by Marie Force
“We work together,” Noah added. “And we’re together outside of work.” He reached for her hand and held on tight, the heat of his hand making her realize how cold hers was. “She hasn’t left Vermont in more than two months.”
“That’s helpful information,” the detective said. “Do you have any idea why your ex-husband would’ve told people to look at you if anything happened to him?”
“Because he’s a psycho! It would take me twelve hours to tell you the full extent of the nightmare he put me through. He just served me with a lawsuit yesterday, and now this.”
“What was the lawsuit about?”
“He’s seeking damages for me telling people he’s a sociopath, which he is.” Brianna needed to change the is to was, but hadn’t fully processed that he was dead. “No doubt there were a lot of people who wanted him dead. He lied and cheated and schemed and had zero remorse toward the people he hurt. His parents can tell you how he was. They know.”
“We have detectives interviewing them later today. I think we have what we need from you. Since you have an alibi, we won’t take any more of your time, but we ask that you stay available in case we need more information.”
“Th-that’s fine,” Brianna said, her nerves shredded.
“Can you think of anyone else we should talk to, any close friends or business associates?”
Brianna named a few people. “But that was more than a year ago. He tended to go through friends once they figured out his racket. I have no idea if any of them are still in his life. I’ve spoken with his parents a few times, but other than that, I’ve had no contact with anyone else in his group.”
“That’s helpful. Thank you.”
“I want to clarify that my client is not, in any way, a suspect in this case,” Grayson said.
“She’s not a suspect at this time,” the detective replied. “We reserve the right to interview her again, should the need arise.”
“Understood,” Grayson said.
“Thank you again for your time, Ms. Esposito.”
Officer Brinkman ended the call and put the portable phone on the coffee table. “We appreciate your cooperation. I won’t take any more of your time.”
Grayson got up to walk him out and returned a minute later, taking the seat across from them. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about, Brianna. That was a formality so they could rule you out.”
Noah kept his arm around her, infusing her with his heat and support. “What can we do for you, Bri?”
“I don’t know. I just don’t know what to think of this or how to feel or anything.”
“No matter how things ended with him or the hell you’ve been through at his hands, it’s still a shock to hear he was murdered,” Grayson said.
“Yes, it is,” she said with a sigh. “Even if it solves a lot of problems for me.” She glanced at Noah. “At least one of us isn’t married anymore, not that I’d want it to happen this way. As much as I hated him for what he did to me, I didn’t want him to die.”
“We know that, sweetheart,” Noah said. “Of course you didn’t.”
“Is it okay to speak freely about your situation in front of Brianna?” Grayson asked.
“Yes,” Noah said.
“My guy thinks he’s located her outside of Burlington. He’s going there tomorrow to check it out.”
“That was fast,” Noah said.
“He’s good. That’s why I use him. I’ll let you know when I hear from him, and I’ll get the paperwork started in the meantime.”
“Thanks, Gray, and thanks for coming when I called you.”
“No problem.”
“Yes, thank you, Grayson,” Brianna said. “I appreciate you being here and having my back.”
“We’ve got you covered,” Gray said. “I know it’s easy for me to say, but try not to worry. You’ve got the truth on your side.”
“The truth…” Brianna shook her head, filled with dismay. “It’s amazing how people manipulate the truth. Rem was a master at that. He could make you believe you were losing it when he’d rewrite history or say something didn’t happen the way you know it did. I used to think people were essentially good. He showed me otherwise.”
“The deficiency was on him, Brianna, not you,” Grayson said. “All you did was love the guy. I’m going to get out of your hair so you can get some rest. Call me if there’s anything else I can do.”
“You’re the best,” Brianna said. “Thanks again.”
“Happy to do what I can to help.”
Noah got up to walk him out, and the two men embraced. She’d enjoyed watching the bond that Noah shared with his siblings, despite his professed loner tendencies.
That was when she remembered his sisters had invited them to dinner. “You should call to let your sisters know why we’re not there for dinner.”
“Oh crap. I’d forgotten. I’ll do that now. Is it okay to tell them what happened?”
“Sure.”
Noah reached for the phone on the table and placed the call to his house.
Brianna could hear loud music in the background when one of them answered the phone.
“Hey, it’s me,” Noah said. “Brianna just found out that her ex-husband was murdered in Boston. We had to deal with cops and stuff, so we’re not going to make it over there.”
She couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation.
“No, I don’t think she’d be up for that tonight.”
“Up for what?” Brianna asked.
“They want to bring dinner over here.”
“It’s fine. They can.”
“Are you sure?”
Brianna nodded. “I could use the distraction.”
“All right, then. Bri says to come on over, but don’t come in hot, you hear me?” Noah gave the address to Brianna’s house and ended the call. “I apologize in advance for the chaos they’re going to bring.”
“I’m looking forward to it. They’re fun, and it’ll help to be surrounded by friends tonight.”
“You are surrounded by friends. I hope you know that.”
“I’m glad you’re here. Once again, you’re helping me through a very rough day just by being here and holding my hand.”
“Your hand is my favorite hand to hold.” He brought it to his lips and kissed the back of it. “You’re going to be okay. Tell me you know that.”
“I know.”
“You’ve had a terrible shock, and your feelings are understandably all over the place.”
“They are. If you told me earlier today that I could still feel anything other than disgust for him, I would’ve laughed. But when I heard what’d happened to him…”
“That’s perfectly normal, Bri. Once upon a time, you loved the guy more than anything. It’s natural to feel sad that he’s dead.”
“I feel sad to know that he probably crossed someone who wasn’t having his shit, that his condition most likely led to his death. He never had a chance because there’s no cure for antisocial personality disorder. He wasn’t going to suddenly develop the compassion for others that the rest of us take for granted. He just wasn’t capable.”
“The whole thing is sad. When they said Boston Public Garden, I thought of being there last June at my cousin Wade’s wedding. They took pictures in the garden.”
“Rem hated it there. He was allergic to everything.” And then she was sobbing again, her heart breaking for the man she’d thought he was, only to find out that man had been an illusion, a figment of her imagination, a con man of the highest order.
Noah held her close to him, rubbing her back in soothing circles.
“I have no idea why I’m crying.”
“It doesn’t matter why. Just let it out.”
“I need to call his parents,” she said ten minutes later.
“Do you want to do that now and get it out of the way?”
“I suppose so.”
Noah reached for the phone and handed it to her.
Br
ianna held it in her hand for a long time before she dialed the number from memory.
He stood watch over her, wishing he could spare her from the pain this news had caused her.
“Hi, it’s Brianna.” Tears rolled down her face. “I’m… I’m sorry for your loss.”
Noah could hear the muffled sound of the voice on the other end of the call, but not what they were saying.
“Yes, the police were here. I told them what I know, which isn’t much. I hadn’t seen him in a long time.”
She talked to them for a few more minutes, expressed her condolences again and then paused to listen to what they were saying as more tears fell from her eyes. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I’ll be in touch.” With a deep sigh, she said, “I need to call my parents, too, so they don’t hear this news from someone else.”
“Go ahead. Get it over with.”
After the emotional exchange with her parents, Noah took the phone from her and turned it off, placing it on the coffee table. “Are you okay?”
“I have no idea what I am. His parents were so nice. They said that no matter how it ended, they believed with all their hearts that Rem loved me as much as he possibly could.”
“That might be something to hold on to, you know? That he loved you the best way he knew how.”
“Maybe. I don’t know. It’s all so confusing. How can I feel the way I do about him most of the time, but still be crushed to hear he’s dead?”
“Because you’re a good person, and part of you still loved the person you thought he was. And believe me, I get that. It’s a fucked-up jumble of emotions that makes no sense whatsoever.”
“No, it doesn’t. My mother cried when she heard the news. That’s the dichotomy of Rem. They hate what he did to me, but a part of them still loves the person we all thought he was.”
“Strangely enough, that makes sense to me.”
“I’m glad it does to you. For me, it’s just hard to figure out what exactly I’m supposed to feel.”
“You will, honey. Just keep breathing.”
They were still huddled together on the sofa when his sisters arrived, carrying pans and trays, and one of them even had a blender. They got busy in the kitchen and left her and Noah alone until they were ready to join the group. And then each of them hugged Brianna and expressed condolences as Sarah handed her a margarita.
“Thank you, guys. This is very nice of you.”
“We’re sorry for your loss,” Nessa said.
“I feel guilty accepting condolences for someone I would’ve liked to have stabbed myself at times.”
“You’re allowed to feel crappy that someone you used to love has died this way,” Sarah said.
“Thank you. What did you guys make? It smells amazing.”
“Enchiladas,” Ally said, “including some with just grilled veggies for you.”
Brianna teared up again at their thoughtfulness. “That’s really nice of you and to relocate dinner over here.”
“Happy to,” Nessa said. “Now, have a seat and let us take care of you.”
Brianna did as she was told, sat at the table and let them take over. She’d never had sisters, but she could certainly get used to having these ladies in her life.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“One day you’re going to remember me and how much I loved you…then you’re gonna hate yourself for letting me go.”
—Drake
Watching Brianna interact with his sisters, Noah felt out of sorts and off-balance. Something had changed for him, something big and vital. He loved her. After his marriage blew up in his face, he’d promised himself he’d never go there again. There was a place where you gave another person control over your heart and your emotions. There was a place he never wanted to be again, until Brianna blasted into his life and turned everything upside down.
The discovery had him spinning and his stomach dropping as if he’d fallen into a bottomless pit.
He loved her.
He cared about her.
He hated to see her upset over a man who’d never deserved her.
He wanted her in his life.
And none of that was supposed to have happened. His goal had been to avoid anything that required a commitment or having to place trust in strangers. But she wasn’t a stranger. Not anymore, and regardless of his goal to avoid such things, he trusted her.
“What’s wrong?” Brianna asked him quietly.
When he looked at her, he noticed that her eyes were red and puffy. “Nothing.”
“I’m sorry to be such a mess over him. That’s not how I wanted to spend this afternoon and evening.”
“It’s not your fault, and I don’t blame you at all. I can only imagine how I’d feel if something had happened to her. I’d be upset with myself for being upset about her.”
“That’s it, exactly. It helps that you understand, but that doesn’t tell me what’s got you wound up.”
“It’s nothing. Just thinking about some stuff.”
“Will you tell me later?”
He couldn’t tell her he loved her. Not yet and certainly not tonight. That couldn’t happen the same night she found out her ex was dead. But he could tell her he was having feelings and get a sense of whether they were on the same page. And if they were? What then? “Yeah,” he said in response to her question. “We’ll talk later.”
“I’m looking forward to later.”
Ugh, that little smile, those pretty eyes, that face, the curls… He was crazy about her, and it was getting worse by the minute.
The girls were unusually thoughtful. They cleaned the entire kitchen, did all the dishes and got ready to leave shortly after dinner, each of them hugging Brianna and letting her know they cared and were close by if she needed friends.
“I’m heading back to Boston tomorrow for school,” Sarah said, hugging Noah. “Keep me posted on what goes on here, okay?”
“I will.”
She whispered in his ear, “I like her. Don’t mess it up.”
Noah laughed and gave her a playful shove. “Get out of here. And drive carefully tomorrow.”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Speaking of Dad, no sign of him this week?”
“Not that we heard, and we would’ve,” Nessa said. “Is anyone shocked that he’s a no-show?”
“Nope,” Ally and Noah said in stereo.
“Who cares?” Ally said as she put her coat on and pulled her long hair out of the collar. “Izzy doesn’t need him. She has us. And Cabot, who’s been there for days now.”
“What’s up with that?” Noah asked.
“I don’t think even Izzy knows,” Sarah said, laughing, “but she hasn’t kicked him out, so that’s something.”
If Izzy didn’t want him there, he wouldn’t be. That was for sure.
“Any word on when she’s coming home?” Noah asked.
“They said maybe the day after tomorrow,” Nessa said, “and Cabot is planning to stay with her to help for as long as she needs it.”
“Has Izzy figured out that he has a massive crush on her?” Brianna asked.
“She’s not sure that he does,” Ally said. “She’s as surprised as we are that he’s planning to stick around.”
“Very interesting,” Noah said. “Thanks again for dinner, you guys.”
“Make sure you’re home by curfew.” Sarah smiled at Brianna. “He used to love saying that to us.”
“Because not one of you ever made it, and I had to listen to Mom rant about where you were and what you were doing.”
Ally winked. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Actually, no, I wouldn’t.”
Brianna laughed at their antics, which made him thankful for his sisters and the lightness they’d brought to this difficult evening.
He walked them out and waved as they drove off. Back inside, he shut off the outside lights and locked the door before wondering if Brianna wanted him to stay. Maybe she’d rather be alone. He ought to at least ask h
er.
She’d curled up on the sofa with a blanket over her lap.
Noah sat next to her. “What can I do?”
“You’ve already done so much. Thanks for being here. You and your sisters make it easy to forget my troubles.”
“Do you want to be alone?”
“No,” she said quickly. “Unless you’d rather go home.”
“I’d rather be with you.”
“Are you going to tell me what you were thinking about earlier when you looked weird in the eyes?”
“Did I?”
“You did.”
“Tonight isn’t about me. It’s about you and whatever you need.”
“I’m talked out on that topic. Let’s talk about something else.”
“What I was thinking would be better discussed at a time when there’s nothing else weighing on us.”
Her brows furrowed adorably. “This sounds serious.”
“It’s serious in a good way.”
She tipped her head, studying him so intently, he wondered if he had something on his face. “What’re you saying, Noah?”
“Nothing yet, Brianna, because you’ve had a rough day.”
“Let’s pretend today was any other day. What would you say to me then?”
“In that case, I might say that I find myself wondering what’s going to happen when you’re done here and have to go back to Boston. I might tell you I’ve been thinking about maybe going with you because I can’t imagine being here without you. I might say something like that.”
Her lips parted, and her eyes widened. “You would come to Boston with me?”
He shrugged. “Maybe.”
“But your business and your family… Your whole life is here.”
“If you’re there, my whole life isn’t here.”
“Noah…”
“See what I mean? Not the right time for this.”
“Yes, it is. It’s the perfect time to remind me that the past doesn’t define me.”
“It doesn’t. You’re amazing, and I just want to be with you. If you need to be in Boston, then that’s what we’ll do. If you want me there, that is.”
“Yes,” she said on a long exhale, “I want you there, Noah. I want you here, there, everywhere.”
