Page 83 of Alonzo

“Remember? The Boston brothers. You said you’d help me?”

“Oh. Sure. I forgot about that.” I figured she might. “OK. What time will you be home?”

“Four, maybe. It’s an eight-hour deep-sea tour. Sorry to leave you alone all day.”

She smiles up at me, eyes still only half open. “Go do your beautiful dangerous things. I’ll be here spying on people.”

I take one more look at her and then kiss her again before turning away and walking out of the house.

She can spy on the Boston brothers all she wants. Let her dig up all their secrets.

Just keep her away from mine.

CHAPTER TWENTY - TARA

I wake to the sound of Belinda’s rapid-fire talking and for a moment I forget where I am and have several long, half-dream state thoughts about why she’s here in my apartment while I’m asleep in my bed.

But then the events of the past four days come rushing back and I sit straight up in bed, breathing fast and hard.

Diablo.

Lonnie.

Lies.

Key West.

Sirens and baby boys.

Did that really happen last night? Yes. He took me to that island, told me that story, and while it sort of made a little bit of sense under the hazy shine of the moon and stars, it feels very surreal in the light of day.

A gravesite. A siren. And a curse. Something about pirates? Maybe? That’s kinda fuzzy. But you know what’s not fuzzy? The word ‘illegal.’ I’m one hundred percent he used that word.

He’s up to something illegal. And he doesn’t want me involved.

He’ll never be husband material. I think that was the gist of it.

More rapid-fire talking outside snaps me back into the present. For a moment I think it’s Vann, but then… no. That’s not his voice.

It’s Jesse’s. Jesse Boston’s.

And then Alonzo’s request comes back to me. Look into him. Find his secrets.

I drag myself out of bed, throw on the same clothes I was wearing last night, and then wander out onto the porch. It’s a lovely, warm, sunny day here on the island.

“So you have one client?” That’s Belinda sounding incredulous.

“It’s a good client.” That’s Jesse sounding defensive.

“That’s not really a job, though. How can you pay bills with just one client?”

“I don’t need to pay bills. I’m a billionaire.”

Belinda is in the process of rolling her eyes at him when she spots me. “Hey, stranger. I thought you were kidnapped last night. Where the hell did you guys go? Vann knocked on your door last night around nine and no one answered.”

“Little boat ride.” I take a seat on the railing closest to her porch. The houses are very close together. Only about ten feet separate them.

“In the middle of the night?” Belinda has her suspicious hat on today, I guess.