Chapter 5: Nowhere to Go

“My uncle is dead.”

The words sounded absurd even as I said them.

Damon took the tablet from my trembling hands.

“You’re sure it’s him?”

“I attended his funeral.”

My knees weakened.

I reached for the edge of Damon’s desk.

Richard Carter had been my father’s younger brother. After Dad died, Uncle Richard had stayed close to me for several months.

Then his car went off a bridge.

The police recovered the vehicle three days later.

His body had been identified before the funeral.

At least, I had been told it had.

Damon turned to Marcus.

“Find him.”

“We’re already tracing his movements.”

“No police.”

Marcus nodded.

I looked at Damon. “Why not?”

“Because whoever helped him access this floor might know people inside law enforcement.”

“You don’t know that.”

“No. And until I know who we’re dealing with, I’m not handing them information.”

My head started pounding.

This morning, I had worried whether the florist had delivered enough white roses.

Now my dead uncle was apparently alive.

I laughed.

Damon frowned.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Maya.”

“I think I’m losing my mind.”

“You’re not.”

“I caught my fiancé with my best friend, found out you knew my father, learned he secretly investigated your company, and then watched my dead uncle steal his file.”

I looked down at myself.

“And I’m still wearing my wedding dress.”

Damon stared at me.

Then, unexpectedly, his mouth twitched.

I pointed at him.

“Do not laugh.”

“I wasn’t.”

“You were about to.”

“I value my life.”

Despite everything, a laugh escaped me.

It lasted two seconds.

Then I started crying.

Damn it.

I covered my face.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“This.”

“You don’t need to apologize.”

I felt Damon move closer.

He didn’t touch me.

Somehow, I appreciated that more.

Ethan would have pulled me into his arms and told me to stop crying because everything would be fine.

Damon simply stood there while everything wasn’t fine.

Eventually, I wiped my face.

“I want to go home.”

“I’ll take you.”

“No. I need to be alone.”

His expression changed.

“You shouldn’t be alone until we understand why Richard wanted that file.”

“I’m not in danger.”

“Someone broke into my office on your wedding day to steal records concerning your father.”

“That doesn’t mean they want me.”

“I’m not gambling with your safety.”

I folded my arms.

“You’re remarkably bossy.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“I’m still not going home with you.”

His eyes held mine.

“I didn’t ask you to.”

Before I responded, the office doors opened.

Ethan stormed inside.

Vanessa followed him.

Of course she did.

“Maya.”

My entire body tightened.

Damon stepped between us.

“How did you get up here?”

Ethan ignored him.

“You left the hotel with my father?”

I stared at him.

“That is your concern?”

“Everyone saw you.”

“Everyone also saw Vanessa.”

His jaw clenched.

Vanessa looked uncomfortable.

“Maya, we came because we were worried.”

I laughed.

“You have an interesting way of showing concern.”

Ethan stepped closer.

“Come home with me.”

“No.”

“We need to talk.”

“We talked.”

“You were angry.”

“I’m still angry.”

His gaze dropped to my dress.

“Fine. Be angry. Scream at me. Throw things. But stop behaving like four years meant nothing.”

I stared at him.

“You don't get to say that.”

“I made a mistake.”

“Six months, Ethan.”

“I know.”

“With her.”

Vanessa flinched.

Ethan reached for me.

Damon caught his wrist.

“Don’t.”

Ethan jerked free.

“Stop interfering!”

Damon’s expression remained calm.

“She said no.”

“She’s my fiancée.”

“I gave you back your ring.”

“You’re upset.”

Something inside me snapped.

“I am not confused because I’m upset. I am not temporarily insane because you cheated on me. I know exactly what I’m saying.”

I stepped toward him.

“We are finished.”

His face changed.

For the first time, I saw fear.

Then his eyes moved toward Damon.

Understanding twisted into something ugly.

“Is this about him?”

I blinked.

“What?”

“You’ve always been strange around her.”

Damon went still.

Ethan laughed bitterly.

“Maybe I should have noticed sooner.”

“Enough,” Damon said.

“No. She deserves to know.”

My pulse jumped.

“Know what?”

Ethan looked at me.

“My father never liked any woman I brought home. Then I brought you.”

“Ethan.”

Damon’s warning came too late.

“He remembered your coffee order after meeting you once. He asked about your job. He even attended dinners he normally skipped whenever you were coming.”

I looked at Damon.

He said nothing.

Ethan saw my expression and smiled without humor.

“Ask him why.”

Damon’s jaw tightened.

I suddenly remembered the photograph he said had been inside my father’s file.

A photograph of me.

“Why did you have my picture?” I asked.

Damon looked at Ethan and Vanessa.

“Leave.”

“No,” I said. “Answer me.”

His eyes returned to mine.

The silence stretched.

Then Damon walked to his desk and opened another drawer.

He removed a small envelope.

My name was written across the front.

Maya.

I recognized the handwriting immediately.

My heart stopped.

“My father wrote that.”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“Six years ago.”

I reached for the envelope.

Damon held it out.

My fingers trembled as I opened it.

Inside was a single folded page.

I unfolded it.

There were only two sentences.

Damon,

If anything happens to me, protect my daughter.

Whatever you do, never let her marry into your family.