Page 37

Juliette

“T here's no way this is real,” Lux said, staring down at the petite woman who sat on the other end of the table. Bella was due to be at her mother's house in less than an hour, and somehow the girl in front of us was going to save her.

Her pitch-black hair was cut in a bob with bangs.

She wore an oversized hoodie that was at least three sizes too big on her as well as baggy jeans that hid her figure.

On her neck was a pair of headphones, and on her back a large backpack, which I quickly came to learn had multiple laptops and documents inside, along with blown-up pictures that now lay in front of us on the counter.

Her name was Mia, and she was apparently our saving grace.

“Yep,” she said, popping the p . “Your mother cheated on both her partners with each other and was surprised when they both left her because of it.

Your father is still alive and tried to fight her for custody, but she did some shady shit just like she's trying to do with Bella.

All details are in the file. And that's not even half of it.

If you want to dive deeper on the "donations" she's been giving to some of these charity and school events, I could dig up some more stuff.

Let's just say that it's more about paying off a few particular friends that have sway in her little community than actually wanting to do good.”

Lux sat there stunned, and if I was being honest, I was just as stunned as her.

To be hit with the information so nonchalantly—that Lux’s father had not abandoned her and that he had fought for custody of her—could not be easy.

Even worse, I knew that the small woman in front of me knew way more than she was letting on too.

I probably should've been scared of her, but I was mostly impressed. It wasn’t easy to dig up this kind of information. And while her methods might have seemed a bit crazy and cluttered, she seemed to have a system and she knew all the whens and wheres of Lux’s mother's timeline.

Bella was at my side, gripping my hand. Neither of us had the courage to leave her out of this meeting. She hadn’t stopped crying since the showdown the day before. She even crawled into bed with us, seeking comfort.

And while Bella probably didn’t fully understand what was going on, there was a renewed sense of hope between us.

It may be awful, but it’s our only way out.

Mia looked at us expectantly.

“So, do you need more than that or…?"

"No, I think that will do it,” Lux replied, though she sounded a little unsure, no doubt trying to digest what she’d just heard. Something was nagging at the back of my brain. I tried to push it away and leave this to Lux, but I couldn't help myself.

“Is there anything a little bit more illegal?” I asked. “Besides the shady donations?”

Lux gave me a look, but I couldn't tell if she was appreciative or skeptical.

Mia leaned forward, her eyebrows wagging. “Oh, you know, I have something. But this one's more of a rumor, so we're gonna need to get a little more proof if we want it to pack a punch.”

“Tell us,” Lux ordered.

“Nine years ago, she was driving under the influence, or at least that's what the records insinuate. She was never taken into custody, but she was in a car accident and later taken to the hospital. My guess is she either knew the policeman on the scene or sweet-talked him into taking her name out of the papers. Maybe both.”

The world stood still.

There’s no such thing as coincidence with my mother.

Lux had said those words to me before. My body caught up before my mind did, and I started to shake. I didn't want to believe it.

Nine years ago. Something had happened in my life nine years ago. Something that changed its whole trajectory. Something that still to this day affected every part of it.

“What else do you know about it?” I asked, trying to keep the horror out of my voice, my nails digging into my pants.

“Just that it was in New York and her car was totaled. In fact, the car seems to have disappeared altogether.”

No.

There was absolutely no way Lux and I were connected by something so horrible.

But they died nine years ago.

The supposedly drunk driver was never found. It was in New York. It was labeled as a hit and run. I had grieved my parents, having to come to terms with the fact that their murderer might never be caught.

The universe had to be playing a fucking joke on me.

There’s no way. I don’t want to believe it. I can’t.

“Get me those files,” I said, looking at Mia. “I need them now. Yesterday. ”

“For that, I need a lawyer,” she replied with a grimace. “I can only go so far so fast. Now, if I had someone with credentials on my side…”

“I have one,” Lux said. She reached her hand out to mine, squeezing it. The look she gave me told me our minds had gone to the same place. “She can help with whatever you need. She specializes in this apparently.”

“Great!” Mia hopped off her seat. “Now, if you excuse me, I am going to get started on that for you. If you need to buy some time, you can always throw your father’s situation—or the donations— in her face . ”

“I'll keep that in mind. Thank you,” Lux said, gaze cast down to the blown-up photos Mia left behind.

The sound of the front door shutting echoed through the silent house. It felt heavy, like a hit to my chest.

“You don't think?—”

“Come on, Bella,” I told the child, maneuvering her off the chair. I regretted her even being a part of this conversation even more now. “We're not going to school today, but that doesn't mean you can slack on your homework.”

“But it's still so early!” she exclaimed with a pout.

“And the earlier you finish, the earlier you can play,” I reasoned, and this time she didn't fight me.

Lux was still looking at me, her gaze heavy. But I didn’t want to meet her eyes for fear that I would give everything away. I needed time to digest this, to talk myself out of spiraling.

There's no way. There is no fucking way, and I refuse to believe it. Not just because of what it meant for my family, but what it would mean for Lux and me going forward. For Bella and me.

I could already feel it souring things between us. And that somehow felt like my fault.

But as I sat with Bella at the table and felt Lux watching from afar, I couldn't help but think of my parents. Of what their last minutes had been like. Of how terrifying it must have been. And how, if it were true, her mother had gotten away with it for years.

I thought about how she found my aunt. And how she was so hostile to me from the beginning.

Has she known who I am all along?

Maybe she already knew I was their daughter. Maybe her going to my aunt wasn't just to get dirt on me and Lux and just her way of doing damage control because it shocked her that her daughter and I had found each other and might be one step closer to figuring out who the fuck she really was.

Another voice in my head whispered something even worse.

Maybe it is truly just the world's most awful coincidence.

Maybe there wasn't a bigger scheme. Maybe there wasn't some villain trying to ruin my life and instead just a woman who wanted to cover up her crimes.

And all the while my mind kept going to one thing. Can we make it through this?

I tried to put on a brave face for Bella, but I could barely focus, and Lux saw right through me.

“Juliette, can I talk to you?”

Fuck. I looked up at Lux, trying not to show her just how afraid I was of this conversation.

“Does that mean I can go play outside?”

“Go ahead,” Lux replied before calling, “Gina!” When she appeared around the corner with refreshments and a small snack for Bella, Lux added, “Can you watch her outside for a moment, please?”

“Of course! Let's go, girl.” Bella took her hand and skipped off, happy not to have to deal with her homework, and Gina gave me one lingering glance before following her out.

I was silent as Lux took me to her office, but then as soon as the door closed, I couldn't help but spill everything that had been crowding my mind since the information broker showed up.

It was a nonstop tumble of every single thought in my head. Everything from her mom and her dad, how sorry I felt for her, how worried I was for Bella, and then finally, when I got to the car accident, I paused.

“What else, Angel? Tell me.”

“I can’t… It can’t be, right? Nine years ago. New York. My parents.” Lux nodded, moving closer. “Did your mother…”

I couldn’t bring myself to finish that sentence as I grabbed her shirt. Tears were already filling my eyes.

Lux’s expression had never wavered, only showing me the calm, collected version of her. But when she finally spoke, my heart sank down to my feet, creating a chasm where it once was. A blackened, dark hole void of hope.

“I think it would be fucking crazy if it's true. But… Angel, she's a horrible person. I wouldn't put it past her to have taken a few lives. So let's wait to see what Laura and Mia can dig up, okay? We can’t get carried away. Right now, we need to focus on keeping Bella here. We can figure out the accident later.” She held my chin, making me look at her. “And if it’s true, we’ll deal with it together.”

I nodded and leaned against her chest, inhaling deeply. In and out. In and out. Just like I taught Bella. I let her warmth and sureness envelop me, finding comfort in her. I pushed away everything else.

It was just me and her. And all we wanted to do was keep the little girl we loved safe. That was it. That was our reason, and I just needed to focus on it.

Though I had a feeling that I would need something much stronger than breathing exercises to get me through the next twenty-four hours.