2. Renne
Renne
Given Massio Crossbow’s iron rule over Selnoa, the family is well known among the people who live here.
They’re as invested in the lives of this family as if they were royals.
This is especially true with the Crossbow twins because of the way Massio treated their mother, namely how he murdered her and got away with it while his twins were still small.
We enter a gated property and drive up a long, tree-lined drive until we arrive at a grand stone manor that’s heavily guarded by armed men in tactical uniforms. Gardens, fountains, and, I imagine, an interior filled with marble, high ceilings, and a few ornate wood carvings left over after the renovations all point to wealth beyond my imagination.
I grew up middle-class, so we had what we needed, and I’ve stayed with a few wealthy friends before. But I’ve never seen wealth like this, the kind of wealth most people can’t even fathom.
“The new Crossbow mansion, I presume?” I ask. Last year, shortly after Massio’s death, the Crossbow mansion burned down.
“It’s called Hevister Manor,” Connor says before exiting the parked car.
I reach for the door handle just as a man in a blue suit, a light blue tie, and with slick brown hair pulled back into a ponytail opens it. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
“There’s a baby in the back seat,” Connor tells the man.
“I’ll get her,” I say, but Connor’s already walking away.
In the back seat, Hanna’s sleeping, and I feel bad having to wake her up, but then I remember I don’t have to. These seats can be taken out and carried. It’s not as if the seat will stay in his car. And it’s not as if he’ll return it, so I guess I’m keeping it. She seems comfortable in it.
“Are you coming?” Connor asks from behind me.
I jump because he scared me. Hanna’s eyes snap open, and she makes a sad face as if she’ll start to cry. “Oh no, don’t cry.” I shoulder the diaper bag and unbuckle then carry my baby, making sure to give Connor the evil eye.
He tugs the diaper bag off my shoulder and carries it.
“Such a gentleman,” I say.
He leans in as we walk into the manor. “What was that?”
“Nothing.”
“That’s what I thought.”
I notice the high ceilings, chandeliers, and a modern black-and-white interior devoid of personality. Nothing old remained after the remodel. To each his own, I guess.
My shoes make very little noise on the shiny marble floors, but Connor’s clomping boots make up for it.
The jeans stretch over his ass quite nicely. He also smells good and walks with confidence. I blame his allure on the diaper bag he’s carrying, which he drops onto a massive kitchen island made of black marble.
Someone is baking banana bread. My mouth waters. I haven’t eaten today yet, mainly because I usually eat at the hospital. We get discounted food at the cafeteria. Hanna must also be hungry now that she’s up from the nap.
Connor turns around and makes a face as if he’ll vomit. “See, this is why I slept at Dina’s.”
I stand in an open space leading into the sitting room, furnished with white leather furniture, with glass walls separating it from the backyard oasis, which features exotic plants, trees, flower bushes, two pools, and a Jacuzzi. Where Dina and Declan are having sex.
I turn away too.
Connor peeks into the oven. “I think whatever she’s baking is almost done.”
“Maybe she’s baking a new baby for herself.”
“Not a chance.”
“Why not?”
I sit at a large barstool with a backrest. Nice.
“Declan won’t have kids. Dina already has a daughter.”
Connor’s belly rumbles.
“I guess we’re all hungry.”
“We are,” he says. “Can we pull it out?” Connor points at the oven with a smirk on his face, so I get the double meaning.
“I think we should. Since nobody wants that oven baking.”
Connor slides on oven mitts and pulls out the banana bread.
“We should let it sit for a while,” I say when he grabs a knife.
He puts the knife down. “Your daughter is hungry.”
“Dina usually gives her breakfast. Listen, what’s going on with those two?” I grab a jar of baby food from the diaper bag and show Hanna the food, but she’s eyeing the banana bread.
“Look, it’s your favorite,” I say. “Carrot and peas.”
“What?” Connor’s stunned face makes me laugh. “That’s nobody’s favorite. No baby wakes up from a nap wishing she could have carrots and peas.” He picks up the jar and opens it, grabs a spoon, and tastes. I laugh harder at his face.
“What is wrong with…” He reads the company label. “Foodiebaby Company and you?”
“It’s healthy.”
“Yeah, but it’s nasty. Here. Let me see her eat it. I bet you that’s not her favorite.”
“You don’t know her.”
“She has a new favorite.” Connor leans over the counter and gives Hanna a dazzling smile.
She smiles back, all dimples just like his.
“See? New favorite.” He winks and checks his watch. “You have under an hour to make it to work. Are they done yet?”
“Nope.”
Connor cuts the bread and offers me a piece before getting one for himself and a small one for Hanna.
“She’s not having banana bread for breakfast,” I say with my best firm motherly voice.
“She will have bread when you leave.”
“You should not give it to her if I ask you not to. A mother knows best, you know.”
“Actually, in my experience, a mother knows least. How late can you be before you get in trouble with your boss?”
“About an hour. I picked up this shift, so they’re more lenient.”
“I’m going back into town. I’ll drive you to work.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Actually, I do. Randoms don’t come and go freely this close to my family. We’re not exactly accessible.”
“But you said we were done after you took me to Dina.”
“Changed my mind. You’re a person of interest now.” He looks up. “Here they come. Finally.” Connor checks his watch just as the sliding doors open.
“Ekatia,” Dina says. “Hi, what are you doing here?”
“Impressive,” Connor says to his brother. “You lasted more than two minutes.”
Declan’s muscles ripple as he dries his hair with a towel. “Good morning,” he says.
“Morning,” I greet him.
Dina and I kiss on the cheeks. She coos at Hanna before talking to me.
“What’s going on?” she asks.
“I picked up a shift again and went by the apartment since you didn’t answer my calls. I see why now.”
Dina blushes. “How long is your shift?”
“I picked up a twelve-hour.”
“Eleven. She will be an hour late,” Connor corrects me.
“Oh no, don’t be late. I’ll take her. Can I give her some banana bread?”
“No,” Connor answers for me.
“What do you mean, no?” We just argued about this very thing.
“I mean what I said. No, you can’t give her banana bread because I’m giving her banana bread.” Connor hands Hanna a large piece.
I reach for it, but Hanna fists it, and the crumbs fall on the counter. She’s picked at cereal and bananas, so she knows how to eat by herself, just not very well. I worry my lip as she chews. I offer her some water.
Connor smiles at her again. She beams at him.
“I didn’t know you liked babies,” Declan says to his brother.
Connor shrugs. “Don’t know if I like babies.”
“Do you like this baby?” Dina asks.
He shrugs again. “Ask the Musketeers. They know everything.”
“Musketeers?” Dina repeats.
Declan sighs. “Connor has a team of three therapists he’s working with. He calls them the Musketeers.”
Most people only need one skilled therapist. The fact that Connor speaks with a team is a little unusual.
Although, I didn’t grow up in this city where everyone knows the story about the Crossbow twins and their parents who mistreated them, I’ve gathered enough from the documentaries that air on TV.
“I should get going,” I say, curious about Dina and Declan now. Those rumors of his engagement weren’t true. People talk a lot of shit.
“Before you head out, I want to ask you something.” She lifts her hand and shows me a massive diamond on a thin golden ring.
“No way! That thing is gorgeous.” I hug her. “Congratulations. They said the Crossbows were throwing a party for an engagement. You got engaged. It was you the whole time. Why didn’t you tell me?” Why didn’t she invite me? Maybe we’re not as good friends as I think we are. Bummer.
Dina senses the shift in my mood.
Declan explains, “She forgot I told her I’m coming back in one year.”
“No, no, no. That is not what happened. He… Well, it’s a long story best told over champagne and cake between best friends.”
“Who is the best friend?”
“You are, silly.” Dina hugs me. She gives the best hugs. Did I mention that already? And also, I’ve never been someone’s best friend. I had friends who had friends who were their best friends. I was always the spare.
Declan pours a glass of orange juice. “When I came to pick her up last night for our engagement party, she thought I returned to get engaged to another woman. I would never live here if it weren’t for my fiancée.” He sips the juice. “You like it here?”
I nod.
“Where are you from?” he asks.
I’ve told this story several times, but Declan and Connor who is feeding Hanna and pretending not to listen aren’t ordinary men.
I have a feeling they’ll look into the story.
It’s a good thing my contacts created a believable personal file for this very purpose. I will come away clean and validated.
“I’m from Sapaina,” I say. “I moved here as a travel nurse at first, but I love this city, so I’m starting over here.”
Connor purses his lips.
Declan glances at him.
Because of my profession, I’m used to reading social cues, but this isn’t the same as reading patients and their families.
These are dangerous men who have killed for far less than a lie.
They must believe my story because I have nowhere else to go, and disappearing now with a baby and a few hundred bucks won’t work.
My exit plan was compromised when I paid my landlord three months’ inflated rent. At the time, I cursed him for the bait and switch when I handed him my savings for the exit in case I needed it, but now I’m glad I did.
Imagine if I lived at Dina’s with Connor Crossbow now. He’s the last thing I need and yet I’m stuck with him for the next hour. And then some. When he said we were done, it sounded great, but in practice, I’ll see him again.
My best friend, the only person who helps me out, will be a Crossbow soon. I need to think about what that means for me. Just not right now. I can’t deal with that now, or I’ll crack the persona I need to be and turn into a slobbering mess begging for my life because I lied to them.
To make matters worse, at some point during the shooting at the hospital, I think I might’ve told Dina that Ekatia isn’t my real name. My PTSD kicked in and I can’t recall the hospital shootout, but I’m almost sure I told her something. Dina has never mentioned it, so maybe I’m just being paranoid.
Needless to say, I worry about Declan and Dina’s relationship having a direct effect on my life. Why did the Crossbows have to come back?
I wince at the thought.
I should be happy for her. And I am. But I’m stuck not knowing what to do. I guess I could stop hanging out with her. But we are best friends. Does that make me a bad person? What do I do?
“I would like you to be my maid of honor,” Dina says.
OH MY GOD.