CHAPTER THREE

I adjusted the Bulgari sunglasses my grandmother had thoughtfully provided. The lens concealed my true feelings on the hollow sympathies and perfunctory condolences of the attendees. I crafted a veneer of composure, a brittle facade that belied the turmoil that threatened to surface. Standing with the only family I had left, the thread of my thoughts frayed as I grappled with the uncertainty of whether I had taken my medication. It was a precarious moment to be uncertain, not the time nor the place to rectify such an oversight.

"My deepest condolences."

The words were a repetitive chorus from unfamiliar faces, each utterance accompanied by an insincere, forced look of grief. Give me a fucking break. These people had no idea who my aunt was. I wasn’t sure if the same could be said about my sister because she lived a life separate from us, but I would bet less than half actually gave a damn about her either .

They were here to be seen and see me like I was some roadside freak show. There was no end to the questions or speculation about my abrupt arrival and sudden reappearance. Those that weren’t offering bullshit sympathies were laughing, and conversing as if we were at an annual get-together instead of a wake.

“I’ll be right back.” I gently touched my grandmother’s shoulder and gave her a small smile, excusing myself. I felt eyes all over me as I crossed the room, unable to block out what everyone was saying.

“She looks just like her.”

“I thought she was dead too.”

“Where do you think she’s been?”

I let the voices wash over me, unheeded, as I made my way to the ladies' room at the back of the building. The door swung open to reveal a trio huddled over the sink. It took a moment for the scene to sink in. "Seriously? Are you fucking kidding me?” The words bounced off the walls .

I didn’t care who heard me. My reservoir of concern for our image was depleted. A curvy blonde was now looking at me like I was the one doing something wrong. I shook my head and promptly exited before I acted on the thought of slamming her face into the goddamn mirror. The audacity to do that here of all places was just the cherry on top of a spectacular day. I couldn’t care less that she wanted to get high, that was her own screwed-up prerogative but there was a time and a place, and this was neither. She didn’t even try to hide the powder on the rim of her nostril.

Suddenly needing a breath of fresh air, I veered sharply left, escaping the oppressive atmosphere of the venue for the sanctuary of the patio. The imperative to shield my emotions was at a critical juncture, and my defenses were dangerously close to crumbling. The instant I emerged outdoors, the sun greeted me with an unforgiving blaze, though its harshness was tempered by a soothing breeze that whispered promises of comfort.

I found solace at the edge of the patio, resting against the cool stone of the balustrade with a heavy exhale. Weariness seeped through my bones. I wanted to run away and sink into the solace of my bed, yet I dreaded the restless thoughts that awaited me when I got there. It was surreal to think a whole week had slipped by. There were still so many questions yet to be answered, the most crucial being where my sister was and who did this. The coroner told us my aunt was sexually assaulted by at least two men, beaten so badly her brain bled, and then shot in the head twice--postmortem.

It wasn’t the bullets that killed her, but the violence of the assault. I kept asking myself what kind of vile human being could do something like this? What had Molly done to deserve it? The answer was rhetorical. No one should ever have to go through what she did, to die in such a slow horrific way. She would’ve felt every ounce of inflicted pain, knowing no one was coming to save her.

Even worse, I knew she would have begged. My aunt would have pleaded for her life and in the end, was given no amount of mercy. It made me sick to my stomach. She was one of the kindest, most selfless people I’d ever met and would ever know. At my mother’s behest, she’d taken me and my sister into her home without a second thought a few months after we’d turned twelve. What was meant to be a temporary situation became permanent after our parents died.

I hated to think the incidents were related. Eleven years was a long time to hold a grudge but nothing else made sense. And I knew better. In the cruel currency of this world, debts were settled in blood. My aunt had paid the ultimate price. So whose debt did she acquire? I had no one to answer that question. I couldn’t ask Grandma, who pretended I was as delicate as blown glass. And even if he knew, Uncle Luis wouldn’t tell me the truth because he was a misogynistic, sexist asshole.

Gazing down at the koi gliding through their sculpted aquatic haven, I couldn’t help but envy the simplicity of their existence. If only my greatest concern was swimming in circles until someone offered me food. It was a sad contrast to the complexity of my own existence, which seemed to have been reduced to a tapestry woven with threads of grief and anger. So immersed in my head, I sensed his approach too late, the silent footsteps behind me barely registering in my distracted mind.

"Some people have a complete disregard for respect, don't they?"

I spun around to face him and instinctively stepped back—a terrible move on my end. Fuck. First at the cemetery and now here? I was the very last person this man should’ve been paying attention to. Worse, I couldn’t just walk away from him, which left me no choice but to remain where I was. I kept my posture straight, refusing to let his towering frame completely overshadow mine.

I’d seen him maybe once or twice before, years ago when I was just a girl and had my father as a barrier between us. Now that I was seeing him again—older and a little wiser—I had a better understanding of why women were drawn to him. His hair, the color of onyx, fell just right, managing to appear both meticulously arranged and effortlessly elegant. His suit had been tailored to accentuate every line and curve of his form.

My eyes traced the outline of an expensive watch circling a wrist that led to hands of noticeable largeness. A hint of ink trailed from under his cuffs, etched into his deep golden skin. The angular cut of his jaw could have graced any high-end ad, sharp and edged with precision, shadowed by a trim of stubble. Yet, unlike the polished models of glossy commercials, he radiated an unrefined, raw aura of masculinity .

He was undeniably gorgeous, but his beauty was more aligned with that of a predator, something to admire from afar but never approach. Well, unless you were one of the women who naively believed they could be an exception or that a man like him would ever be tamed. He regarded me with a slight smile playing on his full lips, but his light-colored eyes conveyed no specific emotion.

They had a cryptic depth, their hue reminiscent of honey encased within crystalline spheres, giving him an air of being otherworldly. My mute contemplation prompted him to lead the conversation.

“Don’t take it personally. Katie’s been an embarrassment for far longer than she should’ve been. I’ll handle it.”

So, he saw that. Or more likely, he heard me when I saw little-miss-cokehead getting her fix in the bathroom. A heavy pause lingered between us. His knowing that girl’s name was no surprise. What caught me off guard was him alluding to the fact that he had been watching me and the offer he’d just made.

“By handle it you mean..?”

"I'll take care of her," he reiterated, his tone retaining an unsettling calmness.

I hesitated, unsure of how to flat-out reject his offer. Finally, I managed to say, "No, it’--please don’t do that."

He studied me, his expression remaining inscrutable. "Your morality is endearing," he replied cryptically, his undertone of amusement leaving me with a sense of unease.

I really didn’t want to talk to him, but more than that I needed to change the subject. "Why are you here?" I asked, my voice tinged with genuine curiosity.

His mouth curled into a faint, enigmatic smile. "I’m actually on my way out. I was making sure you were alright." Each syllable was shaped by a refined accent that danced gracefully around his words .

Checking on me? That made no sense. Given his reputation, genuine concern seemed highly unlikely.

I edged back subtly, my arms folding defensively across my chest. Maintaining my composure was a battle of wills as he continued to scrutinize me with piercing focus. The sunglasses were my only shield and the only thing giving me the courage to meet his gaze squarely. A sidelong glance revealed a figure blocking the patio doors, a clear barrier to any potential interruptions from inside.

That didn't seem coincidental.

With a swallow, I refocused on the man before me, whose allure was matched only by the sense of peril he emanated.

“You have no reason to be afraid. I didn’t go out of my way to hurt you,” he assured me before my brain could start sprouting ideas.

“So, you really came all the way back here to check on me?” I questioned, hedging on the side of caution .

“That, and I wanted to be the first to welcome you back to the city. Has anyone else done so?”

“No…you’re the first.”

“Good. I would be disappointed if someone disregarded my warning.”

“What?” I blinked; certain I’d just misheard him. “What warning?”

He grinned down at me, revealing deep dimples in the center of his cheeks. Without answering, he took hold of my hand and brought it to his sensual lips, pressing a feather-light kiss to the back. Had he been anyone else, the move would have been over the top and a major ick, but the look in his eyes had my entire body flushing despite my reservations.

“We’ll talk soon,” he promised before stepping away. I watched him head towards the side parking lot where a black Benz sat idling with two large SUVs waiting behind it. He gave me one last disarming look as he got in the passenger seat. I caught a glimpse of another man in a suit, his younger brother, before the car disappeared from view, exiting the lot with the other vehicles in tow.

I checked to see if anyone had witnessed us talking together and saw the man who had been guarding the doors was gone as well. What the hell just happened? I didn’t know where to begin trying to figure out why he approached me. His unexpected attention spun my thoughts into chaos. Now that he had departed, a wave of delayed anxiety crashed over me, a visceral reaction to his proximity.

The worst thing about it was that there had to be a reason. Could Evie have been caught in his dangerous orbit? The mere thought twisted my stomach into knots, a bitter taste of fear mixed with loss. I rubbed my brow and sighed. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been outside but going back into the venue was out of the question. The fact no one came out to bother me was a silent affirmation that whatever decree he’d given held a disturbing amount of power. A low whistle cut through my thoughts. I looked up, eyes narrowing as a figure approached.

Recognizing her, I abandoned all pretense of decorum. I took off, poise be damned, moving as fast I could in my heels, trying not to fall and bust my ass.

“No one seemed to know where you were,” she said as soon as she was close enough to throw her arms around me, pulling me into a bone-crushing embrace. “God, I missed you,” she breathed, raw emotion in her voice. I hugged her back just as tightly, catching a whiff of her rose-scented perfume.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t make the service. I came here straight from the airport.”

“It’s fine, Mel.” I shoved down a swell of emotion and blinked back tears before pulling away.

“I take it you’re out here to get away from everyone in there?” she nodded towards the large brick building .

I nodded. “I couldn't stomach it any longer.”

“And no one would dare say shit about it, if they don’t want an eight-inch Louis V shoved up their ass.” She surveyed me from head to toe, her perusal softening into a smile. "You look good, El."

Her infectious grin sparked one of my own, clearing away some of the fog from within. I appreciated her not outright asking the common questions. The grim secret that my sister wasn't in either of the caskets was known only to my family and whoever was responsible for her disappearance. I longed to confide and vent to her, but the danger that could put her in had me biting my tongue.

“You look amazing, too,” I returned her appraising compliment meaning every word. The beautiful woman in front of me was the same Melody Bellucci I’d been best friends with since middle school, but her outward appearance was almost that of a stranger. Her messy, lopsided ponytail had been replaced with silky dark curls piled on her head in an elegant updo. A classy navy dress clung to a beautiful body with generous curves that had once been petite and always covered by oversized hoodies.

“I want to say I’m glad you’re back, but considering the why, I’d feel like a vain bitch.”

“I can’t believe I’m here either. Never thought I would be,” I replied with a wistfulness I couldn’t hide. “But what are you doing here? I told you to finish your trip.”

“Hm, lounge on a beach and drink cocktails, or go home to support my best friend who I haven’t seen in far too long, on what has to be one of the hardest days of her life? God, the decision was such a hard one to come to.”

I ignored her blatant sarcasm. “Did Peyton come with you?”

Just as I finished asking, he came around the corner half jogging to reach us .

He threw his arms around me as Melody had, but where her hug was bone bone-crushing his was debilitating. “I’m so fucking sorry, babe.” He shook me side to side, crushing my face into his solid chest.

“Don’t break her, Peyton,” Melody chided, smacking his muscled arm.

“Oh, please. She can take a lot more than this.” He let go and smiled down at me with a wink, his hazel eyes full of concern. Peyton was one of the only people I would accept it from.

I smirked at his lobster-patterned bowtie and blonde coiffed hair. Unlike Mel, he really hadn’t changed a bit. He fully embraced who he was, and I loved that for him.

“People are starting to leave. Didn’t think you’d wanna be the last one here. Ride with us? I can drop you at home later.”

I could’ve kissed him for that. “I think that sounds like the best idea I’ve heard in a long time. ”

“I do my best.”

I flashed him a grateful smile, allowing him to link our arms together. Part of me considered going to tell my uncle and grandma goodbye, but then I’d have to go back inside. Sending a text would have to suffice. If this had been a true memorial for Aunt Molly, I wouldn’t dare leave like I this, but the cold hard truth couldn’t be ignored.

“Were you two able to come straight back here?” I asked, needing to distract myself and genuinely curious.

Melody slid a glance my way, taking possession of my other arm. “Funny you ask that because I was told where to go by a man known to work for Escuro.”

“Me too. What’s up with that?” Peyton asked.

So, he’d really told people to stay away from me? “I’ll explain in the car,” I muttered, knowing they would want full disclosure and answers as to why he sought me out, answers I didn’t have.