Chapter 54 Chapter 54
Chapter 54 Chapter 54
Reno hadn’t heard from Lisette for two days. The silence felt heavy, a cold weight pressing against his chest. He had heard that her sister, Catalella, was feeling sick, but the information felt vague and unhelpful. He worried constantly. At least there was no news of Michael Mathews being found in the Hudson River or anywhere else. That was a small, grim comfort, but it was all he had.
Maybe she just needed time to deal with everything that had hit her in the last few days, he told himself. He walked into his father’s office, still trying to get used to the word "father" when referring to the man behind the desk. He hoped for some news that would finally make sense of the chaos in his life.
"Did you hear from the private detective you hired?" Reno asked, his voice steady despite the nervousness he felt.
"Yes." The look of hope on Dennis’s face made Reno smile. Finally, some good news.
"What did he say?" Reno took a seat and eagerly leaned toward his father. He didn't want a single word to pass him by. He needed something, anything, to hold onto.
"There was a girl at your old place looking for you," Dennis said, his voice softening. "She said her name was Rhyne. She was looking for her mother and her elder brother."
"Rhyne." Reno brushed away a single, determined tear that rolled slowly down his cheek. He had never thought he would be able to say that name again without feeling a sharp, crushing pain in his chest. But now he could speak it, only because there was finally a flicker of hope that he could find her. "Did she say where she would be? An address, or a telephone number where she could be reached?"
"Yes, she is working at a hotel there. Look, we could leave today and be there—"
"No." Reno swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. He watched as his father’s excited face fell. "I’m going alone."
"What?" Dennis shot to his feet and began to pace the length of his office. "My youngest daughter won’t speak to me; my wife can’t stand me, and DJ has disappeared. I need to do something good for my family, Reno. I need to fix this."
"And you have," Reno said. It was uncharacteristic for him to give his father this kind of win, but he felt he had to. "You found Rhyne. As for Daniela, she’s not one to keep a grudge forever. She’s probably just following Isadora’s lead because she’s hurt. And DJ, he hasn’t disappeared. He’s just gone to Paris to clear his head. He’ll be back when he’s sorted through his own thoughts and feelings."
"What about his law school studies?" Dennis pressed, still sounding like a man desperate for control.
"Don’t try looking for him," Reno warned, his eyes narrowing. "I know where he is. I’m keeping tabs on him, just as an older brother should. He isn't giving up on his law career; he just needs time away from your web of lies."
"I am his father!" Dennis shouted, his voice echoing off the walls.
"Yet, I’m the one he came to for help," Reno reminded him calmly. He exhaled, the sharp rage and tension finally releasing from his body as he did. "I don’t want to fight with you, Dennis. I really don't. I have a handle on things. Right now, all I want is to go and get Rhyne."
"Fine," his father conceded, looking older than he had moments ago. "That’s good. I’ll have my secretary arrange everything for you. You can leave tonight."
"Thank you," Reno said, though his mind was already drifting back to the woman who was not answering his calls.
Reno had tried his hardest to get a hold of Lisette, but she was still ignoring his calls. As a last resort, he left a message with her sister, AJ. She would probably be furious that he left for the island without telling her directly, but it was her fault for being part of a family that communicated through puzzles and secrets.
Reno took a long, shaky breath from his parking spot. His hand rubbed slowly on the left side of his chest, right over his heart. He had a bad feeling. It wasn’t anything physical, but emotionally, he felt that something was terribly wrong. It was as if his heart was instinctively preparing itself to be broken. He had to find Lisette before he left. A quick glance at his watch told him he had three hours before he had to head to the airport. That had to be enough time to track down the woman he was in love with, or he wouldn't be able to board that plane.
He was just about to leave his apartment when he received a notification on his phone. A slow, genuine smile crept onto his lips when he read the message. It seemed like Lisette was thinking about him, too. She must have heard about his trip, or perhaps she just knew he needed to see her. He grabbed his car keys and made his way to the Waldorf.
He moved with a new sense of purpose, the streets of the city blurring past him. Every red light felt like a personal insult, and every mile marker felt like a step toward his own salvation. He didn't care about his father's politics, the mystery of DJ, or the search for Rhyne in this exact second. His world had narrowed down to one single point: the woman waiting at the hotel. He prayed that whatever had been keeping her silent would vanish the moment they were in the same room. He stepped on the gas, his heart racing in time with the engine, ready to confront the truth, whatever it might be.