Lucas shook his head again. “No idea, Miss. The police are investigating, but no one seems to know who did it or why.”
Amara’s mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle. Dom Russo had been a powerful figure, not someone who would be taken down easily. His sudden death was both a relief and a mystery.
“Did anyone see anything?” she asked, trying to gather any information she could.
“Not that I’ve heard,” Lucas replied, his tone thoughtful. “It could have been anyone with a grudge against him. Dom had plenty of enemies.”
Amara nodded, though her thoughts were still racing. She couldn’t help but wonder if Rowan had anything to do with Dom’s death. He had been furious when he saw Dom’s hands on her. The timing seemed too coincidental to ignore.
But she knew better than to jump to conclusions without evidence. For now, she needed to focus on her recovery and keeping herself and her son safe.
“Thank you, Lucas,” she said, her voice softer now. “I appreciate everything you do.”
Lucas nodded, his eyes reflecting his loyalty and determination. “I’ll keep looking into it, Miss. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
Amara felt a surge of gratitude for Lucas’s unwavering support. She knew she could count on him, just as she could count on her Father and Vaughn.
Walking back to her room, she glanced at Vaughn, who was still engrossed in his laptop. She ruffled his hair affectionately, causing him to look up with a grin.
“Hey, Mom. Feeling better?”
“Yes, much better,” she replied, leaning down to kiss his forehead. “Just a little tired still.”
“Take it easy, okay?” Vaughn said, his concern touching her deeply.
“I will,” she promised, smiling at him. “Just need to rest a bit more.”
As she lay down again, her thoughts drifted back to Rosie and everything happened yesterday.
The image of Rosie sitting alone, drowning her sorrows in alcohol, haunted her. She couldn’t shake the feeling of helplessness and anger that had welled up inside her when Rosie revealed that Josh Allister was cheating on her. Now that Dom Russo was out of the picture, her focus shifted to ensuring Rosie’s peace of mind.
Late at night, after dinner, Amara sought out Lucas again. “Help me find the whereabouts and schedule of Josh Allister tomorrow, first thing in the morning,” she instructed, sending Josh’s picture to Lucas’s phone.
Lucas glanced at the photo and nodded, “Consider it done, Miss.”
The next day, early in the morning, Lucas came to report to Amara about Josh Allister’s schedule. “I’ve got everything you need, Miss. He’s scheduled to be at his office for most of the day.”
Amara’s eyes narrowed as she listened. “Get the car ready. Let’s go after I get ready.”
After a while, Amara was all set. She dressed in a sleek black suit, exuding authority and determination. From her shelf, she took her gun, tucking it securely into her holster. With a final glance in the mirror, she walked to her car where Lucas was already waiting.
“Let’s go,” she said, her voice steely.
The drive to Josh Allister’s office was filled with a tense silence. Amara’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one sharpening her resolve. Lucas drove with a steady hand, aware of the gravity of the situation.
As they arrived at the office building, Amara took a deep breath. “Stay here,” she instructed Lucas. “I’ll handle this.”
Lucas nodded, watching as Amara exited the car and walked into the building with purpose. She approached the receptionist, her demeanor icy.
“I’m here to see Josh Allister,” she said.
The receptionist hesitated, sensing the tension. “Do you have an appointment?”
Amara’s eyes hardened. “No, but I assure you, he’ll want to see me.”
The receptionist gulped and nodded, quickly dialing Josh’s office. Moments later, she gestured towards the elevator. “You can go up.”
Amara rode the elevator in silence, her pulse quickening as she approached Josh’s floor. When the doors opened, she stepped out and made her way to his office, ignoring the curious glances from the staff.
Josh Allister was sitting at his desk, looking up in surprise as Amara entered without knocking. “Amara, you’re here,” he said, standing up quickly.
Amara didn’t waste time on pleasantries. She walked straight up to his desk, her eyes blazing with anger. “Yes, I’m here,” she said coldly. “And we need to talk.”
Josh’s face paled as he took in her furious expression. “What’s this about? Is it Rosie? Is she okay?”
“She’s far from okay,” Amara snapped. “And it’s because of you.”
Josh’s eyes widened in confusion and fear. “What are you talking about?”
Amara took a step forward, pulling out her gun and aiming it at Josh. “Sit down,” she ordered.
Josh complied, his face paling. “What is this? Are you crazy?”
“Maybe,” Amara replied, her voice steady. “But I’m also very serious. You’re going to tell me the truth about what happened between you and that girl at the mall, or I’ll make sure you regret ever hurting Rosie.”
Josh raised his hands in a placating gesture. “I didn’t cheat on Rosie! I swear!”
“Then explain the pictures,” Amara demanded, her grip on the gun unwavering. “Explain why Rosie saw you with another woman.”
Josh took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. “That woman is my sister’s friend. My sister begged me to take her shopping because she needed help, and I agreed. But that’s all it was.”
Amara’s eyes narrowed. “And the kiss?”
Josh’s face twisted in frustration. “She kissed me out of the blue! I pushed her away immediately. I didn’t want anything to do with it. I left the mall right after that.”
Amara studied him closely, searching for any sign of deceit. “Why should I believe you?”
“Because I love Rosie,” Josh said earnestly. “I would never cheat on her. I’ve been trying to call her, to explain, but she won’t give me a chance.”
Amara lowered her gun slightly, considering his words. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the desperation. “If you’re lying to me, Josh, I will find out. And you will pay.”
Josh nodded fervently. “I’m not lying. Please, just help me talk to Rosie. Let me explain to her myself.”
Amara took a step back, lowering the gun. “I’ll talk to her. But if she decides to give you a chance, you better make it worth it. No more lies, no more secrets.”
“I swear,” Josh said, relief washing over him. “Thank you, Amara.”
Without another word, Amara turned and left the office, her mind already planning the next steps. She had to make sure Rosie knew the truth and let her decide what to do with it. As she walked back to the car, Lucas looked at her with a questioning gaze.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Let’s go,” Amara said, her voice resolute. “We have to talk to Rosie.”
The drive back was less tense, but Amara’s mind was still racing. She hoped Rosie would listen and give Josh a chance to explain. She knew how much Rosie loved him, and if there was a possibility to mend their relationship, it was worth trying.
Back at her place, Amara found Rosie sitting in the living room, looking lost and broken. Amara’s heart ached at the sight, and she approached her friend gently.
“Rosie,” she said softly, sitting down next to her. “I talked to Josh.”
Rosie looked up, her eyes red and puffy. “What did he say?”
Amara took a deep breath. “He explained everything. The woman at the mall was his sister’s friend. He said she kissed him, but he pushed her away and left immediately. He’s been trying to reach you to explain.”
Rosie’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know if I can believe him. It hurt so much to see that.”