Chapter 24
Lying to my best friend again charred my soul black.
We'd rushed to her house to find the aftermath of death and violence.
I couldn't be honest, not while she was dealing with so much.
Harold Donato attacked her, and her father was killed.
She was the Orazio in charge now, and she would need her full attention for that process.
It didn't stop her prying into Beck, who shed his bumbling police chief disguise as soon as we walked through the door.
"Lara, you can't walk in with him and expect me not to question you." She arched a sculpted eyebrow, flecked with blood.
Beck heard her harsh whisper and quirked his lips, not looking up from his screen.
"I'm not. Let me explain everything later. Maybe when the pile of dead bodies are dealt with," I grimaced.
Adelaide's expression softened, and she plucked at her sleeve. I knew what she was thinking. The grim visage was overwhelming poor, innocent Lara. Curiosity was stronger than compassion.
"Do I need to pull the grief card?" Adelaide nudged me with the point of her toe. "Take my mind off what happened tonight and tell me how the hell you ended up with the chief of police wrapped around your finger?"
He'd been on and off the phone since we got to the Orazio house. Part of it was covering up the pile of very dead bodies of Harold Donato and his men. Adelaide's clean up crew had been working for hours to erase any evidence.
Of course, it was strange that he hadn't even blinked at the carnage.
"Yes, share with the class." Ray rested his chin on Adelaide's shoulder. "Did you know Lara and Beck—"
"Not the time or the place," I bit out, yanking him up by his elbow.
My heart pounded as Ray almost shared how Beck and I knew each other. Logan slipped beside Adelaide, pressing a mug of chamomile tea into her hands. He glared at Ray. Briar was on Adelaide's other side, and despite the pale pallor of her men, it didn't stop their unfounded jealousy.
"Speaking of, I suggest we get some rest." Jonah interrupted from the armchair across the room.
He had a bandage wrapped around his head, from where his skull had been split with the butt of a gun. Adelaide and her guys, Briar, Logan, and Jesse, all had a kaleidoscope of bruises. They ripened as they reached the surface, dark omens.
"Doc said no sleep. You might have a concussion," I reminded Jonah.
I perched on the side of the armchair and brushed my fingers over the white bandage. Jonah leaned into the touch. I needed to be close to him and feel his warmth.
Someone hurt him, and Ellington might still be connected. I thought he'd been in hiding, but he'd been weaving nasty trip ropes to catch around my ankles.
"Kiss me," he ordered.
There was an unspoken plea threaded through the command, and I couldn't say no. My cheeks flushed as Adelaide gasped the moment my lips hit Jonah's. But it was only a moment before his velvety soft affection stole my focus. His tongue brushed the seam of my lips, and I let him inside with a sigh.
"What, no sympathy for me? All he got was a little tap on the head. I had the trauma of killing my father and smashing up a beautiful car in the process." Ray wheedled as he tangled his fingers in my hair.
I pulled him down for a kiss as well, brief but hard.
Adelaide's gaze flicked between Jonah, Ray, and Beck with a low whistle.
"You've got some explaining to do, Lara."
"Not tonight. Or today?" I winced, pressing my fingers to tingling lips.
Adrenaline churned through my muscles, and it took effort not to drag Jonah, Ray and Beck into a dark bedroom and rid myself of the feeling by drowning in pleasure.
Adelaide's eyes narrowed. "I need to take my mind off what happened," she said as Logan pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You know what opens in about twenty minutes? Bay Sunday Markets. Let's do something before the adrenaline crashes and I collapse. Yes? You're coming as well, Chief."
Beck looked up, his phone glued to his ear, and nodded before returning to his conversation.
"You've been through too much, Adelaide, your father…Why don't we go home, and you let the three of us take care of you?" Jesse offered, rubbing Adelaide's shoulders.
"All I will do at home is obsess over everything I could have done differently." There was a flash of vulnerable Adelaide, but she smothered it with a deep breath. "Besides, that's what compartmentalization is for."
Briar gave her a warbling smile, and she cupped his cheek. A look passed between them I couldn't interpret. Soft and strong at the same time. With the heaviness of a promise.
We took two separate cars to the Bay Sunday Markets, and I never felt as awkward as I did sitting in a car with Adelaide, Beck, and Logan. Ray pouted about being put with Jonah, Briar, and Jesse, insisting he would pull the grief card as well.
"We should talk about how things are going to be in Greenich Bay from now on." Adelaide twisted in the passenger seat and narrowed her eyes at Beck.
She got straight to business, as I expected. Seeing a weakness in Beck, she was determined to exploit it. To his credit, he didn't flinch under her intense perusal.
Beck tilted his head. "I've only been asking for a meeting for months."
Logan made a soft noise from the driver's seat but didn't intervene at Beck's sarcastic tone. He knew, as I did, that Adelaide didn't need anyone to fight her battles for her.
"I'm a busy lady, but I'll make time for you on Lara's behalf. What are your intentions with her, by the way? You should know she's very dear to me, and I won't have anyone breaking her heart."
"Trust me. Lara is more likely to break my heart than I hers." Beck gave me a look, and I gritted my teeth, unable to argue.
What was I supposed to say? Adelaide searched my face, noting the slight flush, and huffed. Now she knew I'd been hiding something. She wouldn't stop until she pried me open.
"I don't trust you. But this will be your only warning. If you mess with her, I will slice your balls off."
Beck squirmed in his seat, but his gaze warmed.
"Noted," he murmured before adding, "and appreciated. Her best friend should be vicious in her defense."
Adelaide had been through so much tonight, and she was concerned with my safety and protection.
Imagine what my life would be like if I stayed here.
I reached across the seats and grabbed her hand, tangling our fingers together.
I wanted to keep her safe, and one day, when I could tell her everything, I wouldn't spare any details.
I wished I didn't have to keep her in the dark about Ellington. But there were too many mouths, and not enough certainty. I didn't trust anyone except Beck, because I knew our enemy was ruthless.
Ellington's presence in Greenich Bay was a poison I was determined to root out.
I had to preserve Adelaide's city, keep her safe the way only an agent of The Unseen could. My stomach was still turning when we arrived at the markets.
The streetlights lit up a line of colored gazebos. Shadows clung to the edges, not ready to lurk back into the corners yet. The sun wouldn't rise for another hour, but there were plenty of early birds here already.
I always liked the idea of morning markets, but I never felt like I could be a person who did it regularly.
Everyone walked sedately, as if the caffeine hadn't kicked in yet.
Couples perused fresh bundles of parsley and basil, cucumbers as long as my forearm, and soil-covered potatoes.
I liked the idea of having eons to contemplate the perfect organic eggplant to add to my basket of treasures.
But when you grew up on microwave meals, the idea of spending money on whipped honey, or whatever delicacy the stall was selling, made my teeth hurt.
The fresh scent of salt spritzed the air.
Seagulls hovered above us, ready to pounce when they spotted a morsel dropped by some unsuspecting browser.
Adelaide made a beeline to her favorite stall, Organic Hearth Orange Juice.
She joined the lengthy line and bounced on her toes, excitement lighting up her eyes in a way that was rare.
I knew it was mostly adrenaline. That was the only thing that kept me going as well.
"You guys go ahead. I need my sugar fix."
"I'll count the seconds." Ray fluttered his fingers at Adelaide, turning on the charm for everyone around us.
He only did it to irritate Adelaide's guys.
They created a ring around their girl, blocking her from view.
There was no actual heat in his eyes. Performative and well-practiced, like Ray had been playing a part for years, and it had gotten stale.
But they weren't going to take any chances, not after they'd fought so hard to win her back.
Would I have a love like that one day?
One that could stand the test of betrayal, heartbreak, and healing?
With all the secrets I hoarded, it felt unlikely. But I was an optimist.
"Okay, I'm going to get some crepes," I said, shooting Jonah a look as he followed.
"What? I can't have crepes?" He raised his eyebrows.
I ran my gaze up and down his muscular body and pursed my lips.
I was wedged between Jonah and Ray and the crowd parted around us as they refused to make room for anyone else. Beck trailed behind us, tapping on his phone. I avoided a disgruntled look from a stranger.
"Big guy, we all know the only thing going in that body is protein shakes." Ray said, and Jonah's cheeks turned ruddy.
"Don't call me that," Jonah scowled.
Someone called out Jonah's name, and I looked up, seeing Bernice behind a stall selling a myriad of plants. Jonah leaned over and gave his neighbor a hug.
"Should I get this for my house?" Ray held up a pot with painted foxes on it. He winked at me.
"Oh, you again." Bernice narrowed her gaze at me.
"Hi Bernice, your stall is lovely."
Bernice turned her nose up and let out a little huff of disapproval. She grabbed Jonah's arm and told him about a lovely lady she'd met at her walking club.
She really didn't like me.