Chapter 38

THIRTY-EIGHT

Saylor

With the kids' show coming up, I spend Friday at the gallery, straightening up and hanging their pieces. They've done such an amazing job, and I'm proud of them. I sent invitations to my entire client list, even though I know most probably won't come. Still, a few will show up just for a chance to see if I have any new art, and I do. I'd finished the three-piece set just last night and though it was still drying, I'd hang it tomorrow before the show.

Rage is here with me, working in the back while I do my thing, and it's comforting to have him here. I know he can't stay with me forever, but he's more than just my bodyguard. He's become a friend, someone I can count on. Deep down, I have a feeling he might have a crush on me, and it's a shame because he's a great guy. Handsome, hard-working, strong and protective. All things I really like in a man.

Except I can't even look at another man romantically.

Or even sexually.

All I want is Canyon.

Hopefully, that longing will ease in time, and I'll be able to get back to myself again, but in the meantime, I'm nursing my first broken heart in a long time.

And I don't like it.

The door chime sounds, and I look up, surprised to see Ally and Colleen come in.

"Ally. Hi."

She gives me a polite smile. "Hi, Saylor."

She's carrying her sketchbook and a bag of something.

"What are you doing here?"

She hesitates, glancing at Colleen, who nods.

"I, uh, well, Uncle Canyon said I have to…finish what I started." She looks uncertain but surprisingly not hostile. "And the art show is part of the class. I know it's really late, but…" She hands me her sketch book. "There's a lot of drawings in here. And then this." She pulls a canvas out of her bag, and I'm momentarily shocked into silence.

It's a watercolor.

And it's breathtaking.

A little crude, because she's still learning her way around the medium, but the basics are so, so good. I had no idea she was this talented.

"Ally…this is amazing," I breathe. "When did you do this?"

"Uncle Canyon bought me some paints, the kind you suggested in the class, and I did it last night."

"You did this last night?" I stare at her.

"Yeah… I wanted more than the drawings." She thrusts the sketch book at me.

"Okay. Hang on. Let's go in the back where I can spread these out."

She follows me to the back where Rage is doing something on his computer, and he looks up with a smile.

"Hey, Ally."

"Hello, Mr. Rageis."

That was what he'd told the kids to call him. Somehow, having kids call him Rage bothered him, so he'd gone with formal.

"Whatcha got there?" He peers at the watercolor and cocks his head. "I'm no art aficionado, but that's beautiful. Look at the detail on the mermaid. Her tail is sparkling…" He leans forward. "Can I buy this?"

"Rage!" I stare at him in surprise.

"You're going to put a picture of a mermaid in your house?" Ally eyes him suspiciously.

"No. But my sister is pregnant with a baby girl and the theme in the nursery is mermaids. I think she'd love this."

"They won't be for sale until tomorrow," I tell him primly. "You have to wait like everyone else."

"Yes, ma'am." He laughs.

"So, we don't have time to get this framed," I tell Ally, "but we can hang the canvas as is. Most of the art isn't framed anyway, so it doesn't matter. And I have some frames in the back for your drawings. Show me the two you like best."

She pulls out her favorites—another of a mermaid and then the one of the unicorn she'd started in class—and I suddenly have an idea.

"What would you think if we added a tiny touch of color?" I ask. "The mermaid's tail and the unicorn's horn?"

"Oh…" Her eyes widen with excitement, and we work in companionable silence as I dig out the supplies I need and clip the first picture to an easel.

"You're not going to the game tomorrow?" she asks me as I show her how to use the thick acrylic.

"We have the show, so I can't."

"You could have scheduled it for Sunday."

Leave it to a kid to point out the obvious.

"Well, I thought it would be easier this way."

"Did you and Uncle Canyon break up?"

Ugh.

"We decided the time wasn't right for us. He has to focus on the playoffs and you, and I have the gallery and some television appearances coming up."

"Then why aren't you going to the game?"

"It's complicated, Ally."

"Did you break up because of me?"

Lovely.

Now I either have to lie or make her feel bad. And as disappointed as I am in the situation with Canyon, it's not fair to put it on her. Canyon is the one who should have tried harder. Or maybe I should have had more patience. Either way, it's not on the eleven-year-old who lost her mom and had her world shaken up.

"It really is complicated," I say.

"He's been really grumpy," she says. "Like, more than usual."

How am I supposed to respond to that?

"I'm sorry. He has a lot on his plate."

"Like me." She sighs. "I don't mean to be so much work. I just…"

"You lost your mom, moved to a whole new place, started a new school with no friends, have a nanny?—"

" Two nannies."

"Yes. There have been a lot of changes for you."

"Yeah, but he wasn't this grumpy before. And I think it's because of you."

Nope.

I'm not touching that with a ten-foot pole.

Time to change the subject.

* * *

The show is amazing.

So much better than I'd anticipated.

I figured the kids' parents and a handful of friends would show up. None of my friends would be here because they were all at the Phantoms game, but Bertie showed up with half a dozen people, including Russell, and dozens of other clients stopped by. Some of them merely wanted to see my new work, but they were all polite and fussed over the kids' pieces too.

Ally's work drew a lot of attention, and I wished Canyon could be here to see how proud she was. It was sweet, and I was glad he'd forced her to participate. Of course, I wanted to be at the game, so I had Rage pull it up on his laptop in the back, so I could sneak back and peek at the score every now and then.

"You know your new set is mine, right?" Bertie asked me, her eyes twinkling.

"The only way you get that is if you buy one of the kids' pieces," I deadpan.

She nods. "Sold. Just tell me which one. That mermaid watercolor?—"

"That one is sold. Rage bought it."

She makes a face. "Fine. What about the pen and ink drawing of the unicorn?"

I hadn't planned on selling any of the kids' artwork, but it took on a life of its own, so I decided to just add the cost on to my own earnings, that way they won't have to worry about taxes and the like. Then I'll just give them cash. We're talking about a few hundred dollars total, so it's not a big deal and my hope is that this will make them feel good about themselves and their art.

Ironically, once again, the gallery sells out of everything by the end of the event. All the kids' art, as well as my new pieces, are grabbed up like a fifty-percent-off sale on Black Friday. I know they're trying to make the kids feel good, but I didn't expect sales other than from immediate family.

As the event comes to an end, I start to clean up. The Phantoms game has gone into a shootout, so no one had been able to come by, and I hope Ally isn't too disappointed that neither Canyon nor Stevie is here.

Ally said Canyon is coming to pick her up after the game. I'm a little annoyed because he didn't bother calling to ask if I'm okay to watch her while we wait since we have no idea how long the game will take. Or what time he'll get here. And frankly, we've just broken up. Why would he come here to get her? It will just be awkward for all of us.

I throw a bag of trash in the back as the last of the guests clears out and the kids say goodbye.

"Can you deliver these to me?" Bertie asked, pointing at her purchases.

I shake my head as I eye her. "You just want me to tell you where to hang them."

She smirks. "Maybe."

"I can deliver next week. Is that okay?"

"Of course." She pulls a tissue from her purse and dabs her forehead. "Is it hot in here? I'm sweating like a pig."

"Aren't you past the change of life?" I tease her.

She rolls her eyes. "You got some water, Saylor? I need to sit for a minute."

"Of course. Sit at my desk and I'll get you a bottle of water."

"Where did Russell get to?" she asks as she sits down. "He's my ride."

"He was talking to people a little while ago," I say, looking around as I hand her a bottle of water. The gallery is empty, though, other than Ally, who's playing solitaire on my laptop, and Rage, who's taking out the garbage.

"He's been odd lately," she says, taking a long drink from the bottle.

"Odd how?"

"I don't know. Almost…giddy. Like a little kid getting ready for Christmas."

"Is that normal?"

"Well, normal isn't a word you use with Russell."

"He seems to have been on his best behavior lately."

"Yes." She dabs at her face again. "I'm so hot, Saylor… I think something's wrong."

"Yeah?" I look down in alarm. "What do you need? Shall I call 911?"

"I don't know." She's gotten really pale.

"What's going on?" Rage comes in and kneels in front of her. "What do you feel, Bertie?"

"I don't know…just off. I'm hot and my heart's racing. I feel a little nauseated."

Rage touches her cheek with the back of his hand. "You're cold and clammy. Could it be food poisoning?"

"I don't think so?" She suddenly starts to lean to one side and Rage catches her before she falls off the chair.

"She could be having a heart attack," he says. "Call 911!"

I grab my phone as he puts her on the ground.

"Fuck, she's not breathing!" He starts administering CPR. "We can't wait for an ambulance," he says, suddenly standing up and lifting Bertie in his arms. "I'm going to take her!"

"Oh my God, Rage." I watch in wide-eyed horror.

"Lock the door behind me!" he yells. "I'm going to call and get one of the other guys to come help you lock up! Don't do anything until he gets here."

"Is Bertie okay?" Ally whispers, coming to stand next to me.

"I don't know," I admit. "I hope so. I'm going to go lock the front. I'll be right back. Why don't you text your uncle and see how long he's going to be?"

"Okay."

I throw the deadbolt on the front door, and make sure the floor lock is engaged.

"Saylor!" I hear Ally's screech and whirl around just in time to see Russell.

With an arm around Ally's neck.

And a knife at her throat.