Page 309 of Shadowman

Velle’s face falls, harder than the rest of theirs, though they’re all clearly shocked by this news.

“What girl??” I whisper to Dash, who shushes me.

“Are you sure?” Velle frowns at the phone, forehead lined in confusion. He peeks at Ren.

“For how long?” Rook asks, equally puzzled.

“My guys found the death certificate and some hospital files,” his dad explains. “Minimal info, but according to that, she died in Vegas a few years back ofdrug-related complications.”

Velle runs his hands through his hair, while Rook and Joy watch him. “Well, there goes that theory,” he mutters.

Ren is staring off into space.

“Whoever was in there disappeared during the storm, anyway,” Joy murmurs to Kemper. “We haven’t been able to locate anyone…”

“Unless she’s in the mansion,” Dr. Love jumps in, and they all glance at him.

Okay,whothe hell are they talking about?? And since when is there another “she” anywhere on this island??

“Doesn’t matter now,” Velle snaps, clearly frustrated. “If it wasn’t Alvarez, then who the hell was it??”

“There’s more,” Rook’s dad reclaims their attention. “Turns out, she has a twin brother.”

“A twin… brother?” Rook’s brow furrows.

Velle looks even more confused now.

“Yea,” Mr. Samuels says as Jasper’s walkie-talkie starts going off and he staggers off to answer it. “We’re still digging, but I’ll update you as soon as we get more.”

“Okay, thanks, Dad,” Rook sighs. Velle is pacing, rubbing his eyes while Jasper stalks back over, signaling that he needs them. “We have to run right now.”

“Stay safe, Harley.” His father’s voice is laced with concern, and it aches my chest to hear.

What would it be like to have parents who actually gave a crap about my well-being?

“I will,” Rook answers. “I love you, Dad. Tell Mom and Kira I love them too.”

“I can’t thank you enough, Mr. Samuels,” Velle hums.

“What did I say?” he teases, and Velle chuckles. “Keith.”

“I dunno if I can do that.” Velle grins.

“You better, or I’ll force you to call me Dad.” The smile is audible in Keith’s voice.

Rook laughs, and I think Velle is actually blushing.

Breathing out hard, my head is circling that baffling phone call. Ren is still frowning at nothing as I grab his arm. “What the hell was that about?”

It takes him a moment, but eventually he murmurs, “I got intel from Carson…”

My forehead lines. “From the control room?”

He nods. “The Ivory was holding a woman in the prison, keeping it on the hush-hush. But that’s pretty much the extent of my knowledge on it…”

“So then what’s all this about a dead girl and her twin brother…?” My words trail as something sticks in my mind.

Trevel’s girlfriend… Alice. She had a twin brother. Andres.