Page 60 of Pretty Lies

And what they meant.

“Well?” Della asked.

Cory’s attention went back to her. He thought about what Frankie told him, knowing the man had a point. If there was something bigger going on and Luis or the attack on Della was just … smoke and mirrors, then there was a point to keeping information close at hand.

“I’ll be hanging a little closer,” Cory said. “You go, I go. That’s the motto.”

Della scowled.

Damn her for looking pretty like that, too.

“I don’t want to appear scared,” she said. “Luis doesn’t frighten me, Cory. He’s the type to like that too much.”

“But he does bother you.”

That much was obvious. And those were two very different things.

Della swallowed hard, tipping her head up to meet Cory’s stare. Just a foot apart in the hallway, he found she was too close … yet not close enough. Except her earlier words made him bitter in more ways than he cared to explain.

“Luis has always been obsessive and—”

“It’s more than that, clearly.”

Della’s expression hardened. “So, you see it, too.”

Yeah.

He sure did.

“Go have breakfast. I’ll be ready to leave when you are.”

He could see she wanted to ask more. Cory had other things to think about.

Too much, really.

•••

Cory’s watchful gaze swept the dark street as movement from his right followed the creak of the car door being opened. The figure slipped into the passenger seat without much fanfare at all and if someone hadn’t been paying attention, they would have missed it altogether.

So was his brother’s way. It’s why they called Joe the Shadow.

“Thought you weren’t coming—look at the fucking time,” Cory said.

“Your bitching has started early. Good to see.”

“Hmm.”

Just like that, Joe shot Cory a look from the passenger seat that spoke volumes without saying anything at all. His brother could tell just by his demeanor and tone that something was up and no doubt, he was going to pester Cory until he spilled his guts.

“What is it?” Joe asked.

“Nothing—hey, I need you to do something for me.”

“Yeah, yeah. That’s why I’m here. Your attitude, though, is why I’m gonna stay.”

Of course, it was.

On another day, Cory wouldn’t mind indulging his brother. Joe was a good sounding board—he always told Cory what shit was upfront with no-nonsense. He appreciated the bluntness because he offered Joe the same.