“Dad, we need to keep level heads.”
“Did you notify the police?” he asked.
“Giselle never saw his face that night,” Thayer added. “The cops wouldn’t have taken her seriously if she had no evidence other than she knew his voice.”
“This is unbelievable,” my father said.
Thayer’s thumb traced circles on the back of my hand. “Giselle’s been so strong. She could’ve lost it being in Florida all alone when this happened, but she didn’t.”
“That son of a bitch,” my father mumbled.
“Dad, we can’t be sure about Gino yet. Thayer’s dad is working on it.”
“Your father?” my mother asked, knowing about the bad blood there. She’d been close with his mother, and no one liked his father.
“I knew the police might not take her seriously, so believe it or not, he was our only hope,” Thayer admitted.
“What information does he have to go on?” my father asked.
“We know his first name and that he likely grew up with Gino,” Thayer explained. “My father’s looking into similar crimes and Gino’s background, you know, to find out more about Carlo.”
My mother rounded the island and wrapped me in another hug. “That had to be terrifying for you. Seeing him and being so far away from us.”
“I’m okay,” I assured her. “And Thayer met me at the airport.”
My mother looked to him with appreciation in her eyes.
“What’s Kason have to say about all of this?” my father asked.
I winced. “I haven’t told him yet.”
“But Thayer knows,” he said.
“You know Kase would’ve flown directly to Florida.”
“That makes two of us,” my father said.
“I know. I just needed to have a plan first.”
“We have to tell him,” my mother said.
I nodded. “He’ll be home tomorrow, and I’m going to tell him then.”
My father’s eyes moved between Thayer and me. “Do I even want to know how long this has been going on?”
“It’s new,” I said.
My dad looked to Thayer. “And Kason’s good with it?”
Thayer’s eyes cut to mine.
“We haven’t exactly told him that yet either,” I admitted.
“Good luck with that,” my father said.
Luck? We needed more than luck.
25