There’s an unusual quiver in her voice, but anger courses through my veins with one aim—to know the truth. “Are you fucking kidding me? You realize I know your secret, or whatever the fuck this is.” Heat flushes through my body, and I grab the door handle, almost ripping it out.
“I’ll meet you at a café in St. Peppers in an hour. I’ll text you the address,” Sophia says and ends the call before I can respond.
I can’t fucking believe this coincidence.
Kristy is Beast’s daughter. She is his Chloe.
Sophia is his wife.
Where does my Rose fit in all this?
This question haunts me throughout the entire ride.
Sophia sits across from me at the back table of this cozy café. I met her for first time at Kristy’s wedding. I can’t help but imagine her with Beast, trying to fit her into the story he told me.
“How did you get here so fast? From what I’ve heard, you live nowhere near.”
She flinches at my words but then squares her shoulders, a hint of the woman Beast spoke about. The woman who takes shit from no one. But not today.
“So, this is another lie you’ve told your daughter.”
Sophia purses her lips, and I know she doesn’t like my tone.
“How do you know Ashcroft?” she asks me instead. Her voice trembles as she says his name.
“He adopted me and my brothers and raised us in his home.”
If she’s surprised by the coincidence, she doesn’t show it. “How long have you known?”
“Since an hour ago. I took Rose’s file to Beast. That’s when he showed me pictures of your case and you.”
A sad smile pulls on Sophia’s lips. “You call him Beast.”
But I don’t entertain her distraction. “Does Kristy know?”
Sophia shakes her head before taking a deep breath. “I took her away in hopes to never return to this place. But fate plays out in strange ways. Of all the places in the world, Kristy took up a job offer in Cherrywood. I try to maintain my distance from her and Rose so that they are safe.” Her confusing words and resigned voice don’t help my restlessness.
Keep them safe? From whom?
My questions remain unspoken as the waiter appears and places two cups of coffee on the table.
Once he leaves, Sophia asks, “Why are you looking into Rose’s case? It’s been closed for years.”
“She had a panic attack yesterday after learning about Kristy’s pregnancy. She’s petrified Kristy’s girl will be born with the same blue eyes.” My eyes narrow on her face. If Sophia and Rose suffered the same trauma, this piece of news would’ve affected her too.
And my thoughts turn out to be true when Sophia’s hands tremble around the cup handle. “We don’t even know if it’s a girl.” Her voice quivers.
“Is that fucking thought keeping you sane?” My anger and confusion meld together, and my words come out in a hiss. “Otherwise, you too would be scared shitless of Kristy’s pregnancy.”
“I don’t understand.” She shifts in her chair nervously, avoiding any eye contact. Her chest rises and falls as she takes heavy breaths. Her hands clutch the cup tight, and I fear it will crack at any minute.
“Really? Rose told me there were two people who kidnapped her.” I try to get something out of her—anything to learn if there’s a connection between her and Rose.
“She remembered?” Sophia’s mouth falls open, and her trembling fingers touch her parted lips.
“She never forgot. She has a photographic memory, for fuck’s sake. But you know all of this, much better than me. You were kidnapped by the same people, weren’t you?”
“I—I don’t know, Zander. I don’t know why you think I have answers to these questions, when even the police have no clue.” Sophia grabs her purse on the table. I know she’s ready to bolt out of here and go back to hiding from reality.