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“Tell me,” I say, stuffing down cheesy bread sticks as fast as I can. They’re unlimited and I haven’t eaten yet today ‘cause we’re out of groceries.
Tom is happy to oblige now that he has my interest.
“Well, Old Archer, that was their grandpa, he was about the meanest man in town. He had sixteen kids, and he worked every one of them at the factory like a fuckin’ Oompa Loompa. And even though he was too stingy to give birthday presents, he expected every one of those kids to marry according to their stature. But there was hardly anybody else in Grimstone that he thought measured up. So, when his youngest daughter fell for the local mechanic, he wasn’t having it.”
The waiter interrupts, carrying out our extra-large pepperoni, jalapeño, bacon, and pineapple pizza. I made the order, and I don’t want to hear a fucking thing about the pineapple ‘cause spicy and sweet were meant to be together.
I take a huge bite, scalding the skin off the roof of my mouth.
“Go on,” I mumble to Tom. “Gimmie the dirt.”
“Well, the mechanic gets beaten to a pulp by ‘unknown assailants,’ and the youngest daughter just disappears—gone for months. Or else, like some people said, kept prisoner in the Archer mansion. Then, a year later, she’s back working at the chocolate factory, but people only see her in glimpses; she doesn’t work the counter anymore, only the factory floor. And a couple months after that, she’s married to one of her father’s friends in some quickie ceremony. But she keeps working at the factory. And finally, six months after that…the poisonings. The family’s ruined, factory closes, Old Archer has a stroke.”
“Did anybody suspect the daughter?”
“Nope. The cops didn’t even interview her because she was pretty heavily pregnant by then, with twins.”
“No…” I say softly.
“That’s right.” Tom grins. “Aldous and Amy.”
“And what about the mechanic?”
“Well…that’s the fun part. The mechanic had a surprise of his own—a black-haired toddler who seemed to come out of nowhere.”
“Corbin,” I say, piecing it all together.
Tom smiles and shrugs. “There’s definitely a resemblance.”
“So, the twins and Corbin are…half-siblings?”
“Not according to them.” Tom takes an enormous bite of his own pizza after picking off all the pineapple and jalapeños. “But that’s Emma’s theory.”
“Shit…this town really is fucked up.”
“I don’t know…” Tom gives me a sly look. “I think it’s getting better all the time.”
That would be a whole lot sexier if he didn’t have tomato sauce on his chin.
I pass him a napkin, hoping he’ll take the hint.
He ignores the napkin, distracted by the jingling of the pizza shop door.
Tom’s face slackens and goes several shades paler.
I don’t have time to turn before someone drops into the booth next to me. He brings in the nighttime chill on his coat, with the scent of forest and earth and his own warm spice. And just the slightest hint of antiseptic.
“Tom.” Dane slings his arm around my shoulders. “How nice of you to buy my girl dinner.”
“I’m not your girl.” I attempt to shove off his arm. “AndI’mthe one buying dinner.”
“No, you’re not,” Tom and Dane simultaneously say before turning to glare at each other.
Dane only locks his arm tighter around my shoulders, yanking me against his side.
“Then I guessI’mbuying,” he says. “And driving you home.”
“We’re on a date,” Tom informs him but without much oomph. In fact, he’s kind of edging toward the end of the booth.
