“Yeah, I did know that. I went to school with Jonah. Everyone said the loss of his sister was why he was so hard to get along with. He felt responsible. Growing up he was always fighting or skipping class to go to the water. He bought his own small boat when he was fourteen and used to go out alone, just cruising the waters. He joined the service when he was eighteen. And I haven’t seen him in years, come to think of it.”

Quinn breathed in and out, trying to still the explosive thumping of her heart. There was so much to explain, but how could she tell him that everything she thought she was . . . wasn’t? Finally, she was able to whisper three words.

“He’s my brother.”

Liam looked her way, trying to see her face in the dim moonlight.

“What are you saying? Are you that girl? The one lost at sea?”

She nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat.

“That can’t be possible. How? I—I don’t understand.”

“I don’t either. It’s really complicated. The story sounds like something out of a fantasy book, but according to what I know so far, it fits. I’m her, Liam. I’m Nama Monroe. Or I used to be. Of course, I’ll want proof.”

She could tell by the increase in the speed of his breathing that he was having a hard time processing what she’d said. She didn’t blame him. She hadn’t processed it herself.

“Quinn, if that’s the truth, I need to tell you something right now before someone else does. The lumberyard that Jaime worked for that was bought out? The new owner who fired him? It was Noah’s brother-in-law, Todd Rocha. That’s Jules’s brother. He bought the lumberyard.”

The shame that Quinn instantly felt threatened to engulf her and smother her last breath. She was connected to this family who had caused so much pain to other people. To Maria. And her children. And God only knew what other locals were innocent collateral damage to her family’s greediness on Maui.

She choked on sudden tears, trying to will them back. But they came faster, leaving hot tracks down her cheeks, backing up in her throat.

He put his arm around her and pulled her in close. “You’re okay, Quinn. It’s a lot to take in, but you’re going to be just fine. And you’re right—this is going to be a hell of a story. But I’ve got all night, and we’re going to talk this through.”