“I don’t know, but she does.” Nova touched his face, wiping away one of his tears. “Please tell me you didn’t spew more stupid shit when she told you the truth.”

“No,” he panted, shaking his head adamantly. “I didn’t say anything. I just let her talk, and then I left.”

“Idiot,” she muttered.

He dropped his head until his chin was touching his chest. “I know. I’m an idiot who doesn’t deserve her.” He snapped his head up, his eyes pleading. “But I love her.”

“I’m not the one you should be saying that to, stupid.”

Garret got unsteadily to his feet. “You’re right. I have to talk to her.” He turned toward the elevator but nearly tripped over his own feet. “I have to tell her how sorry I am, and that I love her. I have to—”

“You have to go to bed and sleep off whatever you took a bath in,” Nova told him, grabbing one of his arms and turning him toward his bedroom, her face scrunching up when she got up close with his breath. “You’re in no condition to tell her anything right now. And even if you tried, she probably wouldn’t believe you when you smell like tequila.”

I stood there and watched as she guided him into the bedroom. She kept the door open, and I could hear her talking to him in a soothing voice, getting him into bed and tucking him in. While I listened, I replayed the entire scene in my head over and over again.

Lis was Calista…

Calista Ramirez?

Fuck, was she the reason Manuel was in New York?

I knew from the talk on the streets that the girl had run away right before Matias had died. I’d also heard that Manuel had been less than gentle with his stepsister over the years, but no one had proof of his abuse of her. There were whispers that Matias had left his son with nothing, having willed all his assets to his adopted daughter. If it was true, then Manuel would be even more desperate for my supply…or to get his hands on Calista. And if it was true about the will, then controlling Calista meant controlling what was left of the Ramirez fortune.

She could be what had brought the Colombian back to the States.

The sparks from the lamp still plugged into the wall pulled me out of my head, and I quickly took care of it. I was still picking up the pieces of broken porcelain when Nova came out of her brother’s room, quietly shutting the door behind her.

I dropped the last of the larger pieces into the trash can and straightened, dusting off my hands. “Don’t come over here. You might cut your feet.”

She wrapped her arms around herself, her eyes following my every move as she watched me. “Are you angry with me too?”

“Why would I be angry?”

“Because I didn’t tell you who Lis really is,” she said with a tiny shrug, making it even more obvious that she wasn’t wearing a bra.