Page 19 of Blood & Kisses

“What? Mom, who broke into his house?” Students walk past me chatting, and I’m close to yelling at them to shut up. My heart is pounding, my nerves swelling, and I catch the penetrating gaze of Cormac standing in the queue by the kiosk.

“Police think it was a random attack because items were stolen, but he was found in his bed,” she states, and the line falls dead. I’m stunned, struggling to find the words. “Rae? Are you there?”

I compose myself as the world seems to swirl about me. “Yes, I’m here. I’m struggling to understand what you’re saying here, Mom. D-did he die?”

“Yes,” she breathes. “Shot in the head. Your brother is in shock. We’re all in shock, actually. It’s such a peaceful town, but there have been a few break-ins recently, so it was only time before someone got really hurt…”

“Oh my god,” I cry out in confusion, but I likely sound horrified to my mom to add to the suspense. Some random burglar did my job, and I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I catch Cormac's gaze again, and something shifts in my body. “Mom, when did this happen?”

Mom answers, “I told you. Last night. We’re all devastated, and to add to that, your old coach also was killed. How awful is that? Did you hear, Rae? I’m sure you already know about that, and I was going to call you, but then this happened…gosh, what is the world coming to…Rae? Are you still there?”

“Ah, yes, I’m still here,” I answer as my eyes lock onto Cormac, now striding toward me carrying two brown paper bags. An explosion takes place inside my head. “Um, Mom, I’ll have to call you back, as I need to get to class.”

“Okay, I love you, Rae. Please take care,” she replies just before I swipe off.

“Is everything okay?” Cormac asks as he sits back on the grass and holds out a brown paper bag.

“Well…” checking there’s nobody around to listen before continuing, “I just had a very unusual phone call with my mom on the coast.”

“Cream cheese,” he informs me, pointing to the bagel. “I know you like that.”

“She says that a man was murdered in his bed last night,” I whisper accusingly.

“You don’t say,” Cormac croons, taking a bite of his bagel.

“Business partner to my brother,” I add, “and someone I used to know.”

“Really? How did you know him?” he asks in a friendly tone, making me even more suspicious.

“I don’t suppose you had anything to do with it,” I grill heatedly.

“I’m sorry, Rae, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says, chewing his bagel slowly.

“Cormac Bernardi, where were you last night while I was home alone?” I pose sternly.

“All by yourself? That’s a terrible shame,” he mocks, holding his gaze.

“I notice you’re not answering my question, Cormac,” I flare my nostrils and steady my gaze unflinchingly.

“You’re a fucking sexy mama when you’re angry,” he hits flirtatiously.

“I’m not angry, merely trying to get to the bottom of this very intriguing mystery,” I argue carefully. “Let’s just say I’m perplexed-”

“Perplexed, you say?” he interrupts, and I try not to smile at his comical performance, which is unlike him. “Which part is perplexing for you? The fact that we left you alone in the house or the part that someone died?”

“Murdered, to be precise. In his bed. Break and entering, believed to be a robbery gone wrong. But we know that is a lie, don’t we, Cormac?” I muse to see how far he’ll go.

He shrugs those broad shoulders as a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth, but he’s too good at being surly, and the smile is gone in a flash. “And what is your relationship with the deceased?”

“Business partners with my brother,” I reply flatly. “And you still haven’t answered my question. What were you and Blake doing last night?”

He rubs his clean-shaven chin with the back of his knuckles, trying to hide another smile from his kissable mouth. “A man must never share his secrets.”

“Oh, really?” I place my phone down on the grass, take my time, and roll onto my knees as he innocently continues to munch on his cream cheese bagel. Those eyes are narrowed and glued onto me as I discreetly move closer to his body lying on his side on the grass.

If he won’t tell me voluntarily, I’ll have to force the truth out of him using whatever means possible. It’s a pity I don’t have my Glock with me because I could use help to convince him to open up.

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