Page 101 of Chaos Kills

“Bay, this is my mother, Avena.” She takes Cairo’s introduction and extends a small hand with perfectly manicured red fingernails.

I’m quick to take it and drop it, my words still clogged in my throat that this woman knew my mother and everything she was.

Avena steers her attention to Ozzy, who hasn’t moved or spoken a word since we all left my house. “My darling, how have you been?” She ambles forward, stopping in front of him and placing two palms on either side of his face, shocking the ever-loving fuck out of me. “You haven’t come to dinner nor have you come to see me. I was starting to think you forgot all about me.”

He doesn’t move, nor does he flinch, and it only hammers in the prospect that I’m the problem.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers like a small boy who’s actually contrite for his actions.

Avena only brushes her finger once along his cheek and gives it a light tap. “It’s all right, you’re here now. You’re staying for dinner?” He nods, and she releases him. “Good.” Her light focus comes to me. “My husband is ready to see you when you’re ready. Would you like something to drink?”

“No…thank you.”

She gives me a curt nod and meets Cairo’s gaze, giving him the silent go-ahead to chaperone me to the reason I’m really here.

Cairo follows her order, walking in front of me while Ozzy flanks my back. We enter an enormous living area with beige couches, a white stone fireplace, and more chandeliers hanging perfectly from the ceiling. A pair of French doors lead into an even more spacious backyard with an underground pool, receiving a bunch of natural sunlight to enter.

Along the far-side wall to my right is a door, contrasting the lightness of the room because it’s a dark brown and it’s the one Cairo stops at.

I expect him to open it, not turn and face me.

“Fair warning,” he mutters, those dark pools latching on to me as if commanding I pay attention. It’s hard not to. His black inky hair is aimlessly styled, but in that casual, I-don’t-give-a-fuck way. I’ve seen glimpses of his tattoos before, but it’s his eyes that command my every ounce of focus. Like he’s training me for the biggest battle of my life when Levi has warned me of it a million and one times. “Code word is Pizza Planet.”

“What?”

He points at my shirt, causing me to glance down and see it’s aToy Storyreplica of the famous pizza place in the movie. Amovie I played on repeat over and over again while Dad watched it with me. I even had a Buzz Lightyear doll for one of my birthdays. “If you feel uncomfortable, we leave. If you want to just go, we’ll go. Do you understand me?”

“Yes?”

One of his brows rises questionably. “You high?”

“I could only wish right now. You’re making me believe this is a bad idea again.”

“What made you change your mind?”

Nice try.

“Should I?” I challenge back. “You let me know.”

“No one is going to hurt you here.”

“I’ll believe that when I walk out of here unscathed.”

He stares at me for a moment, before uttering, “Fair enough.”

Turning back for the door, he opens it, leading the way inside the study, plastered in dark wooden walls and warm lighting. The space is well decorated but not overly done.

And even though it’s the complete polar opposite of what I’ve seen in the house so far, it still has a woman’s touch to it. Especially the small vase of red roses on one of the bookshelves and the black throw pillows on the leather furniture.

“Miss Astor.”

My eyes slice to my right, finding Lorenzo in all black standing behind a dark wood desk, but his expression matches his wife’s.

Kind, chill, and happy to see me.

“I’m thrilled that you’ve agreed to come.” He begins to round the desk and gestures politely for me to take one of the leather chairs.

A large hand barely presses into my spine, urging me to move when I don’t and take a seat.

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