25

Dolly

I wake up in the middle of the night to find myself alone.

I slide out of bed, and I make my way down the hall to his office. Oscar sits at his desk in the dark. He’s staring at the computer screen. I see the words “Project Sunshine” on the top, and I know he’s looking for answers.

Is he ever going to find them?

“You’ll hurt your eyes,” I say quietly.

“Who needs eyes?”

“Finding answers?”

“Not really.”

“Anything I can help with?” I ask.

He turns to me, and he holds his hand out. Instantly, I’m at his side.

“Do you know how I learned about Project Sunshine?”

“No.”

“Alex.”

“Your brother’s girlfriend?”

“Yes.”

“What’s she got to do with this?”

“Alex started working for Ryan because she needed money to pay for a private investigator,” he says.

“Sounds reasonable.” Or, you know, dramatic.

“She was looking for her brother, who went missed after they entered the foster care system.”

“Oh, shit,” I say. “What the fuck?”

“Yeah, it was bad,” he says. “Ryan started looking, and so did Alex. They sort of independently stumbled upon this project my dad worked on.”

“Sunshine,” I say.

“Sunshine.”

“So, what exactly is it? Or, was it?”

“We have such limited knowledge that it’s been really hard to find anything out,” he says. “What I know is that for a period of a couple years, my father facilitated twenty-five adoptions. Those are the ones I’ve been able to find.”

“That feels like a lot.”

“He found kids on the street, spruced them up, and sent them to live with wealthy families.”

“So, what, Alex’s brother was just one of the kids?”

“Yes,” he says.

“And did you find him?”

“Sort-of.”

“Come again?” I feel like I’m missing something.

“Alex and Ryan were sure they found Aaron. He had a new name, a new family, everything. They talked, and then they met up. They had a little reunion. Apparently, it went well.”

Relief washes over me. Okay, so maybe not everything in the world is trashy and bad.

Oscar doesn’t say anything for a long moment, though.

“Is there something else?” I ask. “Something you haven’t shared?”

“Yes,” he says. “When they left, Alex was sure that the man she met wasn’t Aaron.”

“Did Ryan believe her?”

“Yes.”

“So what happens next?”

“We’re trying to find him,” Oscar says. “Along with the other kids who are missing.”

“Have you gone to the police?” I ask. I already know the answer. Oscar leans his head against my tummy, and I pet his hair.

“The police don’t have the resources we do. They also tend to color within the lines, whereas my brothers and I have certain freedoms they don’t.”

“Meaning you can torture people if you want to,” I say, nodding.

“What the fuck?” Oscar looks up at me. He laughs. “You dirty little freak.” For some reason, I know this is a term of endearment. “How much true crime do you watch?”

“A lot,” I admit.

“Well, I was thinking we could break into buildings. Not torture people.”

“Ah.”

That makes more sense.

“We still don’t know as much as we should,” he says. “I’d like to talk to your brother.”

“But he’s like, gone underground.”

“He wanted to abduct me for a reason,” Oscar says. “I think we should give him another chance.”

My blood runs cold.

“Oscar? What do you mean?” Another chance? No fucking way. I’m not losing him. Not now.

“I just think it would be a great way to get more answers,” he says.

“But I can’t lose you,” I say.

The words are out of my mouth before I can stop myself, but I don’t bother trying to recall them.

“What?” Oscar stands. He places his hands on my waist.

“I can’t lose you,” I repeat.

“Why not, baby?”

“Because I’m falling for you.”

“You’re falling for the man you abducted,” he says. He strokes my cheek.

“I am,” I say. I don’t argue about the details this time.

Oscar smiles, and then he kisses me. His mouth covers mine, and our tongues fight for dominance in this moment.

“I need you,” I say, pulling back.

“I need you more, pet.”

“You’re everything to me,” I admit. It’s only been a few days, but I’m falling.

Hard.

“You’re the sweetest morsel,” he says, and then he kisses me.

And kisses me.

And kisses me.