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I nod, feeling like I’m missing something. I can’t understand what Eva would be frightened of. I’ve made sure to destroy all the demons that haunted her years ago.
“Need me for anything else?” my cousin interrupts my thoughts, and I wave my hand dismissing him.
“Naw, you finish up.”
Thehourdisappearedfromme faster than I could snap my fingers. Charlotte ended up calling me as I was heading out the door to meet Eva, and I couldn’t allow myself to let it ring out like I used to. It’s now been an hour since I talked to Eva, and it’s going to take me at least another half-hour to reach the gallery.
The shop looks closed up, not that I’m surprised. It’s the one day during the week Katrina takes off. But now that I think about it, Eva never returned the key I gave her when I had her install the security cameras in the new building. So she could’ve easily let herself in, but the door is locked when I push on it.
When I open it up, I call out, “Eva!”
Strangely, the blinds over the large windows are down and shuttered. Katrina always has them open so people can window shop before and after business hours. I feel for my gun and pull it from the back of my pants. This doesn’t feel right.
I can’t help but think back to both Eva and Katrina’s conversations. They both came out of the blue, the thought making the hair on my arms rise.
With my free hand, I quickly call Katrina. Something is off. “Demetri?” She sounds fine.
Her voice makes my muscles relax as it always does, but my gut tightens, still sensing danger. “Just wanted to hear your voice and tell you to have a wonderful day.”
“Look at you, being all sweet. Have a great day too. I love—”
I hear Capree cry in the distance. “You go deal with the baby, and I’ll see you tonight.” At her agreement, we hang up, and I put my phone back in my pocket.
I round the corner, stopping dead in my tracks.
Eva hangs in the middle of the room from a rafter. She’s been gutted, and a piece of paper is literally nailed into her. I step closer to read it.
LIAR.
I feel like I’m going to be sick. Eva was the sister I never had. She helped me with my daughter when I didn’t have the strength to do it. Charlotte and I loved her. She was family.
My heart pounds as I look around. Nothing is touched, and no one is hiding in the shadows.
“What the hell happened?” I question aloud, and my veins turn to ice as I realize it’s happened again. Someone I loved is dead because of me.
I saved Eva so she could do amazing things in her life. Instead, I ended up keeping her around to raise my child. She never had a real opportunity to leave.
My stomach drops at the weight of my guilt, and a wave of dizziness runs through me as I realize I blew Eva off when she wanted to meet “now,” even after hearing the urgency in her voice.
And for what? To watch a video of my enemies and to talk to my five-year-old on the phone? All while Eva was being murdered.
I look over her body, and a vision I’ve tried so hard to forget rushes to the front of my mind. She’s gutted the same way my wife was… along with the same note.
Chapter 26: Katrina
Demetritakesmyhandand helps me out of the car. “You’re trembling,” he points out, clasping my palm between his two.
I give him a soft smile. I can’t help the shakiness. I’ve hardly eaten today, because I was so busy trying to get ready on time.
“Only because I’m excited.” I lean in and press my puckered lips to his. His normally soft, warm lips are cold. He’s different tonight. I want to ask what’s wrong, but I get the sense he’s not interested in talking about it.
Walking into the restaurant, I notice the building is vacant. I pause, wondering if we stepped into the wrong place. But the scent of garlic and tomatoes is thick in the air, smelling delicious. A waitress rounds the corner, greeting us.
“Are we early?” I ask as we follow her toward the back. She takes us to a private room, where I see my brother and his wife are already sitting at a table set for four.
My back stiffens, and Demetri leans in. “Family is important to you, no? I thought you would want this.”
He and Luca haven’t had one good experience with each other. My spine tingles, knowing a war could easily break out with one wrong word said. No wonder he’s tense tonight.
