27. Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Nellie
“ I definitely did not need that extra glass of wine after we got home last night,” I grumbled to myself when I pulled up in front of the bakery. My head pounded, and I blinked to guard my eyes against the brightness of the sun. It didn’t help, even with the added protection of my sunglasses.
When I climbed out of the car, my stomach lurched, and I swallowed back the bile that started to make its way up my throat. I was determined not to throw up. Then, I turned around, and the nausea making my stomach cramp was replaced with anxiety that spread into my chest. I gasped.
Across the front of the bakery were letters painted in red. PUTTANA INGRATA.
“What the hell?” I asked, scrambling backwards. I looked around, but nobody was there. The street was quiet with the exception of my pounding heart and the wheezing breath caught in my throat. “Who would do this?”
My hands shook when I dug into my purse for my phone, and I almost couldn’t steady them enough to unlock it or to dial. I clicked, holding my breath while the phone rang.
“Hey, sugar,” he answered quickly. I had expected his voice to comfort me, but instead, I started to cry.
“Ronan.” My voice cracked on his name, and I choked on a sob. I couldn’t calm my breathing enough to get a lungful of air, and for a second, I thought I might pass out. I closed my eyes before the fuzzy ring around my vision could get larger.
“Woah, woah. What’s wrong?” The playfulness that had been in his voice was replaced by worry and urgency. I could feel the look he had to have on his face through the phone, picturing his raised eyebrows and pursed lips. I wished he was next to me.
“Someone painted it.” That felt like an underwhelming way to describe the word scrawled across the front of the shop.
“Someone painted what? ” He was seething, and the control in his voice could be felt in every word. “Nellie what happened?”
“They painted the bakery.” I leaned against my car when the Earth started to spin faster, knocking me off my balance. I sniffled. “I didn’t know what to do. You were the first person I thought to call.”
There was a small commotion in the background that sounded like a crashing chair or a slammed door before he spoke again. “I’m on my way,” he said. He got quiet, and I could hear the heaving huff of each breath through the phoneline. “And Nellie, don’t call the police.”
“Why not?” Shouldn’t I call them? I assumed I would need to make a statement, and they’d probably need to take pictures or something.
“Because I said so. Just listen to me.” There was a muffled protest in the background, letting me know Ronan wasn’t alone. “Take care of this shit. I’ve got to handle something.” I knew he wasn’t talking to me—his voice was partially muffled, like he had been covering the mic.
“Ronan, what do I do?” My voice was smaller than I intended for it to be, and when a gust of wind moved something across the sidewalk, I whipped my head around to look over my shoulder. There wasn’t anything there, but the adrenaline pumped through my body like there was. Be careful who you take help from. My blood ran cold.
“Get back in your car and lock the door. I’ll be there in five.” I could hear rustling in the background, and I knew he was on his way. Then, his voice was muffled again. “Don’t ask any fucking questions. I said I need to handle something. Now finish this up before I get back.”
“Don’t be such an ass,” the person in the background said. Then, their tone changed, and it made my blood run colder. “Call me if you need backup.” Backup for what?
I got back in the car, slamming the door shut behind me and locking it like Ronan told me to do. Then, time slowed down, and it was like the seconds were crawling. I could hear him still moving in the background on the phone, and I knew he wasn’t in his car yet, but it felt like he should already be here. I shivered, knowing I’d still have to wait.
Then, I heard his car start. “Nellie, I’m on my way.”