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"I don't need anything from Oliver Fox. I have my inheritance of dirty money. My father was dirty. It makes me wonder how long he was doing business with the Carusos before it all went to shit."
"I thought you said Oliver was handling your investments," Ty interjected.
I clenched my hands into fists. "He was. I'm moving them back to Anders. At least I can trust my stepfather. This destroyed me. I’m not sure I can trust another man in my life."
Ty reached out, gently stroking my arm. "You can trust me. I would never hurt you."
"I know you wouldn’t. You’ve been a good friend to me, and I’m sorry I distanced myself from you," I said, my voice breaking.
“I understand. You were busy with the wedding and your new job. I couldn’t fault you for that.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Did you know about Raphael?”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Know how?”
“That he was my father’s killer?”
“I had an idea. I was closing in on the Carusos. Your father’s case is closed. We’ve questioned Antonio as to how much he knows but he lawyered up. His claim is that Raphael took it upon himself all those years ago and he had no idea he killed your father.”
I ground my teeth. “You believe that?”
Tyler shook his head. “Not one bit but unless someone wants to cross Antonio, they ain’t talking. Just be satisfied that your father’s murder is solved. Does your mother know?”
"She knows what happened on that island, but she doesn’t know my father was dirty," I said, my voice heavy with the weight of secrets. "I could never tell her or my brothers. They have too many good memories about him. I’ll keep it to myself."
Ty leaned forward, concern etched in his features. "How are you doing otherwise?"
"You mean between the hospital visits and running my husband’s multibillion-dollar corporation? I’m fine," I replied, sarcasm lacing my words. "I never see my friends or family. I don’t know what to say to them, and frankly, I don’t think they know what to say to me."
"Don’t you want their comfort?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.
"No. I just want it to go away," I said, my voice breaking. "I wish this was all just a bad dream. Sometimes I wake up and look at the other side of the bed and wish things were different. I don’t want to know what I know."
Ty sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You have no choice. Do you know where his child is?"
"I don’t," I said, frustration creeping in. "He said he wanted children, so why would he hide his child? I doubt he would let Lara just give her away. Oliver can be self-involved, but he takes care of his responsibilities."
"Maybe the child died," Ty suggested, his voice soft.
I began wringing my hands, staring at the floor. "Do you think you could help me find out?"
Ty hesitated. "I’m not sure what I could do."
"Come on, Ty," I pleaded, looking up at him. "I know you can find out."
He sighed again, but there was determination in his eyes. "I’ll do some checking and let you know. My shift starts in an hour; I have to go."
"I thought you stopped working overnights?" I asked, surprised.
"I did for a while. Now I’m back. I just couldn’t get used to working days. I prefer the anonymity the night provides," he explained.
"You and me both," I mumbled, feeling a strange kinship in our shared solitude.
We both rose from the couch, and I walked him to the door, kissing him softly on the cheek before he opened it.
"I’ll call you tomorrow," he said.
"Maybe we could have lunch at the Iron Horse this weekend? We haven’t done that for a long time," I suggested, a small smile tugging at my lips.
