Chapter 24
Quentin
Over the past couple of nights, Julia and I had started seeing each other—in secret, driving separately, being careful.
After the chaos of Monday and the investigation that followed, we'd both needed something normal, something just for us.
We drove separately to the office each morning, left at different times.
An impossible secret to keep long-term, but for now, it felt prudent.
This Friday morning, Stone arrived at my office before Serenity, just like I'd asked when I called them both last night—from Julia's apartment, not that Stone knew it. He would've had my head if he'd known where I'd been spending my evenings.
I'd have to come clean at some point.
"Good morning." Stone's eyes narrowed. "You're looking younger, Quentin. Something's different."
My pulse kicked. Did he know? "Nothing's different. Same barber, same cut. Been seeing Chuy for nearly twelve years—every Wednesday at eleven."
Stone's brow furrowed. "I wasn't talking about your haircut. But since you mention it, that routine is too predictable."
"The guy puts a straight razor to my throat every week. I'm not changing barbers because someone's after me."
“It’s just with this assassin still out there—”
“Your job is to find him. You and Serenity.” I glared at him, irritation flashing hot. “That’s what I pay you for.”
Serenity walked in at that moment. “What’s that?”
“I was telling Nate that I pay you and him to handle problems. Someone's gunning for Julia and me. I want them found and dealt with. Permanently.”
Stone raised both hands, palms out. "We're working on it." He crossed to Serenity, pulling her into a brief embrace. "Morning, Babe. Got you coffee." He gestured to the second cup on the table.
I stared at the coffee table. The couch. The armchairs arranged like we were hosting book club. My fingers drummed against my desk. “Should've made this office smaller. It's turning into a damn café.”
Stone dropped back into his seat, his eyes locking on mine. "You're wound tight. I get it." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "But taking it out on our coffee isn't helping anyone. We need to focus—who wants you dead? Who benefits? Who's got a grudge big enough to go after Julia too?"
Serenity took the chair across from Stone, worry etched in the lines around her eyes.
“Stone's right. We're playing defense, and that's dangerous.
I can read you and Julia, even scope out your meetings ahead of time.
But we're one step behind.” She paused. “We need to go on offense. Find them first.”
My fingers drummed against the desk—once, twice—before I caught myself and stopped. They weren't wrong. But knowing they were right didn't ease the knot in my chest.
Julia. The shattered windshield. How easily that bullet could have found its mark.
I pushed to my feet, needing to move, pacing to the window. “So what do you suggest?”
In the glass reflection, I caught Stone watching me. His eyes narrowed slightly—recognition. He'd seen me worried about business before, about territory, about deals.
This wasn't that. This was personal.
And I couldn't tell them why. Couldn't admit that the thought of Julia getting hurt because of me made it hard to breathe.
I stepped back to my desk and sat down before meeting Serenity's gaze.
"We can deal with my meetings as they come up.
I've increased security at La Crumbedonna, but no more Friday zeppoles—at least not until we catch whoever did this.
" I tried to keep the regret out of my voice.
It was just a pastry tradition, but it had been my tradition.
I glanced at Stone. "Anything else to report?"
"The cars are handled," Stone said, pulling out his phone to reference notes.
"And that blue sedan?" He grimaced. "Like I said when we found it Wednesday morning—abandoned about thirty miles outside city limits, completely torched.
Professionally done—accelerant used, burned so hot the VIN was obliterated, plates were gone, no prints, no fibers, nothing.
Fire department said it burned for hours before anyone noticed.
We have zero leads on who owned it or where it came from. "
Serenity frowned. "So, whoever took those shots knew exactly how to cover their tracks."
"Down to the last detail." Stone's expression darkened. "This wasn't some hired muscle. Whoever you traded shots with in that field? They're a pro. High-level. They planned every step and left us with nothing. No mistakes."
My jaw tightened. "Which means they'll try again."
"Yeah." Stone met my gaze. "And next time, they'll be even more careful."
“Are we operating on the theory that the gunman on Monday night was the same person responsible for the attempted poisoning?” Serenity asked.
“Where are we with Dino and the lab report?” Stone asked, before I could answer Serenity.
“Yes, and I’m not sure.” I glanced at my phone, willing Dino to call. “It makes perfect sense that there is one person or group trying to eliminate me, and they’re also responsible for the attack on Julia. But it’s true we haven’t heard from Dino.”
As if by magic, my phone rang. It was him. “Dino, I’ve been expecting your call. What’s the news?”
“It was in the cherries.”
“So, poison.” I met Stone’s gaze. I hit the speakerphone button. “Dino, I have you on speaker with Stone and Serenity. Go on.”
“The poison is succinylcholine. It’s used to cause short-term paralysis when putting people under anesthesia. The dose was in the cherry. Once ingested, it would likely cause death in a few minutes.”
“Shit.” I looked at Serenity who’d saved my life. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Dino, any leads on where this might have come from?”
“It’s not something you can walk into a pharmacy and purchase. But a hospital would have it.”
Stone cleared his throat, and I motioned for him to go ahead and speak. “Dino, Stone here. Any more info on this hitter from New York we told you about?”
“Nope. Nothing. But, you know, if this guy came from New York, it’s anyone’s guess as to where he could have picked up this drug.
It’s tasteless, odorless, and colorless.
And very little is needed per dose, so he could’ve put an ounce or two in a perfume or cologne bottle, and literally carried it with him on a flight. ”
Stone grunted. “That doesn’t get us anywhere.”
“No, it doesn’t. Sorry. My suggestion, Vanetti, don’t eat anything unless it’s out of a can you open yourself.
Look, I’ll talk to a friend in the robbery division.
If everyone in the bakery is clear, it might mean someone with B&E skills got into the place the night before and swapped out the cherries.
If the place, or one of the neighbors, has security video cameras going through the night, maybe we’ll see someone on video breaking in.
It won’t solve the case, but it’ll at least answer where the poison came from. ”
“That’s a good plan.”
“If you’ve got nothing else for me, I’ve got two homicides on the board that are giving me fits, and I’ve got to get to work at my real job or there’s going to be hell to pay.”
“Thanks, Dino.” I hadn’t finished saying his name before the line went dead. I sat back, processing. The cherries. Someone had targeted my Friday routine specifically—knew exactly when and what I'd order.
I'd still take Julia to dinner tonight as planned. The poisoning was targeted—my predictable Friday tradition. But a restaurant chosen at random, at the last minute? Much harder to compromise. I wasn't going to let fear dictate my entire life.
I turned to Stone. “So, we don’t have any leads. This guy could be anywhere. What could Serenity touch that might give her a vision? There’s got to be something.”
“Not sure.” Stone shook his head.
Serenity’s eyes widened. “I’ve got an idea.”
“Go ahead.”
“Maybe one of the bullets?” She met Stone’s gaze. “Is Quentin’s car still in one piece?”
“No.”
“I’ve got another idea.” I did my best to remember the positions of the cars during the fight. “I was at an angle to the shooter who tried to take me out through the passenger’s side window. Of course, it’s bulletproof, so—”
“I’m on it. I’ll get a crew out there with metal detectors.”
“They should also look downrange, although that’s more of a long shot.”
“What about Julia’s car?” Serenity asked.
Stone shook his head. “Long gone. But I don’t think there were slugs left behind. One shot ricocheted off the roof, just above the driver’s door. She’s lucky to be alive.”
"I know. We were just talking about that last night, how happy—" I caught myself mid-sentence. Damn it. "I mean, I was thinking—"
"It's okay." A huge grin spread across Serenity's face. "We know."
My eyes narrowed. "Know what?"
Even as I said it, I knew the deflection was pointless. Stone's expression said it all—amused, knowing, completely unsurprised.
"You and Julia." Serenity raised a brow. "It's totally obvious."
“Yeah, you two aren't as subtle as you think. Monitoring your security is my job, so...”
“Shit.”
“And while we're at it—” Stone's expression hardened, all traces of humor gone. “You can't expect me to provide the best security when you're keeping secrets and sneaking around with your new girlfriend.”
“I don’t know if I’d call her my girlfriend.”
“Quentin.” It was Serenity’s turn to raise her brow. “A rose is a rose. And by any name it smells as sweet.”
“Okay, I’m guilty.” I buzzed Julia and asked her to join us.
Julia hurried right in, greeted Stone and Serenity, and smiled at me. “What can I help with?”
“The secret is out.” I pointed to an empty chair. “Have a seat.”
“What secret?” Julia asked, her eyes wide.
“The two of you.” Serenity beamed. “It’s so cute. You guys make such a great couple. I’ve wanted to say something, but didn’t want to ruin Quentin’s delusion that you two were being sneaky.”
Julia flushed red.