She holds out the gun.
“Keep it, sweetheart.”
In a few minutes, I’ve assessed the two-story townhome. Aside from the room with the tellies downstairs and a bedroom upstairs, the paranoid bloke uses the place for research.
I return to the drawing room where Luxury has stood at attention this entire time.
“Thetossergot away.”
“Damn, I figured.” Her shoulders dip. “I didn’t want to get too close—like I was holding him hostage—then he . . .”
Relieves you ofmygun.“I’ll take this.”
With a smile, she lets go and burrows her face in my neck. “Do you know how many days, how many nights I imagined your scent, Vic?”
I hold her even tighter, vowing not to let her go. “Are you aware of how much trouble you’re in?”
“I have an idea, which is why I lead with how I’ve imagined you.” Although still shaken, there’s a soft smile in Luxury’s voice as her words whisper over my skin. “Have mercy on me, though.”
Outside, my illegally parked vehicle is in the process of being towed. Letting go of Luxury, I step toward the bloke. “Is there any way I can rectify this situation in a timely manner?”
He looks me up and down, pulls off his NY Yankee’s cap, and scratches his head. “Depends.”
Taking out a clip of money, I pay the guy for his troubles.
He nods and goes to the back of the tow truck to disconnect my car.
As soon as that is complete, I look over to see Luxury standing on the sidewalk. She is now fully cognizant with a guilty look on her face.
Luxury gets into the passenger seat, and I squat down in the open door. “Look at me.”
“Victor, please understand.” Lux sighs. “I waited and waited. Then the garage door opened.”
“Yeah, well, thewankasaw you! I told you to wait. Fucking wait.” The force of my words jolts her shoulders.
“I had questions. Okay?”
“Tosh! That is not okay.”
A kaleidoscope of tears twinkles in her eyes. I place my hand on the nape of her neck, massaging softly. “I’m bloody here now. You gotta fucking let me be here, Lux.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Do you know I would’ve murdered Charles in . . . in?” I pause, thinking about my father, Silas Tudor. That type of mentality would have consumed me if he’d hurt Luxury. Changing subjects, I ask, “What happened? What is thispinkbook?”
“I asked Charles if he killed her. He was adamant that he hadn’t. He gave me this, her journal.”
I take a deep breath and sort through the facts. The tow truck is finally pulling away. I ensure Lux’s security in the seatbelt and close the passenger side door.
Once I’ve started the ignition, I casually ask, “Lux, were Gina and Everhart having an affair?”
“No! Why would you—okay. He had her notebook,” Luxury trails off, contemplating a viable excuse. Her reaction is as I expected, so I tread lightly.
“The bloke’sliterallyin possession of her journal. Furthermore, your mother’s death appeared to be a crime of passion, Lux. Maybe they were on the verge of running away.”
“Victor, clearly, I wasn’t thinking when I came here. You get one friggen point because of the notebook. But Momma’s not in a position to defend herself. Please don’t imply that she was a . . .”
I shift into gear, driving off. “That was neither my intention nor thoughts. I realize it’s a sensitive subject, but we must dissect their relationship.”