And I’m not sure what I will do if I don’t get the truth.
3
KILLIAN
The house appears quiet when I let myself in.
I drove myself home from Dante’s, against his advice, but I’d needed the quiet time to myself in order to calm myself down. Although I’m certain Dante had some of his guards following me, showing up at home still filled with rage was not going to be good for anyone.
Archer appears in the hallway a second after I step over the threshold and he offers me a tight smile. “Boss.”
“Archer. How is everything?” I shrug off my leather jacket and toss it onto the small table that rests by the door and flex my shoulders now that I’m free from the restrictive leather.
“As expected. Wine. Pizza. Tears.” Archer steps aside and lets me pass into the lounge where my gaze immediately locks onto Cara.
She’s on the couch curled up under a blanket, flanked by Kimmy and Sadie. Her eyes are rimmed red and she offers a sad sort of smile when she looks up at me. Her friends both squeal when they see me and half-filled wine glasses slosh in excited hands as they work to straighten themselves from their lounging positions.
“Killian!” Sadie grins at me and Kimmy gives a mock bow as she stands up on wobbly legs. Archer scoffs gently behind me. I need them gone. I need Cara to myself.
“Archer, take them home,” I instruct.
“Whyyyy?” Kimmy wails and I turn towards the kitchen, catching Cara nodding at them in my peripheral.
“Cara, you know where we are if you need us,” Kimmy says, and her voice is warm despite the slight slur that curls over her tongue.
“Just a call away,” Sadie continues. The scent of alcohol taunts my nose as I push the discarded pizza boxes aside and grab myself a cup. Coffee will have to do for now and as I pour, Kimmy and Sadie say their goodbyes.
“I know, I appreciate it.” Cara’s voice is like honey in my ears and warmth begins to seep through my chest as she talks. “I’ll see you both tomorrow. Love you.”
I turn back in time to see Archer dart forward and wind an arm around Kimmy’s waist as she stumbles.
“You do have a heart!” she exclaims and Archer sends me an amused look before he escorts them out.
Silence falls after the door closes and I watch Cara over the edge of my cup as she carefully folds up the blanket.Is she distracting herself from me?Maybe she expects me to be angry, I’m surprised she even agreed to send her friends home so easily.
She likely won’t feel as kindly towards me when I reveal what I learned tonight.
“Cara.”
She stops at my voice, dropping the blanket in its half-folded form, and turns towards me.
“Yes?”
“Enough of this. I have given you time.”
“Two days, how generous,” she scoffs lightly and anger clenches my jaw as she begins to weave her way towards me. Her voice is thick with alcohol and her cheeks rosy. She’s grieving but lighter, I suspect due to the numerous empty wine bottles that fill the sink.
“That’s more than enough time alone,” I say quietly, setting my cup down. Cara reaches the other side of the counter and presses her hands flat against the marble. Her head tips and her dark hair spills to the left over her shoulder, exposing the right side of her neck.
My mouth runs dry.
“You’re right,” she sighs after a moment. “I was surprised you evenletme be alone, never mind for this long so… thank you. For giving me that bubble with Sadie and Kimmy and just… letting me be.”
“We all grieve differently,” I reply, tearing my eyes away from her bare neck. “I can’t dictate that. But we have things to discuss. Important things.”
“Like?” Her ruby lips curl up slightly.Is she teasing me?It has to be the alcohol. Perhaps being drunk will soften the news I have for her.
“The bombing.” There’s no gentle way to approach the subject and her fingers curl against the counter, nails digging into the marble top as her eyes darken.