This Could Be Us (Skyland, #2)(21)

I run a weary hand over my face, glancing through the window to our back lawn with the firepit and bright green grass that have earned us yard of the month more than once. “I… I need to talk to my husband. I need to hear from him. To… I just need to talk to him.”

“He hasn’t called?” Judah asks with a frown.

“Well, he’s a little busy fighting for his life. I’m sure he’ll get around to it as soon as he’s all done with that.”

Judah levels an exasperated look at me. “I didn’t make this up out of thin air. The evidence is there. We just need more of it. I don’t actually give a fuck what happens to Edward because he deserves these consequences. I’m here because you and your daughters don’t.”

Our eyes lock, and that same breathless, dizzy feeling assaults me, the one I couldn’t seem to escape at the Christmas party.

“I promise this is the first I’ve heard about any of this.” Frustrated anger makes my voice shake, and I steady myself before going on. “I can’t help them. Hell, I can barely help myself right now.”

He sends me a frown, his eyes alert. “What does that mean?”

“Our assets have been frozen. My kids’ tuition payment bounced. None of my cards work.” I pick up the wadded pink slip of paper and hold it out like it’s evidence. “I can’t even buy groceries.”

“I knew your accounts were frozen. That’s by court order,” he says, confusion settling on his face. “Pretty standard, but the court should also assign a trustee to your family to help cover some basic needs, like food. Especially in situations involving kids, the court tries to avoid traumatizing them as much as possible.”

“Oh, yeah, because it wasn’t traumatizing at all seeing their father dragged off in cuffs,” I snap. “And I haven’t heard anything about a trustee or food.”

“It can take a few days to get it all sorted. Your lawyer hasn’t told you this stuff?”

“You mean Edward’s lawyer,” I scoff, nearly choking on my reply. “I’ve heard very little from him and not at all from…”

I let that thought die, not wanting to admit how in the dark I am. How in the dark Edward has kept me. I drop the list back on the table and turn my back on Judah, holding on to my composure with slippery hands. I cover my face for just a few seconds, determined not to cry in front of this man.

“Hey.” He touches my shoulder and I jerk, startled by his gentleness. “Look at me.”

I slowly turn, hoping my nose isn’t red like it usually gets when I’m on the verge of crying. His eyes drop immediately to my nose.

Damn. It’s red. I just know it.

“It’s going to be okay,” he says.

“Oh, I’m not falling for that.” I let out a caustic laugh. “That’s the line I’ve been feeding the girls all day, and I have absolutely no idea how it will be okay.”

“You’re telling them things will work out, and you have no idea how, but you’ll do everything in your power to make sure they’ll be taken care of. It’s called parenting.” He pauses, squeezing my shoulder. “Or friendship.”

“You mean us?” I snort a laugh of disbelief. “Friends? I don’t see how.”

“Allies, then. You help me, and I’ll help you.”

“How can I help you?”

“You may know something you don’t realize you know. Remember something strange. Anything. If that happens, let the FBI know as soon as possible.” He picks up the eight ball from the pool table, testing its weight before rolling it to knock noisily against the others. “Look, I can’t get your assets unfrozen. They’re pressuring Edward to show them where the money is. I’m not sure it’ll work.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because he’s a selfish asshole. I know he’s your husband, but don’t count on him, Soledad. Not when your future is at stake. You need to look out for you and your daughters. You think of something that could help this case, then it could help you. Go to the FBI with it immediately.”

“Why are you doing this?”

His eyes scan my face, tracing each feature carefully, but he says nothing. Finally he turns on his heel and heads for the door.

“Let the FBI know if you think of anything,” he says over his shoulder before closing the door behind him.

I draw in a shaky breath and replay our conversation, letting my gaze wander over Edward’s retreat stuffed with his toys and prized possessions. Offshore accounts? Summer house? I need answers. I go back into the house to check on the girls and then call Brunson.

“I was going to talk to you about the trustee today,” Brunson answers when I ask about assistance for basic expenses. “It’s in process. How’d you know about that?”

I open my mouth to recount the conversation with Judah, but something gives me pause.

I’m taking a risk just coming to talk to you about this.

I have no reason to protect Judah Cross, but if he did take a risk coming to warn me, people aren’t exactly lining up to help us right now. I know we can’t be friends. I’m not sure we can be allies, but I do believe he can be useful.

“Read it somewhere online,” I mumble. “I still haven’t heard from Edward. Why not?”