice system has harsh penalties for murder, attempted murder, or even being convicted as an accessory to either. “She swore to me she had no part in it.”

“As we both know, when people are backed into a corner, they’ll say all kinds of things to save themselves.” Owen runs his hands along the armrests of his chair. “You need to be sure who you’re supporting and why you’re doing that.”

“Understood,” I say. Owen doesn’t seem to be passing judgment in either direction, which I appreciate, but fuck me, another complication. And just like the others, solving this one might actually make my life a whole lot worse.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Stephen

Instead of going home, I drive to Rockdown to interview a potential recruit for the company. He’s ex-military, and his résumé was one of the more impressive ones we’ve received in terms of his knowledge and service. During our chat, he asks some hard questions, particularly in relation to Hernandez dying in the car crash. At the end of the interview, he tells me he’ll call me if he’s still interested in working for us, so not exactly a home run.

With a sigh, I pull into the parking lot of the assisted-living place my parents moved into the other day. From talking to them on the phone, it seemed like they were settling in well, but this is the first time I’ve been able to drag myself away from Ava and Landon to check for myself.

The lobby is brightly lit with colorful paintings on the pale-brown walls. I’d been a little worried that “government subsidized” might have been code for “run-down.”

At the information desk, I ask where Lorraine and Walter Foster are located, and the nurse leads me through the weaving corridors until we’re in a communal area. Out in the gardens, my mother and father are both sitting with a group of other people, playing cards.