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"Did you really quit your job?" I ask, needing to change the subject before I jump him.
Henry nods solemnly. "I did. I couldn't continue working for a system that would turn its back on someone in need. Now I'm doing PI work. I’ve got one case. The Lazaro D’Amato disappearance. Pro bono, of course."
My heart clenches at the mention of my brother's name. For years, I've clung to the hope that Lazaro was still alive somewhere, waiting to be found. But now, faced with the reality of what Peter did, I feel that hope slipping away.
"Peter already said he killed Lazaro." I feel a wave of sadness wash over me, finally giving in to the idea that my twin brother is probably dead.
“He didn’t actually say he killed him.”
I look at Henry in confusion.
“In fact, I may have found something. Or it could be nothing, but I want to follow up. Whether he’s dead or not, we should know, right?”
“You found something?” Hope blooms again.
"I've been making calls all over the area, following up on any possible leads. Tonight, I called a hospital in Lafayette, Indiana. It's not far from where one of the dark vans was found abandoned after Lazaro's disappearance."
I lean forward, hanging on his every word. "And?"
"They had a man matching Lazaro's description arrive within twenty-four hours of when he went missing. He was there for nearly a month due to severe injuries."
A month in the hospital is a long time. He must have been really hurt. But that would have had him released nearly threeyears ago. So, where is he? "But if it was Lazaro, why didn't he contact us?"
Henry's expression turns serious. "The hospital couldn't give me more details but the fact that he’s listed as John Doe, so it’s possible he might have suffered memory loss. If he was in an accident or sustained head trauma, he might not remember who he is."
I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. The idea that Lazaro could be alive, but unable to remember us, is both thrilling and heartbreaking.
“The other option is he’s chosen to stay away. Leave his old life.”
I shake my head. “He’d never abandon me or Elio.”
"I’ll go to Indiana and see what I can find out.”
I soak in the idea that Lazaro could be closer to coming home than ever. "He is alive.”
Henry's eyes fill with cautious hope. "It's possible. I can't promise anything. And if this isn’t it, I’ll keep looking. I’ll look until I find out what happened.”
His determination, his unwavering support, touches something deep inside me. I look up at him, seeing him in a new light. Or maybe it’s the old light. The one where I saw a kind, honest, determined man who looked at me like I was the center of his world.
“Maybe you should come with me,” he suggests.
“I thought you had to keep your leads close to your chest.”
He gives me a smile. “That was when I was a cop. Now I'm a PI and you’re my client. I have to tell you everything.”
Overcome with emotion, I close the distance between us. My hands reach up to cup his face, and before I can second-guess myself, I press my lips to his. The kiss is soft at first, tentative, but quickly deepens as pent-up emotion pours out.
When we finally break apart, both breathless, I rest my forehead against his.
"Yes," I whisper. "Let's find my brother together." I feel a rush of affection for this man. The fear lingers, but I have to give him, us, another chance. “I’m going to trust you, Henry.”
His eyes fill with tears. “Lana… thank you.”
“But if you ever betray me again, I will kill you myself. No hesitation.” I wouldn’t really, but he needs to know how serious this is.
"If I ever betray you again, Lana, I would deserve nothing less.”
We sit, staring into each other's eyes. The air between us is charged. I want to lean into it and yet, I still worry that we’re too different.
