Isidoro #3
My stomach churns. Maybe Julian was meant to be hers originally, but she should stop mentioning their wedding. He’s mine now. My fingers dig into Julian’s arm, pulling him closer. He glances at me, something dark flickering in those reds of his, but he doesn’t protest or try to yank free. Good.
“So, if your father was involved with that creature in some capacity… Maybe he’s the reason my father was killed in his own home.
” Julian does shake me off then, but for a different reason than earlier.
He stands and paces to the opposite window, glances out at the blooming gardens, then paces back.
“If William came with someone that night, it explains how the attacker got in. He didn’t work alone. ”
Ria narrows her eyes. “Let’s not rush to conclusions. Why would my father want to kill yours? They were working together. They had big plans.”
Her argument is compelling, given everything we know so far. But William was, undoubtedly, part of this in some capacity. So, what does that really imply? “I’m inclined to agree, Julian.”
He throws me a scathing look, making it abundantly clear that he doesn’t appreciate me not taking his side. It tickles something inside me, a sense of pride, and a pleasant hum slithers across my flesh and bones.
“Okay, forget it then. But you must agree it’s suspicious as hell that William was part of this op,” he argues, arms crossed.
Ria nods, clutching the document. “I’m not denying that. I just don’t think my father killed yours.”
“Fine. Whatever, I need some fresh air,” Julian grumbles, stalking out of the lounge.
I feel his absence immediately, the room suddenly too vast, too impossibly barren.
“You might want to go deal with that,” Ria says, a smile flirting with her lips as she points her chin in the direction Julian went.
She snaps a picture of the document and hands it back to me.
“I’ll reach out to some people, see if anyone knows anything…
though I doubt I’ll find much. It seems that whatever my father was involved in, he kept it a secret not just from me. ”
“I’m sure Tommy will figure out where those shipments went. And I have a hunch we might find our answers there.”
She does smile then. “Still, I’d feel more at ease if I didn’t just sit and wait. I’ll let you know if something comes up.”
After Ria fills her glass with water and retreats upstairs, I step outside.
The sun is dipping below the horizon, a fiery orange-red ball that makes the sky feel like it will catch fire any moment now.
The darker hues of night settle around me as I traverse the wooded area of my property, lured to its edge by the faint hint of Julian’s presence.
“Have you calmed down?” I ask when I find him sitting near the tall fence, the same one that almost killed him close to a month ago.
He lets his arms drop from his knees as he looks up at me. “There’s something weird going on, Isidoro. I can feel it.”
I lean on the metal rails next to him, directing my gaze skyward. “I agree. That thing we found at the quarry is very concerning. Possible human involvement makes it even more so.”
“Not as concerning as how my father fits into this whole thing, other than the fact that he got killed.” There isn’t sadness in his tone, just the acceptance of a person who’s moved on. A hint of curiosity and disappointment, too.
I hum, ruffling his silky hair. “We’ll figure this out, Julian. Together.”
The words are out of my mouth before I have time to veto them, his wide-eyed expression matching the surprise deep within me. I didn’t mean to touch him, nor did I mean to comfort him, yet I somehow did both.
“Shit. It’s so weird when you are being nice,” he mumbles, burying his nose in his knees.
I don’t do it on purpose, but I don’t tell him that. “Let’s wait for the autopsy results before we make any moves. I’d prefer to know what we’re up against.”
He tilts his head to the side, gaze roaming me, and massages his thigh. “Me, too. I guess further attempts at decoding the destination can wait until tomorrow.”
I rub the space between his eyebrows, I can’t help it. It causes his shoulders to sag a notch as he closes his eyes and sighs. “You look like you haven’t slept in a century. Don’t stay up too late.”
“Yes, yes. I know,” he grumbles, leaning into my touch. “Mm, this feels good though, keep going.” Another sigh, and more of him melts under my gentle caress. “I’ve got an early meeting with the Board. Andrea would behead me if I’m late.”
Ah, that must be about his upcoming show. I still haven’t seen his design. Why is he being so sketchy about it? “Perhaps I could join you. I need to swing by the office to check on something anyway.”
His eyes snap open, the idyllic moment breaking as he jumps to his feet, suddenly flustered. “Hell no. You do your thing and I’ll do mine. We’ll reconvene here after, okay? No poking our noses into each other’s business. Got it?”
He doesn’t wait for my response. He darts into the woods as darkness finally settles like a heavy blanket around me. Just what is he up to? What did he do so that he can’t bear for me to find out?
I can’t help but wonder.