Chapter Fourteen
I’m halfway through my first cup of coffee when Jay enters the kitchen, holding up his phone. “For the love of all that is right in the world, talk to your brother. I snuck in forty-five minutes ago and he’s called me five times in that precious time I could have been resting.”
I sip my coffee. “Did you answer?”
“No.”
“Problem solved. Don’t. He’ll eventually show up downstairs and we’ll go to breakfast with him. Separately, did you know that if it rains in New York and Texas on the same day there’s a possible correlation? A large storm system could create both events.”
He halts at the island across front of me. “I haven’t slept enough to figure out what you’re saying to me. What does ignoring your brother’s call have to do with Texas and New York?”
I back up and fill a cup for Jay and set it in front of him. “Drink the blank stare away.”
“Thank you,” he says, sipping from his cup without complaint.
For some reason, at least half the time, he doesn’t need creamer and sweetener.
He’s freaky like that. “I’m not overly witty, wild, or willing today, Lilah,” he points out, as if today is different than other days.
“That shit last night was life changing,” he adds.
“Oh really?” I lift my cup. “Kane let you go along for the ride?” I sip.
“No, but I stood downstairs for hours, making sure you didn’t have visitors, but I was certain there would be a drive-by at any minute. That shit was stressful.”
“That shit is life changing and stressful,” I repeat. “Do you even know the words that are coming out of your mouth? No one in the cartel would be stupid enough to do a drive-by here.”
“I figured as much, but Kane isn’t taking any chances with your safety and neither am I. That’s my job as your protector and your friend. Which is why I need to snap out of the tiredness and do my job. Explain Junior to me again.”
“That was a lot of words and a bit of whiplash but I’m not answering. You don’t need to know. I’m back to you being too good a person for the likes of us, Jay.”
“Don’t even start with me, Lilah. I’m too fucking tired.”
Fucking incredible that he’s pushing back and cursing.
Maybe he’s hardening, but even as I have the thought, he walks to the fridge, retrieves my sugar cookie creamer and fills half his mug with it.
So much for black and bitter. Kane and Kit would not drink sugar cookie creamer but, of course, I do.
And it hasn’t stopped me from killing people, I remind myself.
Jay returns to the island. “What about New York and Texas?”
I still fiercely believe this man needs to be fired for his own good, I don’t have the heart to tell him Kane was just keeping him busy and out of the way last night. “There’s no such thing as a coincidence was my point. Roberto and Junior, my note writer, came back at the same time.”
His brow furrows. “Did they? I thought Roberto had been back a while now?”
“Weeks. And Junior just found the opportunity to pass me a note.”
“You have criminals coming at you from all directions, Lilah. I’m not sure you can call their timing anything but their timing.
I mean, Ghost was at your father’s event.
So does that mean Ghost, Roberto, and Junior are all connected?
And considering your father’s event, does that mean the Society is involved with all of them?
This is New York City. I bet there were a few murders last night. Are they all connected, too?”
“You woke up a real smartass, Jay.”
“No, I walk around with one all the time and it’s rubbing off.” He grabs my notecards and thumbs through them before tossing the card that reads “Ghost” on the counter. “He was there last night because he’s obsessed with you. At the very least remove him from the equation.”
“He was never in my equation.”
“He was in your cards.”
I snatch up the card and crumple it up. “Happy?”
“Kane told me about Junior. He started leaving you notes when you returned to Long Island from LA, and during the time you were working a case that was tied to the Society. Last night, the Society became more powerful by placing your father in the governor’s mansion.
I’d gamble and say those things are connected. ”
As if he’d gamble on anything, though the truth is he gambles with his life every day he comes to work. And yet, he still shows up.
“Either they’re all related or none are related,” Jay adds, pulling Ghost back into the picture.
His cellphone rings and he picks it up where he’s set it on the counter, eyes caller ID, and shows me my brother’s name. I motion for Jay to give me the phone and he slides it to me. I scoop it up and answer, “Are you downstairs?”
“How did you know that? It’s Kane, right? Every inch of this place has cameras, I bet.”
“Or you’re as predictable as Dad’s arrogance. We’ll be right down.”
“We? No. We need—”
I hang up on him and push to my feet. “Let’s go.”
“Where?” Jay asks.
“Breakfast with Andrew for starters, and he’s in a mood, however, expert tip for dealing with my brother, I’ve found if you just focus on the food you’re eating, not the words coming out of his mouth, it goes by quickly.”
“Does that mean you’re going to make me sit with you two?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I assure him.
“He won’t like it.”
“Good,” I say in a proud, sisterly moment.
I head for the door, forcing Jay to follow, my brother on the back burner for a few minutes longer, Jay’s words linger in my mind; Either they’re all related or none are related.
Ghost, Junior, and Roberto all being tied to some sinister plot they coordinated doesn’t sit right which leaves only coincidence, which I generally do not believe in, but I don’t disregard the possibility.
People win the lotto and while I don’t usually believe in coincidences both happen against ridiculous odds.
With that in mind, considering my track record, a trio of killers and monsters showing up in my path at the same time, seems wildly in my favor.