Page 42 of The Golden Hour

“And if we fail?”

He shakes his head. “Failure isn’t an option.”

23

Less than a week. Callisto has been in that house less than a week and she’s already changed. Shadows ring her eyes despite tasteful makeup to conceal them. She’s thinner, too. Edgy and withdrawn. Her love for her sisters is a seeping wound in her confidence, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.

When I park the car outside the generic apartment complex, she doesn’t question why I’ve brought her here, just gets out of the car and waits listlessly for me to come around. My need to comfort her is irrational but ever-present. I want to say something—anything—to put the light back in her eyes, but the best I can do is to take her to someone who might be able to.

When we reach the second-story apartment, the door opens before I can knock. The two women stare at each other for a beat—one smiling and one shocked—before Callisto sobs out, “Molly?”

“Come here, sweetheart,” coos my aunt, and Callisto collapses into her arms.

I busy myself in the kitchen as soft words are exchanged on the couch, Molly’s arms staying securely around the younger woman. A rare pang of loneliness hits me—no one has ever taken comfort in me like that.

Has anyone ever needed me?

Scoffing at my thoughts, I decide Callisto’s mood must be affecting mine and do my best to ignore their voices as I finish layering various cheeses, olives, prosciutto, and crackers on the big serving plate. I tear off a few paper towels, then head for the couch.

Molly smiles as I lower the plate to the coffee table. “Thank you, Finn. This looks delicious.”

“It does,” agrees a wavering voice, “thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Avoiding Callisto’s eyes, I snag a few olives and drop into the adjacent armchair. “We can talk business while we eat.”

Molly makes a disgruntled sound, but says, “Calli was just telling me about the employees at the house, specifically a maid named Selina who warned her about a camera in her bedroom.”

My chewing slows and my gaze veers to Callisto. “You weren’t kidding about the surveillance, were you?”

She shakes her head. “It’s always been that way. I think it’s mostly sound. When we were kids, we thought our dad had magical powers because he always seemed to know stuff we said when he wasn’t around.”

“Like what?”

Her focus turns inward, her eyes glazing with memory. “When we were small, it was stuff like sneaking out of our rooms for cookies in the middle of the night. When we were older… well, imagine three teenage girls planning to sneak out to a party.” A wry smile briefly appears. “It didn’t happen.”

Molly muses, “So we know somewhere in the house, there’s access to all the audio.”

Callisto nods. “Probably on Vivian’s computer, in her office. There aren’t too many rooms that stay locked, but that’s one of them.”

“What are the others?” I ask quickly.

She gives me a knowing look. “The basement and the master bedroom.” Before I can ask, she continues, “My dad was mistrusting of technology and didn’t like storing information on his computer. The basement used to have big filing cabinets and a standing safe. I have no idea if they’re still there.”

“You haven’t checked?” Even I can hear the accusation in my voice.

Molly bristles. “Finn—”

“It’s okay,” says Callisto, laying a hand on Molly’s arm before turning her dark eyes on me. “I spent the last six days traveling at Vivian’s behest, smiling and lying. My focus right now is on gaining her trust. If she catches me snooping in the basement, or anywhere, it will all be for nothing.”

I sit back with a brie-smeared cracker. “You really think if you’re nice to her long enough, she’ll suddenly reveal all her secrets? Don’t be naïve. That could take years if it happened at all.”

Ire glows in her eyes. “Not every problem can be solved with a bulldozer, Finn.”

My name in her throaty voice, combined with the spark of passion in her eyes, trails up my spine like a touch. I imagine her saying my name in drastically different circumstances. Moaning it. Screaming it. Whimpering it as I take her from behind.

Like she can hear my thoughts—or see them in my face—Callisto’s eyes widen and a blush blooms on her pale cheeks. She looks down quickly.

Molly clears her throat. “Let’s focus on the positive. We have different approaches, which we can use to our advantage. I’ll see what I can learn about the staff, especially Selina, while you two figure out where Vivian stores her files and surveillance footage.”

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