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I’m getting way too good at lying.
“Well, have you made any progress?” Nero asks.
“I’m not sure.” I go back over all the information I’ve learned about Sebastian and his business dealings, the track I was on before Larkspur cut my investigations short. “He hasn’t made any friends with his cutthroat corporate raiding, but the people he screws over are either too destitute or too smart to think about revenge. There are definitely skeletons hidden away somewhere though,” I add, strolling, “his family seems pretty fucked-up. After his father died in that car crash when Sebastian was a teenager, his uncle, Richard, took over the company—and married his mom, too. And it turns out, he has a sister stashed away. Scarlett Wolfe isn’t dead, after all.”
“Interesting.”
“I thought so, too.” I agree. “She was burned up pretty badly in the accident that killed their dad. It’s not much to go on right now, but my instincts say there’s something hidden there. I mean, it’s one thing for her to want to stay out of the spotlight, after everything she’s been through. But why does everyone act like she’s dead? I swear, Sebastian never said one word about her before I went and tracked her down.”
“Trust your instincts,” Nero advises. “Have you dug into the accident yet?”
“No,” I reply, frowning. “It was years ago, and Sebastian wasn’t even there at the time. You think it’s worth looking at?”
“You’re the one who said there are skeletons buried somewhere,” Nero replies. “If your instincts are telling you something shady is going on…”
“Good point. Where would I even start?”
“There’ll be official reports, autopsies, that kind of thing, they won’t be hard to access. Trust me, if there’s a cop involved, you can pay them off,” Nero adds. “You know, I’ve used an investigator over in Europe before. Charlie’s pretty good at digging up dirt. I’ll connect you.”
“Thanks,” I reply, as I hear background voices on his end of the line. Nero covers the phone, his voice turning muffled, and his tone changes, laughing and affectionate.
Lily.
“Listen, uh, I have to go,” Nero sounds out of breath, like he’s trying not to laugh. Or make some other kind of noise. “Check in soon, OK?”
“Will do.”
There’s an ache in my chest as I hang up. I would never have guessed Nero could find love and happiness in the midst of his dark, violent world, but Lily came back into his life and proved the both of us wrong. Their partnership isn’t exactly traditional, since it started with him forcing her to marry him so she couldn’t testify against the Barrettis, but there’s no denying the fierce love and loyalty they share now.
It’s the kind of love I used to dream about sharing with Miles. The kind of happiness that Sebastian took from me.
I can’t let myself forget that.
Yet, when I toss the phone in the garbage and start walking back to Sebastian’s place, I realize that my memories of Miles are fading. It’s only been a few months since he passed, but a lifetime has happened. Now, the sound of his laugh is an echo of what I used to know, and it’s harder to remember the tone of his voice, the expressions that used to be imprinted on my mind.
As if Sebastian has branded his own presence over the top, so sharp and vivid, everything else pales in comparison
Guilt hits me hard.
He’s demanding everything from me, but he won’t take my memories. No matter how many lies I tell, I know the truth in my heart.
And one day, Sebastian will, too.
* * *
When I returnto the house, Leon finds me. “Message for you,” he says, in his blunt Cockney accent. “And this.”
We both look at the tall glass of noxious green liquid that he’s holding on a tray.
“Do I want to know?” I ask.
“It’s supposed to be good for you,” he replies, looking dubious. “Mister Wolfe ordered a whole case of them, all kinds of vitamins and supplements, too.”
“I’ll stick with your famous vanilla lattes,” I tell him brightly. “And the message?”
“Mister Wolfe will be home tonight, in time for dinner. He invites you to join him at eight.”
“Invites?” I echo in disbelief. Sebastian doesn’t invite, he demands.
