“I don’t need to know if the baby is mine to know I want you,” he says in a rush, like he’s afraid I’ll hang up. “If I’m the father, I’ll be a good one. You know that.”

“You’re a fantastic father. I would expect nothing less.”

“But my mind hasn’t changed about Aiko. Our relationship is over and has been, and my heart hasn’t changed about you. I still want to be your last.”

“Ez.” I push the pain out in a long breath. “Don’t.”

“Tru, don’t let this ruin us.”

“I need to go.”

“If you could—”

I hang up. I have to.

I dial Piers immediately to stop myself from calling Ezra back.

“Hey, boss lady,” he says. “What can I do you for?”

“You got that address yet?” I ask, forcing the conversation, the turmoil with Ezra out of my mind. “For this Serena chick? I think I’ll pay her a surprise visit. Best she doesn’t see me coming.”

“Sneak attack. I like it. I should have the address soon. I’m working on it. Oh! I thought of something that might prove useful in your quest.”

“What’s that?”

“So that publisher has a parent company,” Piers says. “And you’ll never guess who it is.”

“Who?”

“The Rafferty Group.”

“Come again?” I sit on the edge of the desk, not sure I heard him right.

“Yup. Rafferty.”

“As in James Rafferty, the man we helped elect governor two years ago?”

“The same. He obviously isn’t involved in the day-to-day right now, governing and all, but it’s his family’s business. He still has pull.”

“Then so do we.”

“He owes you,” Piers says. “Not only did we get him elected, but we covered up that—“

“Piers,” I cut him off. “I’m the girl who buries the bodies then forgets where they lay. Yeah?”

“Yeah. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. The fine governor knows that we know. That’s all that matters. He’ll want to do us any favor he can. I’m about to shut Serena Washington down. Great work, Piers. This I won’t forget.”

“You need Carla to set up a call with the governor?”

“Nope. I’ll call him myself.”

Chapter Forty-Four

Chapter Forty-Four

Ezra

“That was her on the phone, wasn’t it?”

Aiko stands at the door to the guest bedroom where I’ve been sleeping. I sit on the edge of the bed, phone still in my hand. Kimba hung up long ago, but I still hear her voice, the resignation in it. If this is my baby, I’m going to lose her, and it’s like a shoal of piranha trapped in my belly, a feeding frenzy of anxiety and dread.

I don’t answer Aiko’s question, but stand and cross the room to leave. She doesn’t move, but blocks my exit, a tiny wall keeping me inside.