Page 123 of Justice II

“Was he having problems with anybody?”

“How would I know? Roman doesn’t tell me everything that goes on with his business. I should be asking you that.”

He looked down at his phone while I rubbed my stomach. I had spent so much time trying to build a life with Roman. We had a baby coming, and I needed him here. Whatever was going on, I prayed he wasn’t hurt.

Then I thought about Melody and how she had laughed before telling me I would learn. At the time, I thought she was being bitter because I wouldn’t leave my husband. But what if there was more to it?

“My sister came to see me recently,” I said.

Julian looked up immediately. “Melody? Where?”

“Outside my Pilates studio. She was waiting for me to come out.”

“Hold up. She lives here?”

“I guess she does. I didn’t ask for her address.” I rolled my eyes.

“Why the fuck are you just now telling me this?” he barked.

I frowned at him. “First of all, you don’t need to yell at me. I’ve been dealing with enough.”

“My brother is missing, Aria. You don’t get to decide what information I need.”

“I wasn’t hiding anything. She came to bother me about my marriage, and I told her to leave me alone.”

“What exactly did she say?”

I shifted in my chair. I loved my sister, but she was just jealous that I was the better woman for her ex-husband.

“She wanted me to leave him. She was talking about getting Keenan back and saying she could help me. I told her I didn’t need her help.”

“Did Roman know she was here?”

“No. I didn’t tell him.”

Julian shook his head, which irritated me. Roman would’ve been pissed that I even entertained a conversation with her. I was trying to keep the peace, and now his brother was acting like I had done something wrong.

“Who else knows she’s here?”

“I don’t know, Julian. We’re not exactly close anymore.”

He glanced toward the stairs. “Get Keenan down here. Maybe he knows something you don’t.”

I called for my nephew, then waited while Julian paced beside the table. If Keenan had been talking to Melody, he had done a good job keeping it from me. He went to school and spent most of his time in his room. I had enough going on without chasing behind him all day.

He came downstairs with his phone in his hand, looking between us as he stopped near the couch.

“Did somebody hear from my dad?”

“Not yet,” Julian said. “You been talking to your mother?”

Keenan glanced at me before shaking his head. “No. Why?”

“Because your aunt just told me she’s been around. You know where she’s staying?”

“No, I don’t,” he replied.

“Keenan, if you know something, you need to tell us,” I said. “We’re trying to find your father.”