Page 78 of Ballrooms & Blackmail

Who sent it to me in some sort of fucked-up version of Telephone.

I sigh, slam my fist into the loaf then cover it with a dishtowel so it will rise.

Hopefully.

There’s a fifty-fifty chance it won’t rise at all, instead transforming into a brick…a brick I can lob at Thorn.

Because once I got over the hurt from that day, I understood.

He’s scared. Of me. Of us. Of life and the Lyons and all the good and bad things that might happen.

And that’s when I got Mad.

Yup. Mad with a capital M.

Because you’re telling me this jerkwad is going to be sweet and gentle, thoughtful and caring and so damned patient for months…and the moment he gets me to trust him, he’s going to freak out and retreat, freak out and push me away?

Oh no.

Fuck that.

The doorbell rings, and I exhale sharply, wiping my hands on the towel, instinctually going to answer it. If anyone has made it this far, they’ve been vetted by Pascal’s crew, so there’s nothing to worry about.

But one of his guys is there before I make it to the entryway, anyway.

He gestures for me to wait and I pause in the hall as he opens the door.

“Hello,” I hear and my gut twists.

Why is Thorn here?

Why do I want to run over, close the distance between us? Why do I want to throw my arms around him and yell at him in equal measure?

“Where’s Brooks?” he asks as he steps inside, pausing to wipe his feet on the mat.

“In his office,” Pascal’s man answers.

And I realize I’m standing there, just waiting for Thorn to see me.

Dumb. So freaking dumb.

I spin on my heel, hurry toward the kitchen?—

“River!” he calls.

I don’t stop, just beeline for my loaf of bread and peek under the towel even though it’s nowhere near ready.

“Little hen,” he says from very close behind me. “I?—”

“Don’t,” I snap, turning to face him. To glare at him.

His eyes search mine for a long moment. Then he nods and starts to turn away.

I exhale, and even though I should let him leave, some part of me can’t bear it. “Is Violet really okay?”

Along with the photo, he told Brooks they found no sign of poisoning and the vet still thinks it was a freak virus that just hit her really hard.

Which makes me feel both better and worse.