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I hooked my sax case over my shoulder, grabbed my cross-body bag, and hit the stairs.

Pushing through the front doors, I stepped into the cool night air of the crowded street, found a ride, and took my sorry ass home.

ANA

I went to bed with my mind churning.

The bliss Deacon and I always shared once more underscored the need to get the truth to him somehow.

I woke the next morning determined to fight back.

I reached out to Sue, and she put me in touch with a private investigator, a keen woman named Pia who ran a boutique PI agency in downtown Nashville.

I could’ve called Shalini to look into Max.

However, she had a contract with Six Sinners, and though I trusted her, I refused to get her involved in a conflict of interest.

Not when Deacon wanted nothing to do with me.

If she helped me and he found out, he’d go ballistic, and her job would be at risk.

No way.

Instead, I drove to meet Pia at her Nashville office.

She was a slight, brown-haired woman with a severe bob cut, freckles, no makeup, and a tailored designer suit.

While unprepossessing at first glance, she gave off a badass vibe, and I trusted her.

Over a cup of rich Brazilian coffee she handed me, I supplied her with a detailed brief on Max.

‘I’ll jump onto it,’ she promised, her expression somber.

When I opened a payment app to send her a deposit or pay her fee, she shook her head.

‘First let’s see what I find. Then we can talk compensation, if any. I happen to take cases like these involving cheating husbands scamming their wives pro bono.’

‘I can afford it,’ I insisted.

‘You can donate instead to my charity of choice,’ she murmured, pointing to a brochure for a downtown women’s shelter.

As I left her office, I wondered about her story and her passion for vulnerable women.

While waiting for Pia to get back to me, I focused on Raff.

He was back at my place for a few days, and we baked chocolate chip cookies together.

‘Mom, why aren’t you and Dad talking?’ Raff asked, mixing the batter with a somber expression. ‘Is it because of Max?’

‘We’re just getting through some adult misunderstandings, sweetie,’ I said, squeezing his shoulder. ‘Regardless, we both love you very much.’

‘I just want us to be normal again,’ he muttered, staring down at the bowl.

‘I do too, honey. I really do.’

‘How much longer until we’re a family again?’

The question broke my heart.