Page 121 of Juniper Hill (The Edens 2)

“You think she knows how much Memphis is worth?” Knox asked.

Winn nodded. “I do.”

“I’m worth nothing,” I said. “Not anymore.”

Knox put his hand on my knee. “I doubt she saw it that way.”

“She could have gone to his wife,” I said.

“Nah.” Knox sighed. “Too dangerous.”

I was the easy route to millions. Except I didn’t have millions. Not anymore. “Why would she want Drake?”

“This is where Jill comes into play,” Winn said. “Again, without a confession, I can’t be sure, but I suspect that after your father denied her money, she decided she needed more ammunition. Specifically, a paternity test. Something to hold over his head, maybe Oliver’s too.”

“Enter Jill,” Knox m

umbled.

“She’s a piece of work.” Winn rolled her eyes. “She doesn’t think she did anything wrong. Averie reached out to her weeks ago. Fostered some sort of relationship. Told her that she was Drake’s aunt. That her brother was his father. Averie’s story was that you refused to admit Drake was her brother’s son. And before they could get answers, you fled New York.”

My jaw dropped. “What? And Jill believed her?”

“Apparently. They’d become friends. Jill thought she was helping Drake get reunited with his family.”

“Oh, I hate her.” My teeth ground together.

Knox seethed at my side. “That fucking bitch.”

“Averie convinced Jill that she needed her help but they couldn’t meet in Quincy. That you might recognize her. It was too much of a risk that you’d take Drake and disappear like you had in New York. So Jill agreed to take Drake and meet her at that motel. It turns out, we weren’t all that far behind her. Thirty minutes, maybe. She thought she’d be back in town by five and you’d never be the wiser. Except it took longer at the motel because the money Averie promised Jill wasn’t there.”

“Wait.” Knox held up a finger. “Money?”

“One hundred thousand dollars. Averie said it was a reward her ‘brother’ was paying to anyone who helped reunite him with his son.”

“But Averie didn’t have the money,” I said.

Winn shook her head. “No and Jill refused to leave without it.”

“And Jill believed all of this?” I asked.

“I don’t know.” Winn shrugged. “It’s what she’s claiming.”

“Do you think it’s the truth?” Knox asked.

“Unfortunately, yes. Jill’s panicked. I don’t think she’s got the guts to lie when she’s staring at a kidnapping charge.”

“Of course it’s true. She thinks I’m a horrible mother,” I said. “She was probably enamored with Averie and thinking Drake would be better off without me.”

Knox put his arm around my shoulders. “You’re not a horrible mother. She’s fucking crazy, honey.”

“Then what am I for leaving Drake with her?”

His eyes softened. “I left him there too. So did other parents. Don’t put this on your shoulders. It’s on hers. Hers alone.”

“I should have trusted my instincts.” And the guilt for ignoring them would plague me for years to come.

“Knox is right, Memphis,” Winn said. “This is not your fault.”