Chapter 85 Chapter 85
HARPER: We tried calling, but it was never answered. It was off.
JOE: What's the number?
COLT: (206) 555-0129
“Okay,” Joe said and began typing away; the rest of them were quiet. After a few minutes Joe turned the tablet towards me.
“Boss, the last pinged location was the Black Creek Runoff,” he said.
“But that... That place is basically abandoned with mines; it’s a small dense forest and rocks.” Harper said.
“That’s where she ditched the phone; she won’t be there. Jax, remember the first time. All the places, recheck them,” I said.
“Okay, boss. Rob and Carlo will recheck,” he replied.
“She’s done this before?” Colt asked.
“Yes. She loves doing this shit, but this is the first time a death is involved." I said, and they nodded. My assistant walked in and looked at us.
“Mr. Rhyland, Ms. Avani is here creating a scene,” he said.
“Get rid of her.”
When I got home that afternoon, I wasn't really in the mood to eat; I poured myself a drink and stood staring at her picture. “Where exactly are you, beauty? And why did you do all of this in advance?. He letters, the clothes, the pictures. You planned it all, so where did you disappear to?”
My phone vibrated in my pocket; I checked it, it was my mother.
“Yes, Mother.”
“Avani had an accident. Earlier. There is an issue,” she said.
“What issue?” I asked.
“Apparently she doesn't remember being kicked out of the family,” she said.
I knew they already made a decision, and she was only calling me to inform me of the decision.
“And?” I prompted.
“The family heads have decided to let her return until she regains her memory,” she said.
“Okay then,” I said, about to end the call.
“Zaiel, wait, your uncle Ross is turning fifty this weekend, and we are all heading to the Azure Heights to celebrate. Please come along,” she said.
“Okay, I’ll have the jet ready for Friday evening.”
“Okay, we’ll be ready. Zaiel?” She said quietly.
“What is it?”
“Can you… Your father and I have come to the agreement that. When you find her, she will be your wife if that is what you want. I don't hate her, nor do I like her, but for your sake and your happiness, we can put it all aside and be fair and give her a chance to really get to know her.” She said that, but I didn't have an answer for that.
"I'll be by at 7 on Friday," I said, ending the call.
Great, a whole weekend with the entire demented Rhyland family, what could go wrong?
When the jet landed at 8, I was already tired. On the short flight over, Avani kept pestering me. That was the way she was before she went to France. Before she left, she was my shadow.
The drive to the resort was short; it was an all-inclusive place, and there was privacy, and that was what we needed. The rest of the family was already waiting for us.
“Alright, an entire weekend to celebrate my life. Let the madness begin,” Uncle Ross said, walking through the doors. I watched them all walk in and shook my head; this was going to be a disaster. As I was walking in, I heard laughing; when I looked to my right, there was a group of women laughing, and in the middle was Anna Ryan. Was I being tested or some shit?
They walked past me; she didn't spare me a glance. It was as if I didn't exist to her, and that's the way it should be, but for some reason that bothered me. When I walked in, they were at the desk checking in.
“Zaiel, we’re on the top floor,” Avani yelled, and she turned around. When she saw me, her face went pale, and she turned away. What was that reaction? She and her friends walked away; Avani rushed over to me and handed me a keycard.
“Let's go, idiot,” she said, grabbing my hand and dragging me along. When we got to the elevators, she was standing there also. When we got in, she stood to the other side but didn't look or acknowledge me.
“So how is it with Craig?” One of the girls asked, looking at her.
“It has to be going good because a few days ago her entire skin was covered in hickeys,” another one said, and she started coughing. I couldn't help but smirk.
“Zaiel, mom said you have a girlfriend; her name is Tessa. Why didn't she come?” Avani asked, and she looked at me.
“Avani, Tessa isn't my girlfriend,” I said calmly.
“Huh, then why did Mon say that?” She asked, looking at me confused.
“Because Tessa isn't girlfriend material. She's my wife.” I said, and I saw her eyes go wide.
“Wait, I have a sister-in-law and haven’t met her; call her,” she said.
“I would if I could,” I said just as the elevator doors opened and we stepped out.
I walked into my room and just stood there. Why the fuck did she feel like Tessa? I pulled out my phone and called Joe.
“Mr. Rhyland?”
“Joe, recheck Anna Ryan’s info. Do a deeper dive. I think she is Tessa.”
“Sir, maybe, but she would have had to spend a good amount of money to get that background. I'll look into it,” he said.
I ended the call and got dressed and headed down. I found half of them by the pool already drinking in a private corner.
“So, see anyone that catches your interest as yet?” My cousin Andrew asked,
“No,” I said, which was the truth.
“We sat drinking and talking about business and the in-betweens. The parents were in the casino or somewhere else; that was their choice.
One hour into relaxing, I saw her walk out with her friends; they were on the other side. I was looking at her, but I wasn't making it obvious because there were a lot of eyes on me. She was wearing a long-sleeve shirt. She was at a resort, by the pool and wearing a long-sleeve shirt, and her friends were in swimwear. That was unusual.
They were drinking and laughing.
“Did you guys know my idiot brother is married?” Avani said, and all eyes turned towards me. Hannah started choking, Kevin’s mouth was open, Dahila’s eyes were wide, and the rest were looking at me as if I had grown an extra head. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head no.
“Fucker, he’s wearing a wedding ring,” Michelle said, looking at my hands. Fuck.
“Dad told you all,” I said.
“Oh yeah, that…” Shea said, touching the others.
“So why didn't anyone tell me?” Avani asked.
“Let it go,” I said.
We continued drinking until four.
“Well, well, well, look at you all,” I heard Naya, my other cousin, say, walking over to us with Drew, Carrie, and Lizzie.
“There goes the peace and quiet,” Michelle murmured.
“Can you not do this here? “Uncle Ross is here to celebrate his birthday,” I said, looking at them.