Page 190 of Vega

Then Renzo said, “That isn’t the worst thing I found out.”

I stared at him, wondering if I wanted to know more.

“Sitting out here for years has given me time to think back on everything that felt off or didn’t add up. It never sat right how the hospital handled your sister’s death, so I did some digging. Mercy didn’t die.”

My heart stopped.

Nodding, he said, “The death certificate was falsified. People at the hospital were paid off. Renee worked at that hospital. She knew the paperwork wasn’t right. But Sal was facing serious immigration problems and drowning in debt. Marcus promised to make everything disappear if Sal and Renee stayed quiet about the baby surviving.”

“So, Marcus has something to do with Mercy’s disappearance too?”

Renzo slowly nodded his head.

“Why would he do that?”

Renzo shrugged. “I have no idea. But it’s true. Sal verified it when I confronted him.”

My eyes bucked. “You’ve been talking to Sal? He knows where you are?”

“Yes.”

“Renee knows too?”

“Marcus had all of them scared and dependent on him. They’re under Marcus’s control too. The only people that don’t know is your mother and grandmother.”

I stared at my father, waiting for him to tell me I’d misunderstood. A humorless laugh left my throat. Sal and Renee had watched me search for Renzo. Marcus had raised me while hiding the fact that he helped force my father out of my life.

Some of the people I trusted the most had allowed me to believe Renzo chose to abandon me.

“I stayed gone to protect you. Marcus has money, influence, and people willing to hurt whoever he points toward. I have none of that. And the more I found out, the more I wanted to protect you and your mother from the truth.”

“You left me with the man that was threatening to kill me.”

His face folded in response to that accusation.

“Everybody told me you were safe, that he was loving to you and was a good father to you.”

“Safe?” I sat up. “I was raised by the nigga who forced my father to disappear.”

“He was good to you.”

“That’s supposed to make it better?”

“I had no choice.”

“Everybody had a choice except me.” My voice cracked.

Renzo reached for me, but I stepped back.

“Do you know where Mercy is?” I asked.

“No.”

“Does Sal?”

“He claims he doesn’t. He and Renee never learned which family took her.”

“And you believe them?”