At the top of the first page in the binder in big bold print was, Money To Hold Back. “What? My dad was taking money from someone?” I pointed to the page.

Julian reached for the binder and flipped through a few of the pages. “I really don’t know.”

“But it doesn’t sound good.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

We spent several hours going through each box. The binder we found was the only thing that seemed suspicious. Then he stopped in mid-turn of a page, and his face went as white as a ghost. I could read that emotion loud and clear.

“Talk to me.”

“Hold on.” He stood up and grabbed his cellphone. “Yeah, you out there still? Okay, come up and make sure the area is clear.”

“Who was that?” I was starting to feel like a parrot with all the questions I was asking him.

“A friend. We need to get out of here.”

“But—”

“This sheet has me concerned.” He handed the file over. “I think this is where your life changes, Lily.”

I grabbed it and hesitated before opening the thick cover. Inside it looked like a hit list. There were names with lines drawn through the center. Five names did not have the line. “Um, it’s not what I think it is, right?”

“I have a feeling it is.” He looked at his phone and walked over to open the door. “Lily, this is, Otto.”

“Hey.” I knew my greeting was shitty, but at the moment I didn’t care. “Now where are we going?”

“To a safe house.” Julian put the binder and file in his bag. “Okay, I need to turn off this device, so we need to go silent until we get to the car.

I only nodded and reached for the first file with the letter from my mom.

What did she want to tell me?

“Are you sure?” Otto said, buckling his seatbelt.

“Why would I lie?” Julian said sarcastically.

I was in the backseat of Otto’s car. “What about the rental I brought?”

“The guys will return it for you.” Julian turned in his seat.

“Guys?”

He placed his hand on my knee. “I will tell you everything back at the safe house.”

I rolled my eyes and pulled my phone out of my bag. “I need to call Charlie. Does she know everything already?”

“No, but I made it clear you were in danger. She pushed for more but finally stopped trying to get anything out of me.”

I shook my head and hit dial. “Hey, C.”

“Oh thank goodness you’re okay,” Charlie sighed loudly. “You are, right?”

“I’m fine.” I probably sounded terse. “Sorry, it’s been a long night.”

We continued to talk for another five minutes. Before I hung up, Charlie made me promise to call her in a few hours. I knew she was worried, and to be honest, I was, too.

I had my head down when the car came to a stop. Looking up, I saw we were parked in front of a one-story brick house. A woman stepped out, and it took me a moment to register. “Who is that?”

“Go see her, Lily,” Julian said, tapping his finger on the note I found earlier.

I hesitated before opening the door. My body felt weak, my chest felt tight, the snack I had just consumed wanted to make an entrance. I made it as far as the front of the car and had to place my hand on the hood for support. My legs were giving out on me.

The woman ran over to help me up. As she approached the car, I could make out all the features. It was my mom. She had more wrinkles. Her hair was salt and pepper now, but it was her.

“How—”

“Come inside, baby.” She guided me toward the front door where a golden retriever sat perfectly.

“I don’t understand.”

“I know. We have a lot to talk about, Lily,” my mom said, helping me up the steps.

“I don’t understand.” I was fighting back the snack still, but it was determined. My body bent over and I heaved. The dog barked and jumped back. I let go of everything in my stomach and more possibly.

“Oh, baby, come in here.” She led me to the back of the house and into the bathroom.

I got down on my knees in front of the toilet. My stomach was still fighting me. Wrapping my arms around the sides of the porcelain, I prayed it would end soon. Finally, my prayers were answered, and I lifted my head. “Why are you here? You died.”

“Well, no. I had to make others believe that, though.” She placed a washcloth on my forehead. “I’m so sorry for this.”

I pushed her hand away. “No, you don’t get to say sorry now.” Walking down the hall, I glanced into each room. The last room I was about to pass had newspaper clippings on the walls. I pushed open the door and walked inside. The walls were covered with articles about me.

“I haven’t missed a fight yet.”

“Wait, you went to my fights?”

She sat down on the edge of the bed. “Well, if I couldn’t go, I found a way to record it.”

I cautiously sat down beside her, needing her body near me. Holy shit, my mom was alive. Julian was right, my life was about to change in a flash. Mom reached for my hand. “Dad made me believe you were dead. Why would he do that?”

“Because he thought I was dead.” She brought my hand to her chest. “I took a drug that stopped my heart. When I was in the back of the ambulance with your dad, I was given another drug to counteract everything. The monitors were set up so it would show I was still not breathing.”

No joke, I was currently the star of this movie. I wanted out of the scene.

Julian’s big frame took up the doorway. I glanced over at him. “So how do you fit in this equation?”

Mom handed me a glass of water. “You hungry?”

“I bet you are dying to make me something,” I teased. “Okay, let’s use a different word. Excited, that works.”

She smiled, and memories came rushing back. I loved when my mom smiled. The corners of her eyes would crinkle up, and she would make the room shine. “Yes I am, sweetie.”

Julian was sitting next to me. “So, you going to make me guess how you fit into this mystery?”

“Don’t be mad at him, Lily,” my mom quickly said. “He’s protecting you, but I’m guessing he never planned to care so much for you.”

I turned to face him. “You’re protecting me?”

“Because of your dad.”

“Okay, now I am completely confused.”

“When your dad mentioned me before he died, it was planned.”

I shook my head, trying to take it all in. “So let me see if I have this straight. Dad was possibly a hitman. He thought Mom died of a heart attack. Mom is alive and has been in hiding. Dad really did die of cancer, right?”

“Yes, your dad really did have cancer,” Julian said, taking a drink of his beer. “Which is how I came into the equation. He was getting his affairs in order and trusted me enough to help.”

My head was spinning. “Candace from the newspaper knows something doesn’t she?”

“I think so. I need to talk to her,” Julian reassured.

“You’re not going to kill her, right?”

“No. God no.” His eyes went wide at the accusation. “Wow, I thought you knew me better.”

“I thought I knew my dad, but look where I’m at right now.”

“Fair enough.” He let out a deep sigh. “Your dad mentored me. He even helped me open my gym. At the time I had no clue about anything else.”

“Until Candace hinted something to you?”

“Yeah, it was a weird reference.”

“About something in his past.” I stood up and did my normal pacing when stressed. “How the hell would she know?”

Mom walked over and wrapped her arms around my waist. “You still pace when upset, I see.”

My body relaxed at her touch. “Yeah, I’m surprised I haven’t burned a hole in the carpet at home.”

“Or my tile floor.”

“Is it possible to burn a hole in tile?” He smiled for the first time, and I felt my body light up. I stepped out of my mom’s hold. “Listen, can we talk about the rest later? My brain feels like it may explode.” I pointed to the big soup pot on the stove. “Plus, I’m starving.”

“Chicken noodle soup. Your favorite,” she beamed.

I didn’t have the heart to tell her I had not had homemade chicken noodle soup since she passed…well, faked her death…or whatever she did. I had avoided the soup and claimed I hated it if I was asked.

Now I couldn’t wait to sink my spoon back into the best soup on the planet.