bChapter /bb235 /b

    Without thinking, Elissa instinctively used her best friend as a shield.

    “Tanya’s here. It’s not really a good time.”

    Frank saw through her excuse instantly. “Didn’t she head out of town for work?”

    Elissa froze, caught off guard, as he went on, “Bernard ran into her at the airport this morning.”

    When he finished, he looked at her with a gentle expression, his meaning clear as day.

    Elissa hesitated for a moment, then decided it was time toy everything on the table. “The reason I asked you to go to Murphy Manor today—it was me using you. We’re already sepa-”

    “I don’t mind.”

    Frank suddenly leaned in, closing the space between them so quickly that their breaths mingled.

    His voice softened, full of warmth. “We’re married. Helping each other is only natural. How could that be using someone?”

    As soon as he finished, he dipped his head.

    Their lips were a whisper apart.

    Elissa’s breath caught in her throat. She shoved him away, panic rising, and scrambled out of the car. “Frank, calm down. I’m going upstairs!”

    She dashed into her building, jabbing the elevator button with desperate urgency.

    Thank God Rowan hadn’t seen that.

    If he had, she’d be dead meat.

    Frank opened his door and got out, intending to chase after her and clear the air.

    b1/3 /b

    17.13 D

    He wouldn’t treat her the way he used to. He’d get closer to her. He’d finally do what a real husband should.

    Just then, his phone buzzed twice in his pocket.

    Hurrying toward the building, he pulled it out to check the message.

    Bernard: [Mr. Atwater, we should have her whereabouts.soon.]

    Frank’s eyes gleamed with excitement. He stopped in his tracks and immediately dialed Bernard. “You’re sure you’re close to finding Little Nine?”

    Bernard replied, “Yes, Mr. Atwater. I’ve already gone through all the business records of the major families in Vistapeak City with any drug connections. No leads. But in Cresthaven, our guys just tracked down the license te of the car that picked up the kid from the orphanage all those years ago.”

    Frank’s tone grew urgent. “Have you traced which family owned the car?”

    By now, that drug lord was about to get out of prison.

    He should’ve been sentenced to more than twenty years, but someone powerful must have pulled strings for him, or found a scapegoat.

    Whoever this guy was, his influence was dangerous. Frank needed to find Little Nine before he walked free.

    Bernard said, “We’re working on it. The car’s been scrapped for years, but we’ll have an answer in a few days, tops.”

    Frank let out a long breath. “Work faster.”

    A short distance away, in the parking lot behind a pir, Marcia’s face was twisted with rage,

    She’de here to confront Elissa, to demand why she still hadn’t

    publicly acknowledged the divorce, why she was shamelessly clinging to Frank.

    She hadn’t expected to overhear that call.

    b2/3 /b

    17.12

    Chapter

    Frank was close to finding out.

    And then what? Elissa would be the apple of his eye.

    She’d live better than Marcia ever could–forever.

    Marcia clenched her teeth so hard it felt like her mrs would shatter.

    She’d never allow that to happen.

    No way Elissa could be that lucky.

    And if she was-

    Then Marcia would make sure Elissa didn’t live to see it.

    Back home, Elissa showered and realized how hungry she was.

    Earlier that year, Janice Garrett had dropped off some holiday groceries,

    and there was still food left over.

    She rummaged in the fridge and decided to fry up a beef pie.

    But she’d barely made it to the kitchen, pie in hand, when the doorbell

    rang.

    She frowned.

    Don’t tell me Frank followed me upstairs.

    Peering through the peephole, she saw a man standing outside. As if sensing her gaze, he looked up–and their eyes met through the door.

    b3/3 /b