Page 70 of Ache
“And what’s that?”
“An account in the name Destiny Star Reynolds. Still active and paid up to date.”
I freeze. “An account in Everly’s name? What kind?” Alec spins his head in my direction, full attention, one hundred percent.
“A safe deposit box, it looks like. But the bank is strange. From what I can gather, it’s new age. All digital. Facial recognition, iris scan, or fingerprint ID.”
“Did you say fingerprint ID?” I look pointedly at Alec.
“I did. Would you like me to repeat it slower?”
I roll my eyes. Nothing worse than a nerdy, smartass. “No, thanks. I got it the first time.” The elevator doors ding, and Alec and I step out, hanging on every word Simon is spoon-feeding us. “Where’s the bank?”
“You’re never gonna believe it. Chicago.” He’s smug.
Well, hot damn.
“Okay, thanks. Send me all the details. We’ll investigate.” I hang up.
“Everly is worth as much as a single fingerprint,” I paraphrase Gunner’s words. “I think that’s it. Whatever Vicki is after is in a safe deposit box, and Everly is the only one who can access it.She’sthe key.”
Alec’s face falls. “Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to leave her alone.”
Unwarranted, we both barrel into the hotel room, calling Ever’s name. There’s no answer. We both share the same, irrational fear.
“Ever!”I rush into the bedroom and then the adjoining bathroom. “Ever—” I stop short, finding her in the tub, filled with bubbles, eyes closed, listening to her airpods. She has no clue I’m standing there as her head bops away to the blaring music.
I sag with relief, my heart freefalling into my stomach. A second later Alec crashes into me, finding exactly what I have. A happy, clueless Ever. I hear his audible sigh from behind me.
“Fucking-A, I nearly had a coronary.”
I snicker.Same, brother.
Everly opens her eyes, suddenly sensing we’re there. She smiles coyly, pulling out an earphone. “How long have you two Peeping Toms been there?”
“Long enough,” I confirm. Picking up a towel, I lay it on the edge of the whirlpool tub. “Get out. We need to talk, love.”
Everly reads the grim tone of my voice. This conversation is going to be so much fucking fun.
Alec and I watch like the Peeping Toms we are as Everly stands, gloriously wet and naked, and washes herself off. I will never tire of seeing her bare body. I think both Alec and I are salivating from just watching the innocent, sexy show.
Once Ever is dry and wrapped in a plushy, white hotel robe, we sit her down on the couch and hand her the coffee. Alec and I silently agree that making her as comfortable as possible will lessen the blow.
“What is going on with you two?” She holds her crème brûlée coffee with both hands and regards us strangely.
Alec looks to me to take the lead. “Ever.” I search for the right words to begin. “I think we figured out why Gunner locked you away all those years ago and what your mom is after now.”
Her pretty green eyes widen threefold.
“The key your mom is after isn’t a traditional key. It’s you. You’re the key.”
“Huh?”
Rightfully, she’s confused. I scoot closer to her on the couch. “It looks like Gunner opened a safe deposit box in your name. And your fingerprint is the only way to access it. Whatever’s inside must be worth something substantial.”
“Like three years of my life,” she comments bitterly.
“That, and maybe much more.”
