Free A Secret Fate by Susan Griscom

Uncle Bart lives. Why there?”
    Siana sighed. “Because that is where you were with Finn when you disappeared. You were at a wedding. He confessed to killing Careen, his girlfriend, after another woman accused him of also killing her sister. You were struggling for the gun. Gerry was aiming for Finn to wipe a specific time period from his mind so he would calm down, stop wrestling and trying to get away. Gerry would have been able to plant other memories to take the place of what he’d erased had you two not disappeared.”
    “Gerry? Who’s Gerry?”
    “Oh boy. This isn’t going to be easy. Gerry was the groom at the wedding. Look, this is all going to be explained in time. But first you need to get Finn back to Whisper Cape.”
    “But how do I do that without him finding out about my ability?”
    “Don’t worry about that. Gerry can fix it so he won’t remember that either.”
    “This Gerry character. Is he out there with those other people?”
    “No. His wife and … niece are.”
    “And they are here to celebrate Breena’s birthday?”
    “The niece, Addison and Breena are … friends.”
    “I take it the pregnant one is married to Gerry and the gorgeous creature standing next to her is Addison?”
    Siana smiled. “Yes.”
    “She’s a little old to be playing with Breena, don’t you think?”
    “It’s complicated,” she said, ignoring his sarcasm.
    “I see.” He shook his head. “No, not really, you’re blocking me. What are you keeping from me? Something about this woman? What is it?”
    “In due time. You’ve lost so much of your memory. Telling you too much, too soon, I … you’re already going through enough pain.  I won’t risk it.”
    He frowned, hating being kept in the dark, but considering his confusion and agony over Stefan and Claire, he knew she was probably right. “Okay, so I guess I’ll go get Finn. Where should I take him?”
    “You can take him to the Cliff Hanger Bar and Grill. It’s on the main highway in the center of Whisper Cape, but Bart can go with you and show you. Gerry should be there and he’ll know what to do. I’ll call him and tell him you’ll be bringing Finn in. Then you’ll need to take Finn to the sheriff.”
    “Okay.” He stood to go seek out his uncle when Siana stopped him.
    “Cael.” Siana hesitated, placed her hand on his arm. “There’s something important you need to know first. Something that can’t be put off.”
    “What?”
    “Sit down, please. If there was any other way to tell you this, believe me, I would welcome it with open arms.”
    He didn’t like the sound of where this was heading, but obeyed and sat, giving her his undivided attention. “You’re scaring me, Mom. Are you okay?” God, what was happening? Was she ill? Cancer? Wait, that wouldn’t be possible; Ristéard would have healed her.
    “No, I’m fine, I’m not ill.” She’d read his mind, but continued to block him from hers. “I wish I didn’t need to be the one to tell you.”
    “If you’re not ill, then … something with Breena? Ben?” God, he knew whatever she was about to lay on him wasn’t going to be good.
    And fuck, she didn’t beat around the bush when she said in a soft low voice, “Ristéard is gone.”
    “What do you mean, ‘gone?’ Where did he run off to this time?” Christ, the man was always going somewhere searching the world for objects and clues about their heritage. There was a library on the floor below full of the stuff already.
    “He didn’t run off anywhere, honey.” She touched his hand and said, “He died.”
    Cael stared at his mother, certain he hadn’t heard her correctly. Words formed in his mind but stuck in his throat like a wad of cotton, paralyzing his ability to speak. When she followed the statement with, “I am so sorry you have to relive this pain,” he realized his ears hadn’t deceived him.
    Relive the pain? What the hell had happened during the past five years? This was too much, on top of the