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And just that easily, any difficult talk is avoided. I can almost taste our mutual relief in the air.
A few minutes later, we’re at the kitchen table with Kayden and Ella enjoying delicious pancakes and coffee. “The violin is in our vault with the rest of your violins,” Kayden says, stabbing a bite of his pancake.
I slide the notes from my father across to him. “Can those go in there as well? One is for Gio, if he ever shows up.”
“We will,” Kayden says. “For as long as you like. We have priceless treasures in that vault. Things we never want to be found and always protected.”
“About that,” Ella says, “if you find the real formula, if you figure it out, it can be kept here. It will safe forever. We still need to move forward with the museum for the fake version, but the real deal, we can keep safe.”
“That would be amazing,” I say, glancing at Kace. “If we ever figure it out.”
“We will,” Kace promises, and in his certainty, I find hope.
Ella sips her coffee. “Then the letters didn’t tell you what you need to know?”
“They told us what we pretty much knew,” I say. “We already have the answers we need. We just don’t know how to get to them or use them or even see them right before our faces.”
Kace pours syrup on his pancakes. “We’re going to work on that today and every day until we figure it out.” He sets his plate aside and looks between Kayden and Ella. “Anything on the Blue Owls?”
“Or Gio?” I ask eagerly. “I keep hoping for a message from him that doesn’t come.”
“Not yet,” Kayden says. “A little longer. I’ll put the call out that I’m looking for him Sunday night, before the reveal.”
It’s not the answer I want, but I accept what I cannot control and focus on what I can. “We need to come up with the formula we’re allowing to be on display,” I say. “And we have to figure out what to do about the Blue Owls knowing Kace and I each have a piece.”
“Already done,” Kayden says. “We put together a list of ingredients researchers have used to try to find the formula. Then we added a chemical, Borax, and a certain type of salt used in the preservation process back in Antonio Stradivari’s lifetime, both of which have widely been speculated to be part of his wood treatment. Your clue was the salt, Aria. Your clue was the Borax, Kace. The gallery has what they need, except the violin. They’d like to collect it today to set-up the display.”
“I’m fine with that,” Kace says. “I assume there is paperwork. Have them send it over.”
Kayden lifts his fork. “I already have it.”
Kace smiles. “Why does that not surprise me?”
“I’m blown away by all you have done for us,” I say. “Thank you both.”
“It’s one of the good things about being the Hawk,” Kayden says. “Sometimes we get to make a real difference.”
The way Kace makes a difference with his charity work, and I know then that I want to make a difference, too. And I will. I will help others the way others have helped me. To some it might seem a passing vow made in an emotional moment, but for me it’s not. It’s my future.
***
After breakfast, Kace helps me handle the estate paperwork and soon, I’m officially no longer poor, in any definable way. I have money, friends, and Kace. Hours later, while we enjoy coffee at a nearby café, I say, “I want to help more with your charity. You make a difference, Kace. I want to, as well.”
His lashes lower and when they lift, there’s a storm there, he doesn’t try to hide. “I’ve told you. I am—”
I lean in, my lips a breath from his. “Everything to me,” I say, afraid of his fear. And he is afraid. He doesn’t want to tell me something and I don’t know why I don’t want to know.
“Whatever you were going to say,” I whisper, “don’t say it now. Tell me after the reveal.”
He doesn’t speak or move for a moment, but then he cups my head and kisses me. “After the reveal.”
***
The morning of the reveal, I dress in a black skirt and blouse with heels, while Kace does his rock star thing, in jeans, a T-shirt with the gallery logo on it that he had delivered, and a leather jacket. We head downstairs where Kayden and Ella wait on us, both in jeans and T-shirts, looking far more comfortable than I feel.
“A limo?” I ask, glancing at Kace because I know he did this.
“A Stradivari rides in style, baby.”
“He’s right,” Kayden agrees. “We’re making a statement today. And Aria,” he pauses for effect.
“Yes?” I say, accepting his prod.
“I’m going to give you a life-long gift today. Because we like you.”
“We do,” Ella agrees, smiling.
“And because you deserve a good life,” Kayden adds.
“I don’t understand,” I say, “but thank you.”
Kace kisses me. “Always polite.”
“Always,” I say, smiling through my nerves. Because that’s what he does for me. He brings me down a notch, grounds me, makes me smile.
“You’ll understand later,” Kayden promises. “And so you know, I put out the call for Gio last night.”
“And said what?” I ask.
“That we have business. I offered him safe passage to talk. He’ll come.”
His confidence is comforting. I just pray Gio is alive and well and can really meet that expectation, but for now, I have to think about the press event. Kace opens the rear door.
“Savage and Adrian are at the event checking things out. They’re meeting us there.”
I nod and slide inside the fancy car. Kace, Kayden, and Ella follow.
I’m all kinds of nervous energy by the time we arrive at the gallery twenty minutes later. With the press on all sides of us, we exit to flashing lights. Savage and Adrian, already present when we arrived, are immediately shadowing us. I do like it when our Terminators are present. I’m used to them now. I like them. They’re friends.
Once we clear the door, the staff greets us with excitement, and it’s a whirlwind of activity. The press event is in front of a display that holds the failed formula for the Stradivarius and the Stradivarius Kace has donated to the museum. Kace and I, together, answer questions and everything goes well. I tell the story of my father disappearing and of him leaving me instructions that were incomplete. Kace chimes in at all the right places.
“Do you think we’ll ever know the Stradivari’s secret formula?” a reporter asks.
“Sadly, no,” I say. “I’ve tried to find it. Desperately tried,” I add, “but no one in any lab can figure out what is missing to make the formula work. For me, today was about my father. This is to honor him. This is to honor all the protectors of the formula that came before him. I’m sad to have failed them all.”
Luna, a pleasant mid-forties high-ranking member of the gallery staff, then claps. “It’s time for the display reveal.” She pulls a cover off the display and everyone applauds.
To my surprise, Luna then calls Kayden to the front. “As many of you know, Kayden Wilkens has long been a donor. Today, he donated his services as well.”
Kayden speaks then. “This display now falls under my protection, as do Aria Stradivari and Kace August. And I just want to add that if we ever find out who took Aria’s father, I’ll be involved in seeking justice.”
When the event is over, Kayden and Ella join me and Kace. “When Kayden offers his protection,” Ella says, “if someone hurts you, then they bring the wrath of the entire world of Hawks down on them. That’s why a Lady Hawk is never a target.”
