“What?” I whisper in a hoarse voice as my stomach drops to my toes.

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry to tell you this over the phone but—”

I cut her off to painfully supply, “Is he…?” My voice drops abruptly, unable to finish the thought.

“No, no, no! God, no. God, please, no, don’t even say that. He’s in the hospital, honey. His heart stopped in the ambulance but they got him back,” she sobbed. “They got him back.”

“What happens now?”

“They’ve taken him back for an angioplasty with a stent. The doctors believe surgery will treat his severe blockage better than a drug that breaks up the blood clots. The angioplasty treats the underlying issue of the blockage and will reduce his chance of a future heart attack.”

Fuck.

“Is anyone there with you?” My mind flies a mile a minute, making plans and preparing to take off. As I lift my head, I notice Doe stepped up beside me sometime during the past few minutes. She’s not close enough to touch me but near enough to show her presence is meant to be a comfort. But at that moment, I’m not feeling so comforted. It’s nice to have another person near, but right now, she’s more of an obstacle. What am I supposed to do with her while I rush off to Florida? I can’t leave her all alone, can I? I can’t exactly shove her on a commercial flight when she has no idea who she is, let alone any form of identification. Do I have time to book a flight for myself and see if she can stay with Tavers and Mindy? Is it quicker to take her with me?

Mom’s voice derails my thoughts. “My neighbor Denise drove me here. We followed the ambulance, and she’s waiting with me until your sister arrives.”

“Have you called Reece?” I clear my throat after his name, almost as if because I haven’t said it in so long it was hard to get out.

“Tori was calling him while I called you. I didn’t want you to have to…” She trails off, her voice filled with a mother’s pain that her only two sons don’t get along. Fuck.

“I’m going to my truck, Mom. I have to take care of something, and then I’m on my way down. I’ll be there tomorrow afternoon.”

A silent beat passes then, “You’re going to drive? Niko, that’s a good fifteen-hour trip if you don’t stop. Why don’t you grab a flight with Reece? The two of you could have some time to talk.”

“I can’t. I’ve driven to Florida before, and I’ll be fine. I’ll explain when I get there, but I don’t have time now. I have to pack and…” I pause. My eyes going to the door as Doe bolts out of it. Shit, shit, shit! I don’t have time for this. “I’ll be there soon as I can. Love you, Mom.”

“Drive safe, honey. I love you, too,” she murmurs, and we disconnect.

I’ve barely tucked my phone into my back pocket before I’m tearing out the door after Doe. I cross the short span of grass between the two houses and push myself to run through the open back door.

“Doe!” I shout, the breath heaving from my lungs. A noise sounds from down the hall. Movement of some sort. I jog in that direction. “Doe, I need to go. My family needs me.” I stop when I hit the open doorway to my bedroom. The breath is sucked from my lungs at the scene playing out in front of me, and I brace a hand on the doorframe. I can’t move even though I’m nearly desperate to hit the road. I physically can’t unstick myself from the doorway.

A painful constriction starts in my chest as Doe steps up to me and hands me a heavy black duffle bag.

“I packed your clothes for you,” she whispers. Her tone strikes something inside me. It sounds worried but also hopeful. Hopeful for… what?

I try to speak, but only a strangled grunt comes out.

“If you wait, I can pack you some snacks.”

I swallow hard, “No,” and watch as her face falls.

“I-I’m sorry. I d-didn’t—”

“Go pack your things,” I command gruffly.

To my surprise, her face manages to fall further. She doesn’t reply, though. Without touching me, she squeezes between myself and the doorframe at my back and swiftly walks down the hall.

“You’re coming with me,” I growl after her, and watch from the entrance to my bedroom as she stops in her tracks. Her head cocks slightly as if she’s turning her ear toward me in order to hear me better.

“If you think for one second I’m kicking you out, get that thought out of your pretty little head. I’m taking you with me. For one, I can’t stand the thought of leaving you all alone here without knowing when I’m coming back. For two...” I pause, not sure if I should say the next bit. Maybe it’s the adrenaline from the phone call or the rawness of the situation, but I push forward and lay out my honesty. “I can’t trust you’ll still be here if I did. Go grab the spare bag in your closet at the other house and pack a few days’ worth of clothes. Hurry, Doe. My mom needs me.”

She scampers off without another word, and I’m finally able to unstick myself from the mouth of my room. I complete the task of grabbing us some snacks. A few bottles of water, a bag of chips, and some string cheese to get us through the first leg of the journey. It’s late, nearing ten p.m., so I hope we can make it until breakfast before stopping.

My dear dog followed Doe to the other house, so I grab the bag of snacks and the clothes she packed for me and lock up. I reach the back door to the house next door as it flies open.

Doe steps out with a heavy looking duffle slung over her shoulder and Betsy hot on her heels. “Ready,” she huffs.

I tug the bag from her hands as she looks at me with confusion, and I replace it with the snack bag. “Carry this for me and set it inside the truck, yeah? I’ll take these. I’m just going to lock up.”

She calls Betsy, and the two of them walk off like the perfect pair. She only throws one glance over her shoulder before hastening to my truck.

I miss the lock twice because my hand is shaking. Closing my eyes, I drop my chin to my chest and take a deep, cleansing breath. I can’t get us there safely if I’m wound up the entire drive down. I need to relax. I just don’t know how when Dad is in surgery hundreds of miles away, Mom is all alone in a hospital waiting room, and both my siblings are hopping flights in the middle of the night. I can’t lose another person who means everything to me. I know I alienated myself from my family after I lost Aislin, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love them and miss them. I still call my parents frequently, and they call me. And it fucking kills me that it takes Dad having a heart attack for me to realize that since I moved back here, I’ve been more distant. I’ve been so goddamned focused on solving Aislin’s homicide—the sleepless nights, the countless dead ends, the other cases, Doe—my thoughts stop on her name. I don’t… I can’t remember when I started being so consumed by her as well. I can’t deny that a part of me beats with the same vengeance it does for Aislin. That I want to catch the sick bastard responsible for hurting her as well. That I don’t know if I can just walk away and leave Doe’s case unresolved when I solve Aislin’s.

What I do know is when all this is settled… when I finally catch the monster responsible for Aislin and, shit, possibly the one responsible for the hell Doe’s endured, I’m going to be a better son. And brother. I fucking promise, even if it’s only between me, the universe, and a God I’m not sure even exists.

I fucking promise.

Betsy and the bags are in the back of the cab while Doe’s curled up on the passenger seat. She kicked her shoes off and tucked her bare feet on the seat beside her. Her head rests against the window with her fingers entwined beneath her cheek. She’s turned toward me, though, watching as I fire the engine and back us quickly out of the driveway. I point the truck toward the highway and attempt to settle myself in for the long drive.

I turn on some quiet music, using it to fill the silence in the background. “I won’t need gas for about two hundred miles or so. Do you need anything before then? I have a few bottles of water and some cheese for snacks.”

“No thanks,” she mutters and then lets out a huge yawn.

Ah, fuck. I knew she was beat earlier. All that’s happened since must have drained the rest of the energy right out of her. Adrenaline in the moment can only keep a person up for so long before it’s time to crash.

“You can rest. No use in staying awake in the middle of the night. We have a long drive ahead of us.”

She shifts, turning her head back the other direction, and settles in. “That’s a good idea. Wake me…wake me if you need anything?” Her voice sounds like a question as she lets out another yawn.

My lips twitch, but nothing more. My life has taken a serious turn, and I’m too damn tired to smile.

I drive through the night while Doe sleeps beside me. Though I can’t say it’s been a quiet trip. Her moans sound again, and she thrashes in her seat. Betsy whimpers from behind us and sticks her nose near Doe’s face. I can’t tell from the driver’s seat if my dog is touching her, but her closeness must comfort Doe some because she quiets. They’ve been doing this dance all night.

With the first few whimpers, I attempted to wake her, but Doe kicked me in the ribs so hard I nearly rolled the truck. Even though my ribs sting like a bitch, I can’t help feeling some pride at her reaction speed, even in her restless sleep. After that, I tried not to touch her even though it was painful listening to her. The dog’s instincts must have kicked in, and she took over trying to provide comfort; something that Doe tolerated.

I’ve stopped twice for gas, and neither time did Doe wake. We just left the second station in Virginia before crossing state lines into North Carolina. I debated with myself when I realized I needed an extra-large coffee to keep me going. Do I wake her and bring her in with me or leave her with Betsy in the car? What if she wakes up alone and frightened? What if someone sees her and bothers her? In the end, my need for caffeine won out, and I booked it in and out of the gas station in record time. I even used cash so as not to wait for the machine, leaving my change with the cashier as he hollered at my back.

Now, we’re driving through North Carolina, and the sun is beginning to rapidly rise. Doe stirs again, briefly drawing my attention. Her head rests against her hand near the window with her elbow propped against the door. I glance that way with a small smile on my face at her breathy whimper, but what I see causes my mouth to tighten.

Aislin’s bracelet.

The early morning sun glints off a shiny piece of the plastic. It looks perfectly natural on her, barring the fact it’s a child’s bracelet, but to any other person in the world, they’d never guess the meaning it holds. The memories. What surprises me is my own reaction. The pain in my chest doesn’t follow, nor do I want to shake her awake and demand she take it off. It could be that my father’s health and getting to my mother are more pressing. Or, just maybe, I don’t mind so much. I flick my gaze back over to her before looking back at the road. I’m not going to ask her to take it off. With everything going on, there’s a good chance I’d misplace it and lose it forever. This way, at least I know where it is, and something tells me that Doe will keep it safe. She saw my reaction when I first noticed her wearing it, so she knows it means something to me. Regardless that I haven’t known her very long, I trust her to keep it on and not lose it. Something tells me she isn’t used to having possessions of her own, and she’ll cherish it.

I can’t stop my gaze from drifting back over to the bracelet again, but this time, her pretty eyes are wide open and staring at me. I’m slightly startled but still manage a gruff, “Good morning.”

She straightens in her seat. “Good morning.”

I reach down into the bag near her feet and pull out a bottle of water and two string cheeses, handing them to her. “We’ll stop soon for breakfast. You can start on this.”

She nods, setting the cheese down and uncapping the water. After a long pull, she sets the bottle into the cup holder and reaches back to scruff Betsy’s ears.

“Doe,” I say low but gently, waiting until I have her attention to continue. “Eat the cheese.”

Her hand immediately goes to one of the sticks, and she unwraps it. She often forgets to eat. I haven’t pushed it to ask if it’s because she never feels hungry or if she’s not used to scheduled meals. But it fucking destroys me to see her so tiny and not feed herself. Those first few days leaving her alone when I went to work were terrifying for that small fact. I wound up calling her every couple of hours to remind her to eat something, going as far as to leave several premade options in the refrigerator. For the most part, she’s pretty compliant when I ask, so I think it’s the latter. She simply forgets to nourish herself.

“Good girl,” I murmur quietly, not wanting to sound patronizing but wanting her to know it pleases me to see her take care of herself.

“Have you ever traveled before?” I can feel her quizzical stare without looking at her.

She swallows a drink of water before answering. “I can’t remember.”

“You have now. When this trip is through, you’ll have visited six states. Maybe on the way back, we can stop and explore a couple of them.”

“I think I’d like that.”

A half an hour later, I pull the truck into the parking lot of a diner. I don’t know if the food here is any good, but I hope like fuck it is. I didn’t want to grab us some fast food shit, but we don’t have time to sit and enjoy a homecooked meal. After I kill the ignition, I turn to Doe.

“I’m going to go in there and order us something for the road. I need you to stay here with Betsy so she’s not alone. I’ll lock the doors. I’ll be watching you the entire time.”

The blood drains from her face with every word out of my mouth, and her eyes grow wide with fear.

I automatically reach for her face but drop my hand halfway there. I can’t touch her and freak her out more. Instead, I grip the headrest behind her and lean in.

“Doe, look at me. My dog is the best damn guard dog out there. I’ll hear her barking before someone could even get near you. We need to do this. We need to start getting you comfortable in your environment.”

She still doesn’t say anything, but I see her shoulders rise and fall with a deep breath.

I keep going. “I promise you, I will never let anything happen to you. As long as I’m around, nobody will fucking touch you.” The vehemence in my voice isn’t something to argue with.

The white-knuckled grip on the door handle gives away her anxiety of me leaving. She still doesn’t respond, but we’re short on time. I need to get us food, take a piss, and get back on the road. She’s going to have to deal this time.

“Betsy,” I command and pat the front seat. The big shepherd dog jumps over and settles in. Doe immediately reaches for the fur around the dog’s neck and begins stroking. “I’ll be right back,” I murmur.

I feel like running; not wanting to frighten everyone inside, I force myself to walk. Halfway across the parking lot, lost in my thoughts about Doe, about Dad, and my family, someone touches my arm. My heart rate skyrockets at the surprise touch, and I whip around ready to fuck someone up.

“Doe, dammit, why aren’t you in the truck?”

The tips of her fingers dig into my bicep as if she’s trying to hang on. I take her in, top to toe, not missing the full-body tremble. When I reach her feet, instinct takes over, and I haul her into my arms.

She thrashes and whimpers, her body bowing into an arc to throw herself away from me. Goddammit, people are going to think I’m trying to kidnap her.

“Doe!” I growl low. “You didn’t listen and followed me out here, so now I need to carry you back. Hold still.”

She stops arching, but her body shakes so hard I have to readjust my grip. My frustrations win out, and I start rambling.

“Tore up your feet enough when you were found wandering around town. Bloodied as fuck. Now you follow me out into a cracked asphalt parking lot barefoot. I’m not going to let you tear up your feet again, baby. Not after they just fucking healed.” The words flow out of me, and I don’t even register what I’m saying. All I can think of is the amount of time I’m wasting taking care of this when I just want some food for us and to get to my family. Shit, next time, swear to God, I’m just taking her with me.

I reach the truck and plant her ass back in the passenger seat where Betsy is still sitting but whining. This time, I hand Doe my keys. She takes them from my fingers hesitantly.

“This button locks the door, this one unlocks it. Got it?” I wait until she gives me a nod before continuing. “This one here sounds an alarm. Go ahead and try it.”

The blare starts up as soon as she hits the button. I take the keys back quick to turn it off.

“I need you to stay here. Lock the doors when I leave, and now you have this. You heard how loud the alarm is. If anyone bothers you, sound the alarm and I’ll come running, okay?”

She gives a sharp nod.

“I need to hear you say it, Doe. Give me your word you’ll stay put so I can get us some food.”

“I will,” she says in a scratchy tone.

“Be right back.”

Within ten minutes, I’m making my way back out to the truck with two Styrofoam takeout containers in a plastic bag. I approach the passenger side first. I think it’ll startle her less. When I reach the window, my heart fucking explodes in both pride and sadness. Doe’s crouched down in her seat, eyes to the windshield with the key fob clutched in her grip. Betsy’s curled up on the floor by her feet.

I gently tap the window and call out at the same time, “Unlock the truck for me.”

The locks click, and I walk around to my door, climb in, and pass the food to Doe. “Dig in. They’re both the same.” I steal my keys from her fingers, fire up the truck, and put us back on the highway.

Conversation is light as we eat. Doe inhales her food while I pick at mine. The silence of the drive lends my mind time to wander to Dad, and that kills my appetite. Before long, my bacon’s turned cold. I wrap the muffin up for later, and Doe puts my trash back into the plastic bag.

She starts doing crossword puzzles somewhere into South Carolina, and by the time we hit Georgia, she’s fast asleep. The next time I need gas, I stop and wake her up to use the restroom. She makes me check that it’s empty before she goes inside. I call Mom once to see how Dad is doing, and she tells me he’s resting in the cardiac intensive care unit. While I’m scared to shit Dad’s going through this right now and I can’t be there, I want the doctors to do everything they can to reduce the chances of this happening again. Dad’s still plenty young and has a lot of years left to live. He was damn lucky they decided to settle near one of the region’s leading heart hospitals.

I spend the next four hours in the truck lost in my thoughts as we make our way down to the quiet coastal beach community where my parents decided to retire. Part of me will relax when I get there and can see for myself that Dad is doing okay. The other part… well. I glance over at Doe as she practices reading some book Mindy brought over for her. That part may take a while.

* * *

We have to stop by my parents’ house before heading to the hospital, and the small delay ratchets up my stress level. I damn well couldn’t leave my dog in the truck during an August summer in Florida. As quickly as I can, I lead Bets inside, fill her a bowl of water, and am back out the door to where Doe’s waiting in my truck. As I’m pulling out for the last ten-minute drive to the hospital, Doe notices the ocean behind their property.

“It’s astounding, isn’t it?”

“I’d like to go there,” she breathes, wonder filling her voice. I grin as she turns around in her seat to watch the view fade behind the residential housing.

“Once I check on my family and take a nap, I’ll take you.”

“Have you been to the ocean before?” she asks, her soft voice wrapping around me like silk. Something about the way she speaks is careful yet free. Her curiosity shines through in a way that makes me think she’s not used to voicing her questions.

“Not this one. My parents haven’t lived here long. This is actually my first trip down to see them. I wish it were under better circumstances.”

“Me too.”

“To answer your question, I spent some time on the West Coast and went to some beaches in California while I was there. My dad also took us on a fishing trip off the coast of Maine when we were kids. The ocean is vast and filled with the unknown. It’s a bit of a metaphor for my job.” I laugh humorously.

The GPS directs me easily to the hospital, but even without the navigation, it would’ve been hard to miss. Innumerous signs pointed me in the right direction from several miles back. A tall, boxy building with gleaming walls of glass windows towers over us from the parking ramp. Shoreside Hospital emblazoned on the front.

Doe follows me from the truck and across a skywalk into the hospital. Immediately, I’m put at ease. The newness of the place, the smell of fresh paint, and the gleaming fixtures remind me I’m no longer in Podunk, Ohio. This place screams money, and with money, the healthcare field secures the best.

A text to Mom told me where to go and that she would be waiting. The family was moved to a waiting room outside the CICU.

“Niko!” I hear called when Doe and I step out into the hall. Mom stands near the double doors labeled Authorized Personnel. I quicken our steps. The closer I get, the easier it is to see how frazzled she looks. Her eyes are wide and alert, but dark circles rim the lower lids. Her hair is pulled on top of her head in a chaotic, frizzy bun, and her clothes are wrinkled. I mentally kick myself for not grabbing her a fresh outfit before I envelop her in my arms.

“Mom,” I mutter hoarsely and kiss her on the cheek. She starts to pull back, but I hold her just a moment longer before letting go. “How is he? When can I see him?”

I don’t miss the way her eyes briefly flit to Doe. She sucks in a short, quiet breath, and tears well in her eyes. She blinks them away before looking back at me, but I see the sympathy lingering there.

“He’s resting,” she answers hoarsely. “Their visitation hours are very strict. A maximum of two people allowed at a time and only in thirty-minute increments. Tori and Michael are in there right now finishing up. The next one isn’t until three p.m.”

I look down at my watch. It’s 1:25. Fuck. I glance over the top of her head as if I can steal a peek. “Can’t I see him quick?”

Her hand caresses my cheek. “I’m sorry, honey. You’re next. It’s probably for the best. You can grab a quick nap while you wait. You must be exhausted after driving all night.”

I cover her hand on my cheek and gently pull it away, tucking it in mine. “I’ve done worse.”

“I know,” she responds sadly. Clearing her expression, she turns to Doe. “Hello, dear. I’m Sandra, Niko’s mom.”

From the corner of my eye, I see Doe cock her head. She turns to me, and I look down in time to see a nervous expression on her face.

“Mom, this is Doe. She’s a… client I’m helping from work. And she’s a good friend.”

Mom looks at me, and I can see the questions on her face. I give her a look that I hope tells her I’ll explain later because I can’t right now. Why I didn’t spend some of the fifteen-hour drive coming up with a better explanation is beyond me. Telling them the straight truth is not an option. At least not in the middle of a hospital hallway.

“Hello,” Doe says quietly.

“It’s very nice to meet you. Thank you for accompanying Niko on his long drive. I’m sure he enjoyed having the extra company.” What she doesn’t say is that she knows it’s because of Doe that I had to drive. Not the details, but Mom is a smart woman. She knows I would have chosen to fly unless there was a reason I couldn’t, so she knows Doe is that reason.

“Um, it was nice of him to bring me with and not leave me at home.”

Mom’s eyes flicker to me again on the word home. The way Doe said it makes it sound like we live together. In a way we do, but not the way Mom would expect.

Ever the hostess, Mom smiles kindly at Doe then gestures to her left. “Should we sit down in the waiting room?” Without waiting for our response, she leads the way.

I gesture Doe ahead of me then remark, “Actually, I might stand for a bit. I’ve been sitting the past fifteen hours. My back could use a b—”

“What the fuck?” The phrase is muttered loudly from inside the waiting room. My head snaps up, and I lock eyes on my brother, Reece.

“Reece!” Mom admonishes. “Language!”

“Are you kidding me right now?” Reece explodes. As his tone escalates in volume and anger, Doe retreats behind me. He’s scaring her, and that pisses me right the fuck off.

“Simmer down,” I growl low. I feel Doe’s hand curl into my shirt at the small of my back.

“Simmer down? Me?” He punctuates his words with a finger into his chest.

“Yeah, you. Always the hothead. What’s your problem?”

“My problem is you bringing your skanky little side piece along for the ride while Dad’s lying in a fucking hospital bed,” he sneers, taking two steps forward and to the side, as if he’s trying to make eye contact with Doe.

“Boys, knock it off!”

Mom’s words fall on deaf ears. I’ve taken my own two steps forward until I’m right in Reece’s space. I know I dragged Doe with me, as her grip never loosened on my shirt, but I’m past the point of being able to tell her to let go. His words have my ears buzzing, and I’m seeing red. Instead, I reach behind me and pry her fingers open, giving her fist a tight squeeze before letting it drop back to her side. I’m not sure if she got my message, but she doesn’t grab me again.

“You don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

“Save it, Niko. You always were the selfish one. Thinking the world revolved around you. Lashing out after your friend disappeared. Now, Mom and Dad need you, and you drag your fuck buddy with. Real nice, brother.”

I deck him.

The Lord himself would have had a hell of a time holding me back from throwing a punch. After Reece’s rant, mentioning Aislin, and then calling Doe a derogatory name twice, I snapped.

He throws his own punch, aiming for the face. I dip left and he misses but manages to lock his arms around my neck. I try to pry his arm off but can’t, so I send an elbow sailing into his ribs. He grunts but still doesn’t let go. I knock him with another jab.

“Stop, you guys! What the crap?”

Reece throws a punch to my ribs, coincidentally the same spot Doe kicked me earlier, and the pain returns with a vengeance. I run him backward, hoping he’ll fall onto his back, but he hangs on. I’m able to land another jab to his gut before hands start tearing us apart.

“Knock it off, idiots.” That voice I recognize as Michael, Tori’s husband. Reece’s hold finally gives, and I drag in a lungful of air. Tori’s skinny arms wrap around me, one in the chest and the other behind my back, as she pushes me into a chair.

“What is the matter with you two?” I look up from my shoes and see Michael shove Reece into a chair. Shame starts to creep in when I see the blood on my brother’s lip.

“Misunderstanding,” I grunt, keeping my eyes locked on Reece’s.

“Yeah,” Reece sneers back. I’m about to get up and hit him again when I see his gaze flicker to my left. The expression on his face changes from anger to one of confusion.

“Niko,” Mom whispers. I turn her way.

“Shit.” I’m out of my chair in a nanosecond and crossing the waiting area. Mom sits in a chair with Doe in the one beside her, curled into a ball and holding a white-knuckled grip on Mom’s hand. I pry their hands apart, replacing Mom’s with mine, and haul Doe from the chair. Her eyes stay clenched tight, but she lets me lead her across the room. I regain my seat and gently guide her into the one beside me.

“You’re okay. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. Shh,” I soothe, quiet enough only she can hear me. Fully aware all eyes are on us. I want to reach out and touch her, stroke her hair, do something to comfort her, but I don’t want to push her over the edge. Whatever the fuck happened to her in the past, that little scene I allowed to happen was too much for her. Regret consumes me. Maybe I should have left her at home.

“I’m sorry, Doe,” I tell her again, and she gives my hand a tight squeeze. I sit sideways in my chair, facing her, trying to cage her in and keep the rest of the world out.

Time passes in silence, and a while later, soft, even breaths sound from Doe as she sleeps beside me. I’ve been so focused on her that I’m not sure if everyone left or they’ve just been quiet. When I look around, I’m startled to see my family still here, watching us. And at that moment, I know I owe them an explanation, something, to describe Doe and who she is to me.

“Several weeks back, she was brought into the hospital after being found wandering the streets one night. She was barefoot and covered in cuts and scars. She was a Jane Doe.” I pause to look in their faces. How much do I tell them to explain but also respect Doe’s private history?

“Were you the detective on her case?” Mom asks gently. The sound of her voice draws my attention her way.

“Not exactly. The same night she was picked up, someone was outside my house. There were gunshots.”

Reece grunts audibly, probably remembering the night I paid him a visit.

I continue. “I made the decision to question her myself and see if she had been in the area. When I got there, though, she didn’t remember. She was a true Jane Doe without a memory.” I shake my head at the difficulty of the situation.

Slipping my hand from Doe’s relaxed one, I prop my elbows on my knees and run my hands over my hair. I let my hands hang limp between my spread legs and raise my head up to look at my family. “She’s in recovery mode. She has no memory, no family, and nowhere to go. I gave her the name Doe and took her home. She’s been staying in the house...” I stop and swallow thickly. “In Aislin’s old house. When I got the call about Dad, I couldn’t just leave her there. I’m the only person she trusts at this point, and that took a fucking long time for her to give it.”

“Niko, I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” Reece says, sounding contrite.

“No, you didn’t. I bet you can see now how those comments of yours were even ten times more fucked up.”

“I get it.” He raises his palms out to me. “I’m sorry. I’ll apologize to her too when she wakes up.”

“Good. Now if you all don’t mind, I’m going to get some shut-eye. Someone wake me when it’s my turn to see Dad.”

“Of course, honey, get some rest,” Mom says, and I send her a grateful smile before closing my eyes.