“Maybe you’re right. Maybe this is karma’s way of forcing us to atone for the part we played in destroying her life.”
“She just discovered the additional pieces. She was lured here just like we were. I’m positive of it.”
“Then she’s scared blind and can’t trust us.”
If Maria was Ava , then at least she’d managed to enjoy a life similar to what she’d wanted. The signs were all there that Ava was alive, but none of us would have known if she was lying about it instead of not remembering her former life.
“One thing we do know is that Theo’s father had something to do with the recent article.”
Weston shook his head. “No, we don’t. Remember the reporter refused to reveal his source. Let me make some calls and see if I can find anything. If Xavier Summers changed his life again, there won’t be an obvious trail.”
A thought entered my mind. There was one place she could find all the answers she was seeking. “Maybe check with the airport and see if she took a flight.”
Weston blinked, then a look of understanding crossed his face. “To see her parents. Good idea.”
“As far as Xavier, if Maria is Ava , then you know his current last name. However, if I had to guess, if she confronts them, her parents will disappear again.”
“And take her with them?”
“Maybe.” We couldn’t allow that to happen. I couldn’t lose her again.
“We’ll get her back.”
“Let’s hope to hell we do.”
As Weston pulled out his phone, I glanced at the notes again. With what she’d found and if her dreams had provided false information, if Maria had no idea who she was, she’d be convinced she should hate us.
And I couldn’t blame her in the least.
I moved around the suite, even checking in the small kitchenette. There was no smoking gun. There was also no evidence that she carried a weapon, and she certainly didn’t have a little black book full of names. I laughed to myself for even thinking she could have anything to do with the plan of attack.
Unless she was being used.
Just like she’d been ten years before.
I headed into the bedroom, eyeing the nightstand. As I walked towards it, Weston ended a call.
“She flew out to San Diego.”
I’d been right. “To see her parents. Goddamn it.”
“Should we follow her?”
“If we’re right, Weston, we’re the reason she has no accurate memory. She deserves the truth about her identity, which she should only hear from her parents. However, learning what happened that night should only come from us.”
“If she’ll listen.”
We stared at each other for a few seconds. Then I opened the nightstand. There were several folded pieces of paper similar to the ones I’d found near her laptop. As I pulled them into my hand, we both heard Clinton returning.
I read through page one. Then the second one. Then the third. My cock ached, my balls tightening. I could feel my blood pressure rising, the need for her as all-consuming as it had been ten years before. Maybe more. We were kids then.
“What is it?” Weston asked.
After I handed him the pages I’d read, a cold chill drifted down my spine. “A dark story that sounds very familiar.”
“Ah, shit,” Weston said as he lifted his head. “There is no doubt any longer. Maria Sadler is Ava Summers.”
“Yes.” I barely got the word out before Clinton came in the room, pushing Halo’s manager.
“Her assistant, Emerald, is gone. Checked out of the hotel,” Clinton snarled. “What the hell do you know about this, Brett?”
“Even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you, and get your filthy hands off me.” Brett tried to jerk away, but Clinton had a firm hold on the man’s shoulder.
I walked closer, glaring Brett in the eyes. “What do you know? It will go much easier on you if you tell us everything you even think you know.”
“You can’t threaten me.”
“Brett. I think you know who I am and realize that all the stories about me are true,” Clinton said quietly, more so than I would have expected.
Brett wiped his mouth, then nodded. “What do you want from me? First, I get some weird call from Maria demanding I tell her exactly why this resort was chosen.”
“What did you tell her?” Weston asked. He nodded to Clinton, handing off the story. Then he moved behind and in front of the bedroom door.
Brett craned his neck and shrugged. “That I wasn’t the one pushing. Emerald was. She discovered the opportunity and thought it was perfect. I couldn’t argue. For the money we were being paid, it was a no brainer.”
I took a deep breath. The shit was starting to come together. Unfortunately, the three of us had been played like a fiddle. “What else did Maria tell you? Think carefully.”
Obviously exasperated, Brett started to sweat. “It wasn’t a long phone call. She acted very strange. She said she was being used. I thought she meant by the other band members. They don’t always get along.”
“Anything else?” Weston growled.
“No. Okay? What is this about?”
Clinton lifted his head from reading the story, his face expressionless. “Mr. Rollins. You’re going to need to cancel the next few shows.”
“Wait. We have a contract. I’ll see your ass in court if you try and pull us now,” Brett snarled. “The crowds love us. The press loves us.”
“Shut up!” I snarled.
“I assure you that I have every intention of honoring the contract. In fact. I’ll double the terms. Just handle it,” Clinton told him.
“What is going on? Is Maria in danger?” Brett demanded.
“Yes,” I told him. “She is.”
“Jesus Christ. This has to do with the weird note she received. Right?”
The three of us looked at each other, then back to Brett. “What weird note?” I growled.
“She barely mentioned it. She just said it was a warning. I didn’t think much of it because in this business, there are stalkers and other freaks.”
Clinton gave me a look. Then he reached into his pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper and handing it to me.
You don’t know who you’re sleeping with. They are murderers.
“I found it in her dressing room. There was also a note left in red lipstick on her mirror,” he continued.
“Jesus. That’s creepy,” Brett said.
The man had no idea.
Exhaling, I rubbed my jaw. “We’ll take care of it.”
“What do I tell people?” Brett whined.
Clinton glanced from one of us to the other. “That your star is taking a desperately needed respite to become reacquainted with some friends from her past.”
The look on Clinton’s face forced both Weston and I to tense. “What did the one on the mirror say?”
“Time to die.”