Suit (The Twin Duo #1)(92)

Paxton tossed Rowan a towel, rushing her out of the pool. He scooped Ophelia up from my side and carried her in the house, talking to her in a quiet voice. I stared after him for a minute, trying to decipher what was real and what wasn’t. Why did Tricia have to take them? My heart beat loud in my chest with the rush of nerves, pumping fast through my veins. I had no idea what he was up to. None whatsoever.

I pulled myself together long enough to follow him inside, slipping a dry shirt of Rowan as we walked.

“Paxton, what are you doing?”

Nothing. He didn’t say one word to me. He walked across the open floor plan to the front door and handed off our girls. I didn’t even get to say goodbye. Tricia gave me a peculiar look when Paxton dropped Ophelia to the floor, but she didn’t speak.

“I’ll come get you guys in a little bit,” he said with a kiss to each little cheek.

They both agreed with happy nods. They loved Tricia.

“What are you doing?” I asked as soon as the door was closed. His expression instantly changed, and I was scared. My knees knocked together when he stomped toward me. Two steps closed the distance between us.

“Come here,” he said through gritted teeth. His hand squeezed my arm hard and he shoved me toward his office. Right to his chair.

“What? What are you doing?”

“Shut the fuck up. I’m about to show you. Didn’t I tell you I’d find the truth, Gabriella? Didn’t I? Or should I say Isabella?”

My lips parted, ready to ask him what he was talking about when the email opened. Paxton hit play and I watched the surveillance camera. A black SUV pulled to a parking spot right in front of the camera. Just like mine, only black. A small white Honda parked crookedly right beside it. I looked back at Paxton’s angry face, wearing a puzzled expression. He shoved my face back to the computer. It was gone. The change in his eyes over the past few months. Gone in an instant. Paxton hated me.

I watched with wide eyes as two girls embraced for a long time. Tears swelled in my eyes while I witnessed the reunion.

“Is that Izzy and me? Oh, my God. It is. It’s her.” My hand covered my heart and I stared in total disbelief.

“No. It’s you and Gabriella. You’re fucking good. I mean like Emmy award good.”

I looked back with a twisted frown, trying like hell to decipher what in the world he was talking about.

“This is genius. You’re a fucking genius.”

“What do you mean?” I asked in mouse-like tone.

Paxton walked around his desk and paced, back and forth.

“I presume amnesia is probably pretty easy when you pretend to be somebody else. That’s fucking single white female shit. Like I can’t even wrap my head around what has gone on here. You should put this shit in a book. I can see it now. Big screen. I think Ben Affleck should play the idiot husband, don’t you?”

“You think I’m Izzy?”

“Oh I know you are. It’s all out. You can stop with the act.”

His hands came down hard on the desk in front of me, loud and firm. I jumped and cowered from his glare. “Where the fuck is my wife? Tell me, Isabella. Where is my wife? You know the one. The one you killed.” His voice changed to an eerie low. Creepy, and I was scared.

“I didn’t kill her. I love her. I wouldn’t hurt my sister.”

“Right. Sure. Was it for the money? Huh, Isabella? Did you think you were going to waltz in here and take what’s mine? Everything makes so much sense now. You’re background check tells it all. Stop me if I’m wrong.”

Paxton paced the floor in front of me while I sat in his big leather chair. Alone and lost. All I could do was listen.

His index finger made small circles around his ear as he began his pacing again. “Your mama was a little coo-coo, jumped off a fire escape to her death when you were eleven. The state couldn’t find anyone to take two girls your age, so they split you up. You went to Michigan where you lived with the Walkers. Nice couple. They raised seven? Or was it eight? Yes, eight hard to place kids. You were one of them. You were also quiet the basketball player. Three state titles. Impressive. You tried your hand at landscaping, but that was a flop. And then you worked a titty bar, where you thrived. Explains why you’re so good at making those drinks. Huh?

“I left you alone with my kids. How fucking stupid could I be. I don’t even know what to say to you right now. I wish you could feel the fury pumping through my veins right now, Gabriella. I want to slice your throat, take you out to the ocean, and feed your body to the sharks.”

“I would never her Row or Phi. You know that.”

“I don’t even know who the fuck you are.”

I was suddenly scared for my life. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m not going to do anything. You are. Just remember, baby girl. We’re all innocent until proven guilty.”

My eyes turned to the time on the fancy clock trimmed in gold, and then to the photo of Rowan and Phi. Right beside it. Happy smiles, Rowan in a full blown laugh and Ophelia’s straight and fake. The one she used when she was told to smile.

I didn’t hear anything after that. Loud shrills rang in my head while I tried to wrap my finger around what was happening. Once again, I was left doubting the realness of my life.

“It’s for you,” Paxton smirked. His hand yanked me from his chair by my hair.