When I entered my bedroom, just as I’d suspected, his suitcase was on my bed. He was packing. Briefly, our eyes locked before he turned away.
A deep sigh escaped from my lips. “It’s late. Can you do that tomorrow?”
The sadness in his voice was unmistakable. “I wanted to get it out of the way. Our flight leaves early.”
As I sat down on the bed next to his things, his answer wasn’t a surprise. Brody was putting up a wall. I wasn’t quite ready for the distance between us. I knew I was prolonging the inevitable, but still, I had questions. “I spent some time thinking about what Nina was babbling on about—all the call them now madness. She apparently thinks I ratted her out. It was you wasn’t it?”
“I didn’t want you killing your sister on your conscious. I wanted a future with you.”
Wanted as in the past tense. His tongue was like a thousand cuts to my soul. I chose not to respond to that part. Instead, I laughed. Not real laughter but one of those, you’ve got to be kidding me kinds. “A conscious. I don’t have one of those. You of all people should know that.”
Brody went over to my dresser and removed more of his things before walking back to put in his suitcase. He was making a point not to look at me. “It’s there. I’ve seen it. But, you do a very good job of hiding it.”
“You knew Nina assumed Jules Ming-Sherman’s identity?”
“Yeah, I knew.” He exhaled as if exhausted. He probably was dealing with me. “After the accident, Nina became Jules with the help of your late cousin Joseph. The real Jules Ming was an investment broker in some small town in Iowa. Your sister took her identity and moved to New York where she worked for Sherman Investment Securities, LLC as an investment broker. She met Lawrence Sherman III, the owner, and CEO, at one of his charity events. They only dated a few months before getting married.
I shook my head. “She couldn’t just live a quiet life. She had to marry a millionaire and be a part of that society life.”
“From all accounts, Lawrence was running an investment Ponzi scheme and was under Federal Investigation when he shot himself in the head. Apparently, so was she. I guess she decided to fake her death again seeing as how successful it worked the first time, and reassume her real identity when she found out about Chang’s death. I placed a few phone calls, sent a few pictures, and the right people decided to look into Jules’s death. They either have or are in the process of exhuming the body.”
“I knew the rest but just found out about her death being investigated in the papers. When I saw it, I sent her a copy. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I figured you knew most of it already. But, I was going to tell you everything after my plan was in motion.”
“After? How’s that any different from what you accused me of?”
He stilled. Finally, those beautiful blue eyes looked into mine. “I’d planned to tell you, Gina. You, on the other hand, lied to me and were never going to say anything. Intent makes all the difference.”
He was right. I had no intention of telling him. “I know what I am Brody. Still, I don’t want you ever to see me as a monster.”
He turned away and continued to pack. “I’ve never tried to change you or asked you to change. I knew what I was getting into. My only expectation is that we would always be honest with each other.”
“Brody . . . I’m—”
My words were cut off before I could finish getting them out. “Gina, don’t. You’re not ready and may never be ready to give me one hundred percent. If I thought for one minute you would, I’d stay and fight for us. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. So, we should just do this as neatly as possible.”
His words hurt more than the gunshot wound to my shoulder. Brody had been here for me, without any ulterior motives and more than anyone else ever had. I wanted to apologize, thank him for—everything and ask him not to leave my life. The words . . . even if he hadn’t interrupted, I couldn’t form them. Not just because my pride wouldn’t allow it but because he’d been through too much dealing with me. I was wired wrong.
Brody and Cecily needed calm and normal. I didn’t even know what that looked like to be able to copy it. And, if I were honest, I didn’t want to copy it. At times, I didn’t like who I was and what I was capable of doing, but I am who I am. Knowing that, I could only agree that we should cut ties as neatly as possible.
Chapter 24
The Moment of Truth
New York
Nina had been back for about six months. She loved this city but hated leaving her apartment these days especially at night. Ever since she’d returned from Guilin, Nina spent every waking moment looking over her shoulder. Sometimes, she wondered if being in prison would have been better. And then, she thought definitely, not. Some of the people they stole money from were shady characters, and their reach ran deep. Prison might
