Page 96 of The Taste of Deceit

“I would’ve handled this differently.”

I don’t argue. Because he’s right.

He turns his attention back to Sarah.

“She’s been asking for you.”

Sarah’s eyes widen.

“I think she needs her best friend right now.”

“I don’t think she’ll want to talk to me.”

“I need you to try,” Mikey says.

“She’s going to know,” Sarah says, shaking her head.

He closes his eyes for a moment.

“Sarah...”

When he opens them again, they’re fixed on her.

“I don’t know what else to do.”

Chapter 26

Sarah

Ipush Katie’s bedroom door open slowly. The second she sees me, she’s off the bed. She crashes into me so hard I have to catch my balance, her arms wrapping around me as a sob tears out of her. I hold her against me without saying a word, rubbing a hand up and down her back while she cries into my shoulder.

“Sarah,” she chokes out. “It’s awful.”

After a long moment, she finally pulls away. I take her hand and guide her back to the bed. We sit side by side, and she wipes at her face with trembling hands, trying to catch her breath.

When she finally looks at me, her eyes are red and swollen.

“He’s in the mafia, Sarah.”

Another sob catches in her throat.

“Not just in the mafia.” She shakes her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. “He’s the one in charge.”

I close my eyes, but I don’t say anything.

The silence stretches between us. When I finally open my eyes again, Katie’s staring at me. Her breathing hitches as she searches my face, trying to understand why I’m not reacting.

“Sarah?” she asks quietly.

I still don’t answer. Her brows knit together as she sits back on the bed, confusion beginning to push through the grief.

“What’s going on?” she asks. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

I rub my eyes, and she catches my hand.

“Are you engaged?” she asks, almost defensively.

“Yes,” I whisper.