Chapter 14
Raymond’s mask fell.
He slammed both palms against the glass.
“You ungrateful little brat.”
Sabrina recoiled.
I moved before thinking.
But Mateo was faster.
He opened the door just enough to step outside and force Raymond backward.
Logan got out of the car.
“What is going on?”
Sabrina turned toward him with tears streaming.
“You knew about the transfers.”
Logan’s face changed.
“I did what your mother said would help us.”
“Help us steal from my dad?”
He looked at me.
Then back at her.
“You hated being poor.”
Sabrina flinched.
“I was never poor.”
“You acted like he embarrassed you every day.”
“That doesn’t mean I wanted to destroy him.”
Logan laughed.
“You signed the authorization forms.”
Her face went white.
“I signed what you told me were vendor approvals.”
Marisol stepped in.
“Mr. Pierce, that statement was recorded.”
Logan shut his mouth.
Police arrived ten minutes later.
Raymond was arrested for violating an old fraud warrant Elise had helped uncover.
Logan was taken for questioning.
Sabrina sat on the porch steps and watched.
Her wedding dress was gone now, replaced by sweatpants and a hoodie she had left in her old room.
She looked nineteen again.
Too young for the ugliness.
Old enough to answer for her part.
Victoria still had not returned.
Detective Harris found her at the airport that afternoon.
One-way ticket.
Cash.
False documents for Mexico.
She was arrested before boarding.
When Harris called me, Sabrina heard.
“She left without me?”
I looked at her.
“Yes.”
The truth hit harder than anything I could have said.
Sabrina lowered her face into her hands.
“She was going to disappear with Raymond.”
“And leave you to deal with the fraud.”
“My own mother.”
I sat beside her.
“Some people use the word family as a hiding place.”
She whispered, “Did I do that to you?”
May you like
I answered softly.
“Yes.”
