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“Ask me if I care, Frost. No one matters to me more than your sister.”
“You can’t go on this way, Zach.” Delilah squeezed his hand. “The gambling and alcohol will destroy your life if you don’t stop.”
“You don’t know anything about it. How could you? Your life is perfect.”
She burst into laughter. “Have you forgotten how much I weighed when I left Harmony?”
“Of course not. What does that have to do with me?”
“I had to take control of my life and my eating. I still fight that battle every day. Food is my addiction and I can’t ever let down my guard.”
“I don’t think I’m as strong as you.”
“If you’re serious about breaking the addictions, you’ll need help. You can’t do it alone.”
“I’ll think about it after I get Petrelli off my back.”
Delilah glanced at Matt.
He pressed a kiss to her temple. “Your choice,” he murmured. Unless Zach wanted help, the money from Delilah would only be a temporary fix.
She reached into her pocket for the check she’d filled out before leaving the hotel and slid it across the table. “This is your five-year allotment from Mom. The money train stops right here, Zach. Mom made sure I didn’t have the authority to give you more. Make good use of it, bro.”
Zach stared at the check a moment, relief flooding his face. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Find something to do with your time that doesn’t include gambling and alcohol. Get a job you love, Zach. You’re the only family I have left. I don’t want to lose you, too.”
He shoved the check into his pocket. “I’m mostly sober now. You promised answers. What’s going on with Randy? Why did the police take him for questioning?”
“The autopsy results indicated your mother was murdered. Someone smothered her.”
“That’s crazy. Why would anyone murder Mom? She was dying with only hours to live.”
“The person who killed her believed murdering Michelle was worth the risk.”
Zach shook his head, winced as he pressed a hand to his forehead. “What does that have to do with Randy?”
“Delilah and I walked into your mother’s hospital room with the alarms going off and Randy standing over her with a pillow in his hands.”
Delilah’s brother leaped to his feet, hands fisted. “He killed her? Randy killed Mom?”
“Sit down,” Matt snapped. “We don’t have proof your stepfather hurt Michelle. Detective Russell is investigating her death. He’ll find the truth.” And if he didn’t, Matt would. He wouldn’t stop until he eliminated the threat to Delilah.
“Why did you say you were to blame for the danger I’m in?” Delilah asked.
“Your boyfriend is right. Petrelli is a shark. When I was late paying back the money I owe, he threatened to go after my family.”
Matt’s muscles bunched. “Petrelli knows about Delilah?”
Zach swallowed hard.
“How does he know, Zach?”
Silence.
“You told him, didn’t you?” He slammed a fist on the table. “How could you throw her under the bus? She would have no chance against scum like that.”
“I didn’t think he’d act on the knowledge because I intended to pay back the money.”
