Chapter 501

I glanced down, noticing his soaked shoes. “Then how’d Hayden pull it off?”

“No clue. And nobody else seems to know, either,” Jace tilted his umbrella up a bit, meeting my eyes.

“So, you thought I’d know? That you could get answers from me?”

Jace held steady under my sharp stare. “I know you don’t.” He held my gaze for a beat before looking away. “He’s deliberately keeping it under wraps. But I did hear something.”

“What?”

“Word is that the boss at Quartz Cue got… well, ‘dealt with.’ Not sure if it’s true.” He sounded hesitant, but I got what he was hinting at.

“You think Hayden was involved?”

Jace was quiet for a second. “Maybe. But Quartz Cue is huge in Houston. Their boss isn’t the kind of guy you just… handle.” The way he said it, I could tell he’d tried to meet this Quartz Cue boss himself—and failed.

“I don’t know how Hayden helped Steve. And he never gave me a chance to ask.”

Just then, a gust of wind sent a raindrop splashing against my cheek, cold and sharp. It felt just like the tears I’d shed when Hayden pushed me away.

“Hayden didn’t even let you explain?” Jace’s voice softened.

“He did. But he still wouldn’t forgive me. Said he couldn’t be with a woman who’d risk her life for another guy.” I raised my umbrella, glancing over at Jace. “But he got it all wrong. I didn’t do it for you, specifically.”

“I’d do it for anyone. It just happened to be you, and given our past…”

“I get why Hayden misunderstood. Just like…” I hesitated. “Just like how I misread what happened with you and Tanya. You explained, but it still hurt.”

“I’m sorry.” The apology came easy for Jace, softer than I expected.

I let out a bitter laugh. He looked at me, then asked, “Do you want me to talk to him for you?”

“No. It’d only make things worse, like when Tanya came to explain herself to me.” As I said it, I realized how Hayden and I had ended up on the same track Jace and I had been on. Only this time, I was the one making mistakes without even seeing it.

Jace went quiet. After a moment, I added, “Look, Jace, we’re family now. From here on out, we’re real siblings.”

“Rea…”

“You may have played a part in what happened with Hayden and me, but the real problems are ours to handle. You don’t need to feel guilty.” I wanted to end whatever lingering feelings or regret he might still have.

“Oh, and that ‘blood debt’ you mentioned back in Houston? Someday, if I need blood, you can pay me back then. Blood bank buddies.” I forced a smile. “No regrets there.”

Jace laughed, but it was tinged with sadness. “Rea, I thought I knew you. Turns out I’m only just starting to.”

I gave a distant smile. Glancing back, I noticed Wayne in the kitchen window with Lindey, helping her make gnocchi. He was watching us—keeping an eye, like he hadn’t given up yet. But Jace was still totally oblivious to Wayne’s feelings for me. I reached out, catching a raindrop sliding off the edge of my umbrella. “It’s normal, you know? Sometimes even couples together a lifetime, or siblings raised side by side, don’t really get each other.”

Jace nodded. “Yeah, we all think we—”

He didn’t get to finish. My phone started ringing—a voice call. When I saw the caller ID, my heart skipped a beat.