“Do you think he helped kill her?” Rita asked from the flowered chair in Novah’s living room. “I bet that devil set it up.”
“We know Gammon killed her. It’s possible Langley was the brains of the operation.”
“If only Gammon hadn’t killed himself. I feel so terrible for his family.” Tears filled Rita’s eyes. “You and Egan…well, I can’t even think about what could have happened. Have you spoken to him?”
“No.” Her mind traveled back to that morning three days ago that she woke up and Justice told her that Egan had left. She took that as a goodbye. Was she supposed to feel grateful because what she felt was anything but relief?
She fought back tears. What was wrong with her? Why did she feel like she was on a roller coaster?
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“For getting you into this mess. You’ve always being here for Finley and me. You’ve put everyone ahead of yourself so much.”
“I’ll always be here for you two.”
“Maybe it’s time you thought about what’s best for you.”
Rita frowned. “What are you saying? I love being here with you and Finley.”
Novah took her mother’s hand. “And we enjoy you being here, but you deserve to move on too, Mom. What I saw in you when you were near Owl speaks volumes.”
“That’s silly.” She waved the air as if she could wipe away Novah’s words.
“I haven’t seen you blush like this ever before. It’s okay if you like him. It’s okay to want him.” Novah offered her an encouraging smile.
At first, she thought her mom might deny the accusation, but instead she broke out in a giggle. “Is it that obvious? I haven’t felt this giddy in forever.”
“Owl is a lucky man.”
“But you don’t know him.” Her mother’s eyes shone like the stars.
“I don’t need to know him to see the positive changes he’s stirred in you. You’re glowing.”
“And so did you when you and Egan were together,” Rita said matter-of-factly.
“It’s never that simple.” Novah felt her shoulders give under the invisible pressure.
“Look, I’m going to speak my peace and then you’ll have to do what you feel is right. I know I’ve always given you reason to think that I don’t like Egan, but that’s not true. After the Langley debacle, I like Egan even more. He loves you, sweetheart. It’s obvious. He cares for you enough that he’s willing to walk away if that’s what you want. I figure there are two directions for you to go at this point. You stay apart from him and wake up every day putting temporary glue on the cracks in your heart, because trust me, it’s an everyday job. Or you can work to be with the man you love and allow the happiness to mend the cracks naturally.”
“But nothing has changed. I can’t go back to being afraid every time he walks out the door.”
“Hogwash.” Rita sniffed. “Everything’s changed. Somewhere in all this you must have realized that. Do you think he retired from the military for his own benefit? Do you think he bought a home just for Finley? Think about it.” She patted Novah’s hand. “Okay, that was my two-cents. Now I’m going to go spoon us up some ice cream while we watch Under the Tuscan Sun to get our minds off that weasel who just spoke on TV.”
~~~~~
Langley and his security team stepped off the elevator right on time. They headed for the Escalade where Egan sat patiently in the back seat. Langley opened the door and climbed in, then did a double take. “Evening’, Langley. Long time no see.”
“Banks? What the hell are you doing here?”
“Do you think you’re the only one who has contacts?” Egan snarled. He fisted his hands in his lap, finding the restraint not to beat the hell out of the man who’d disrupted, and ruined, many lives. Just what he’d done to Novah and Finley sent a rage flowing through his veins that was hard to contain.
Langley muttered something then started to slide back out, but Egan caught the sleeve of the man’s expensive designer suit.
“Don’t bother,” Egan told him. “I’m going to speak to you one way or another. I could always do what you did to Lindsay.”
“You’re going to regret this,” he sputtered. “Parsons?” Langley called out to his new head of security who had his back to the Escalade. The three other suited men had disappeared. Realizing the conundrum, Langley cursed and slammed the door. “I have a meeting to get to.”
“I’m sure you do. Don’t worry, I won’t take up much of your time. I think it’s necessary for you and I to have a heart to heart.” Egan pounded on the roof. Parsons opened the driver’s door and slid behind the wheel. Without a word, he started the engine and drove the car out of the Langley Industries garage.
“What is this?”
Seeing Langley’s discomfort, Egan told him, “You’ll live another day. I’ll spare your life unlike what you did to others, especially Gammon and your wife.”
Langley chuckled. “He killed my wife. I played no role in that. He was jealous because she and I were rekindling our marriage. The camera footage says it all.”
“Listen, no one knows the truth and we probably never will, but you have her blood on your hands too.” Egan looked out the window as they moved along the busy street then focused on the arrogant man. “Eventually your ways will catch up to you and I for one will be there to see it happen.”
“So, there’s no love lost between us. If you have a suspicion about ShyAnne’s death then take it up with the FBI, but I assure you they’ve investigated thoroughly.”
“I bet you bought your way out of this shitshow. We both
