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Why had she created this fantasy for him about a perfect loving father who had been taken from the world too soon because of a negligent driver? Was that meant for Trev’s benefit?

Or her own?

“So!” Rowena eyed Trev’s abandoned food. “Ready for that shower?”

“Sure.” Trev stood up and made a fuss about tidying up his plate.

Jerry swept over to accept the dishes from him with a courteous smile.

Everything but the knife, of course.

It was only a butter knife but better than nothing.

Trev kept it up his sleeve and followed Rowena upstairs. He knew everyone was watching him as he left, and he had already decided that he didn’t trust any of them. Their friendly smiles and kindness could be hiding any number of devious plans, and he refused to believe that they had gone to all this trouble simply because he was related to them. That was insane, and if it was true, then they were idiots.

Why risk so much for a person they’d never met?

For supposedly ruthless gangsters, they seemed like a bunch of chumps.

Rowena led Trev to a large bedroom, gesturing to a door that likely led to the bathroom. “So! Check under the sink and in the tub. There should be some shampoo and stuff. I used to live here, so pretty sure there’s at least some bodywash or something.”

Trev was already subtly eyeing the windows and the doors. “Uh-huh. Thanks.”

“You’re not a prisoner here, you know,” Rowena said, arching a perfectly manicured brow.

Apparently not subtle enough.

“Hmm?” Trev batted his eyes and tried to feign ignorance.

“Checking the exits? Looking for a way to get out?” Rowena’s brow remained quirked. “I already clocked you stealing that butter knife from breakfast, so. Come on. Let’s be real for a moment, sweetie.”

Trev froze.

Well.

Shit.

Rowena crossed her arms with a heavy sigh. “If you wanna go, you can. We’re not going to keep you here. But give Roddy a chance to talk to you, okay? You probably don’t trust us. I get it. Probably been through some crazy ass shit, but just know… you’re not the only one, okay?”

“The only one what?”

“Who Boris hurt.”

Trev narrowed his eyes sharply. “Never met him.”

“So?” Rowena cocked her hip. “Trust me. That man has a way of getting to you even from beyond the fuckin’ grave.”

Trev hesitated to pry because he didn’t want Rowena to know how curious he was, but he couldn’t help asking, “Did you know him?”

“Uh-huh.” Rowena’s smile was strained. “Wish I hadn’t. I don’t know what your mom told you about him or what you think you might know, but he was not a good man.”

Trev bristled, but said nothing.

“Hey.” Rowena’s expression softened. “I’m sure you have your reasons, okay? If your mom told you he was a saint and his shit didn’t stink or whatever, she probably did it to protect you. Give you somethin’ nice to think about.”

“You’re really sure about that, aren’t you?”

“I’m sure that your pretty face looks like a cat’s ass right now.” Rowena smiled like a shark. “Come on. You wouldn’t be pissed off unless your mom told you some sweet little story about what a great man he was, right? And here we are, throwing down all the vibes that he wasn’t.”